Conference

I'm not one for making everything politically correct and the line-up for this year's Conference is looking exciting as well as informative. The government's planning reforms, tree houses, eco-warriors and the vegetation management policies of train operating companies are some of the more controversial topics we will be covering as well as the more scientific issues of green waste management, special surfaces under trees, issues facing arboriculture internationally, DNA analysis for tree root tracking, and special sessions for the utility arbs with competitions and other demonstrations taking place in the heart of the University campus - a focus of activity on the Tuesday. Conference dinner this year sees us in the Northampton Moat House Hotel with coaches laid on to get us there and back..

Chainsaw Certification

Well done LANTRA and NPTC for the successful launch of the new routes to certification, which has really helped the industry (see Up Front, Newsletter 120 April 2003). At last it's clear who you go to for training and who you go to for assessment. NPTC have also rationalised the CS Units and the diagram (see our June 03 Newsletter) shows which units you need for which operation and how to progress through from basic chainsaw maintenance and use to advanced aerial tree dismantling..

AALGO Candidate Writes

"I really believe that this scheme [AALGO] will help to raise our profile as well as raising the standard of local authority arboriculture nationally. For a long time tree officers have encouraged the use of select lists for contractors - now it's our turn to show willing." Dominic Scanlon of Exeter City Council enrolled on the Arboricultural Accreditation for Local Government Officers scheme two years ago. He is finding the flexible approach to gaining accreditation a great benefit in balancing competing demands on his time (sound familiar?), more details see our June 03 Newsletter. Our next Foundation workshop is 19th June.

New Industry Guides

It's now over 12 months since the demise of the Forestry and Arboriculture Safety and Training Council (FASTCo) and the Health and Safety Executive have taken over the role of publishing the industry safety guides, now known as AFAG (Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group) Guides. They carry the same number referencing system as before (i.e. what used to be FASTCo 301, Petrol Driven Chainsaws is now AFAG 301, Using petrol-driven chainsaws, etc.)

Amongst others we really must thank AA Chairman Bruce Hatton for his painstaking work at the turn of the year as part of the team drafting and re-drafting these guides, making sure they are applicable to our industry. It's essential that the legislators receive input from the industry practitioners and representatives otherwise we could end up with inappropriate rules. The Guides are available as a free download from the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/forindex.htm or you can obtain hard copies from HSE books, Customer Services Dept, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk. CO10 6FS, tel 01787 881165.

Training

We've already run a whole host of training workshops and seminars this year and there's more to come. Want to become an Approved Contractor? Pre-assessment workshops are regularly run for those wanting a little help on the way. I've just heard of two London Boroughs letting tree-work contracts and specifying only AA Approved Contractors need apply, and recently a Birmingham area Housing Authority have just said the same thing. It's happening!

And are you surprised? The HSE recently prosecuted an employer for employing a tree-work contractor without checking their competence first - you can see this HSE press release on http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2003/e03013.htm. They were fined £2,000 plus £664 costs.

It's not just us who think the Approved Contractor scheme works. The article reproduced with kind permission of "Gardening Which" shows that their independent consumer-lead survey thinks the scheme os good for consumers too. If you don't read the whole article read the summary at least. £1 off Conference fees for the first person to ring me identifying the consultant who they employed to set up the trial!

A Liability too far?

My leading article in the last essentialARB focussed on the tragic death of 8 year old school girl Rianna Davenport, crushed by a Corsican pine in her school playground. What are the implications to our industry? I hope not a knee-jerk felling of all trees on school grounds. The cartoon on page XXX might make us laugh but what we need to strive for is a regular and systematic inspection of all trees - not just when the wind blows.

Your Vote and Commitee Work in the AA

In with this Newsletter you will find the voting papers inviting you to stand for election to one of the Associations Committees. Have you got the time and drive to steer the Association forward? Any paid-up member can apply. My involvement with the AA started in 1996 on Publicity Committee… Your term of office starts in September, consist of around four committee meetings a year and as much time as you need to pursue projects in between committees. Out of pocket expenses are payable.

Keep up the good work and enjoy the summer.

Nick Eden
Director
Arboricultural Association