|
|
|
| To advance the science of arboriculture for the public benefit |
|
|
|
|
| To advance the science of arboriculture for the public benefit |
Up Front - Spring 2007
Industry news and views, events, technical developments and people.
A Quarterly message from the Arboricultural Association by Nick Eden, posted Spring 2007
(This message is published in the Arboricultural Association's March Newsletter. For your regular copy, join us)
The Association’s annual Conference is now confirmed to be at the University of Warwick, Sunday 2 September (field day) to Wednesday 5 September. The venue is first class with ample space for the lectures and the associated trade exhibition. The technical content is being meticulously planned by Guy Watson and Tim Scott Ellis taking into account the very positive feedback we received from last year’s York Conference. Not to be missed. Further details will soon appear on this website, booking available from June 2007. Tree Safety Management will be a key feature chaired by Nev Fay of Treeworks Environmental Practice.
TrustMark
The Association is making good progress with its application to become an Approved Scheme Operator for TrustMark, the only nationwide Government backed scheme to help householders find reputable tradesmen. The AA will be setting the standard for arboriculture in consultation with the TrustMark authorities so that contractors meeting these standards can refer to the Government Endorsed Standards that comes with the scheme branding. The AA is negotiating easy and cheaper access for AA Approved Contractors on the grounds that they already meet many of the required criteria.
High Court Action
By the time you read this the two companies against whom the AA is taking test-case legal action for using its logo without consent and contrary to approved use as described by the Trade Marks registration authority will probably know the date on which they will have to appear in court. I will keep you posted through the Newsletter and we will broadcast the result far and wide using all the media at our disposal including at local level through AA Approved Contractors.
National Highway Sector Scheme for the Environment and Landscape including Ecology (“Sector Scheme 18”)
You can view the document that now governs the selection of contractors working for the Highways Agency at http://www.ukas.com/library/downloads/publications/nhss%2018.pdf. The AA was involved in the formulation of the document and AA Approved Contractors will have their status taken into account when being assessed. For contractors wanting to know more about how to register as Sector Scheme 18 compliant and therefore be eligible to tender for Highways Agency work in the future Guy Watson has provided some detail in the Spring 2007 AA Newsletter.
Tree Safety Management
A hot topic:
The Lords debated the matter form some time, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath talks about guidance issued by the Arboricultural Association and the development of guidance by the HSE for its inspectors. The record of the debate is interesting and can be seen at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/61219-0001.htm#06121937000009.
Continuing Professional Development – it’s part of being Professional
Whilst all members are encouraged to undertake CPD it is a formal requirement of some grades of membership. Fellows and Professional Members will have received letters about this in January and 10% were randomly selected to have their CPD assessed. Keeping a continual record of CPD as you go could avoid an end-of-year rush as a 10% sample of members at these grades will be an annual feature: a CPD recording proforma is available from the website.
In Brief
Peter Thurman joins British Standards Institute Committee B/565 External Landscape as AA representative. This will give arboriculture a strong voice in the formulation of standards related to, but not core arboriculture.
Conrad William Jorgensen died in January. He was a founder member of the AA (when it was the Association of British Tree Surgeons and Arborists) and a former editor of its Newsletter. Derek Patch will write an obituary for the Summer Newsletter – if you have something to contribute to it please get hold of Derek on 01420 22022.
AA Directors: thanks to Colin Bashford and Tony Whitehead for their time in office, both of whom stood down in 2006 and welcome to new Directors Bill Kew Winder, Mark Hemming, and welcome back Geoff McClure.
AA Training courses are in demand. Before 20 January we had 190 people booked onto courses for 2007. Last year we trained 780 delegates plus about 250 on Engaging Arboricultural Contractors workshops plus 400 at Conference, and welcomed 2,000 visitors to Trade Fair.
Trade Fair: the date for your diary is 29 and 30 June at Cirencester, Glos. I hope to see you there.
Nick Eden