Calling all Tree Surgeons

[Joe O'Connor]

Sup,

I would be blimmin surprised if there is any here, but is anyone on TF an Arborist (Tree Surgeon)?

I'm applying to study Arboriculture next year because I want to become one and wanted to know if anyone could offer up an opinion or advice on the job and industry.

Joe.

[N.Wood]

Pretty sure Tim Steadman is a tree surgeon, and Jack Meek dabbles in general garden-y stuff.

[peter_t]

I was a tree surgeon till 3 months ago. Great job if you like working outdoors but sadly my boss turned into an arsehole and i packed it in. I was at college for 2 years and then worked for about 5. Its not for everyone, its bloody hard work and can be pretty dangerous and stressfull at times. Like any job it all depends on who you work for, from my experience and that of freinds its better to work for small firms rather than big companies, you will be treated alot better and feel part of the team instead of just another number.

Don't feel down hearted if you don't get to climb much at the start, it takes a long time to become good. Try and push yourself but know your limit. Also don't let people force you into doing things that you're really not comfortable with. I've broken many fences and even a greenhouse, trust be it will happen but its best avoided :$ lol. Last of all don't brake yourself! I have had near misses with chainsaws etc. but have seen a serious accident, it really wasn't fun at all.

Hope this helps and doesn't put you off, it really is a great job and im sure i will go back to it one day

Feel free to ask me any more questions

Best of luck!

[Joe O'Connor]

Hey man,

Thanks for the reply!

I love the outdoors, love physical work and I love to be mentally challenged. I've always worked best under pressure and stress so I feel like this is something where I am going to thrive.

Yeah I thought smaller places would be a better option than bigger firms, for the exact reasons you mentioned.

I bet that it would take some time to get climbing on a regular basis, but I am more than willing to put in the work to become a great climber.

How does it pay? Apparently here in NZ it pays pretty well, but wondered what you thought of the pay in the UK?

Doesn't put me off in any way, makes me even more keen! Haha

[Ali C]

My dad is a tree surgeon, he's self employed and usually works alone or employs someone to help if it's a bigger job. I've worked for him a few times, I don't have any chainsaw experience so I was only ever doing ground/rope work.

I can't say I enjoyed the work that much, but it was a lot better than other jobs I've done. Trees can be bastards, they love to scratch you and poke you in the eye at any opportunity, you end up stinking of moss and general greenery by the end of the day and ropes WILL catch and knot on any little branch it see fits.

Saying that, it's a good work out, its satisfying seeing a completed job and watching the bigger branches fall. I imagine working up the tree to be more rewarding but there are more risks obviously. My Dads never hurt himself with the saw but he was pulled out of a tree when his rope got snagged and he fractured his pelvis.

[peter_t]

The money is ok but not great, i was on about £75 a day which was fairly average, i climbed but not every day. If you're a self employed subcontractor and a good climber you can expect £100-120 a day but obviously tools, insurance etc. comes out of that and you don't get the perks of holiday pay.

It sounds like your well suited to it though its oftern dirty, wet, cold and stressfull so it soon sorts the men from the boys.

Other times the sun will be shining and you mite be surounded by beautifull countyside, maybe just taking dead or dangerous branches overhanging footpaths. These times its hard to beat.

Climbing requires method, quick thinking and a cool head. This is what its like...

You may be 40ft up, where do i put my climbing rope? Is it safe? can i get to where i need from that point? You walk out on a branch, its hard to ballance, shit if i slip im gonna swing a long way. Am i far out enough? How much can i cut at once? How heavy is the wood? If i drop it will it hit that roof? Should i lower it on a rope? Where from? What way will it fall? Will the groundsman be able to hold it? Ok its tied on and you start the saw. What cut should i use? Will the saw pinch? If the saw kicks back will it cut my ropes? Will it cut me? If the branch goes the wrong way will i get tangled up?

As you get more experienced you will tend to think less and you will be able to judge situations better and faster and this is what makes a good climber, not fitness necessarily.

For the first year you will likely to be draging rubbish to the woodchipper and in that time I barely touched a chainsaw at work. Like anywhere you work you have to start at the bottom but it will teach you what it takes to get a job done. Just stay keen and ask questions, make a real effort to lean tree ID and how to prune etc. Nobody will waste their time teaching somebody who seems uninterested.

Hope this helps

[isitafox]

A friend of mine did an arborists course at college and went on to do 2 years in Australia. He really enjoys it though he's always been into climbing and stuff, one of those jobs where you can always pick up some work on the side.

[Joe O'Connor]

The money is ok but not great, i was on about £75 a day which was fairly average, i climbed but not every day. If you're a self employed subcontractor and a good climber you can expect £100-120 a day but obviously tools, insurance etc. comes out of that and you don't get the perks of holiday pay.

It sounds like your well suited to it though its oftern dirty, wet, cold and stressfull so it soon sorts the men from the boys.

Other times the sun will be shining and you mite be surounded by beautifull countyside, maybe just taking dead or dangerous branches overhanging footpaths. These times its hard to beat.

Climbing requires method, quick thinking and a cool head. This is what its like...

You may be 40ft up, where do i put my climbing rope? Is it safe? can i get to where i need from that point? You walk out on a branch, its hard to ballance, shit if i slip im gonna swing a long way. Am i far out enough? How much can i cut at once? How heavy is the wood? If i drop it will it hit that roof? Should i lower it on a rope? Where from? What way will it fall? Will the groundsman be able to hold it? Ok its tied on and you start the saw. What cut should i use? Will the saw pinch? If the saw kicks back will it cut my ropes? Will it cut me? If the branch goes the wrong way will i get tangled up?

As you get more experienced you will tend to think less and you will be able to judge situations better and faster and this is what makes a good climber, not fitness necessarily.

For the first year you will likely to be draging rubbish to the woodchipper and in that time I barely touched a chainsaw at work. Like anywhere you work you have to start at the bottom but it will teach you what it takes to get a job done. Just stay keen and ask questions, make a real effort to lean tree ID and how to prune etc. Nobody will waste their time teaching somebody who seems uninterested.

Hope this helps

Yeah man, I really do feel like I am built for this job!

I sit there on break at work in my cafe day dreaming about being up a tree haha. Then reality hits and I am back making coffees for people and it blows haha.

Dude, all of that makes me even more excited! I want that kind of systematic and forward thinking in a job.

Im prepared to do the hard yards and start off carrying rubbish to the chipper. I'll be asking all the questions and Im gonna be so keen haha.

Real helpful man! Thanks.