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Tree climbing legality?
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
Is it illegal to climb your own trees above a certain height?
Just had tree fellers (but there were only 2 of them) ring my bell touting for work.
Quoted me £120 to take a few branches off and I said I'd do it myself. He said I wasn't allowed to climb my own trees above a certain height and said google it.
So I did - several sets of search terms, but no hits, except for commercial activities covered by HSE legislation. |
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"Is it illegal to climb your own trees above a certain height?
Just had tree fellers (but there were only 2 of them) ring my bell touting for work.
Quoted me £120 to take a few branches off and I said I'd do it myself. He said I wasn't allowed to climb my own trees above a certain height and said google it.
So I did - several sets of search terms, but no hits, except for commercial activities covered by HSE legislation. "
they weren't wearing cowboy hats by any chance were they. . |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Is it illegal to climb your own trees above a certain height?
Just had tree fellers (but there were only 2 of them) ring my bell touting for work.
Quoted me £120 to take a few branches off and I said I'd do it myself. He said I wasn't allowed to climb my own trees above a certain height and said google it.
So I did - several sets of search terms, but no hits, except for commercial activities covered by HSE legislation. "
Professional companies/contractors will be governed by HSE legislation regarding PPE requirements working above certain heights
Individuals working in their own gardens aren't covered by the same legislation, they have to rely on common sense, which is where many people fall down. No pun intended.
In short, no legislation to the best of my knowledge, regarding what you do with your trees in your garden.
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
"Rubbish. But don't forget to sue yourself if you fall out and weren't properly trained or using the correct equipment.  "
When I was 16 I was in British Columbia, topping out 200 feet tall Douglas Firs, hefting 36" blade chainsaws.
I've also worked as a climbing instructor.
So I'm pretty sure I can safely do a couple of 4" boughs with a 12" bladed chainsaw which are 30 feet up. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Firstly, if they were touting for work, I would take anything said with a pinch of salt, a large one! You should also ask to see their qualifications and public liability insurance, usually in the millions for bona fide tree surgeons.
As far as I am aware there is nothing stopping anyone climbing trees, kids do it all the time! Provided you have a head for heights and not using a chain saw, common sense really, whether you fall out of it is up to you. As others pointed out, working for a company opens up a whole raft of health and safety. Sole trader it would be different, but tree surgeons usually work in pairs anyway or should do. But they also have all the kit and if in doubt get them in to quote it may save a nasty fall. |
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
All my trees have TPOs on them however, and the guy said he was allowed to reduce foliage by 25% and as the tree is leaning, it would help restore the balance, and that he'd not need to get explicit permission for the work.
They aren't bothering me that much and the tree (Scots Pine) is healthy - it's mainly the pigeon shit on visitors cars (well, I move mine there if they're staying overnight).
I had a couple taken down a few years ago as they were rocking, but obviously had to get the TPO man out to approve it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Rubbish. But don't forget to sue yourself if you fall out and weren't properly trained or using the correct equipment.
When I was 16 I was in British Columbia, topping out 200 feet tall Douglas Firs, hefting 36" blade chainsaws.
I've also worked as a climbing instructor.
So I'm pretty sure I can safely do a couple of 4" boughs with a 12" bladed chainsaw which are 30 feet up."
Well then, you sound well qualified! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Unless the trees have a preservation order on them you're good to go! however, you would be open/liable to prosecution if you or the debris you remove from the tree damaged anything as a result of your actions! |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"All my trees have TPOs on them however, and the guy said he was allowed to reduce foliage by 25% and as the tree is leaning, it would help restore the balance, and that he'd not need to get explicit permission for the work.
They aren't bothering me that much and the tree (Scots Pine) is healthy - it's mainly the pigeon shit on visitors cars (well, I move mine there if they're staying overnight).
I had a couple taken down a few years ago as they were rocking, but obviously had to get the TPO man out to approve it."
I don't think that's true. I think all work, including pruning, needs permission if there is a TPO on the tree. |
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
"...
As far as I am aware there is nothing stopping anyone climbing trees, kids do it all the time! Provided you have a head for heights and not using a chain saw, common sense really, whether you fall out of it is up to you. As others pointed out, working for a company opens up a whole raft of health and safety. Sole trader it would be different, but tree surgeons usually work in pairs anyway or should do. But they also have all the kit and if in doubt get them in to quote it may save a nasty fall."
I would be using a chain saw, I pollard some of my trees in rotation every couple of years. The 100 foot Scots Pines out the front I leave alone as they've been trimmed back to the trunk up to around 30 feet and there won't be any new growth below that height. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Rubbish. But don't forget to sue yourself if you fall out and weren't properly trained or using the correct equipment.
When I was 16 I was in British Columbia, topping out 200 feet tall Douglas Firs, hefting 36" blade chainsaws.
I've also worked as a climbing instructor.
So I'm pretty sure I can safely do a couple of 4" boughs with a 12" bladed chainsaw which are 30 feet up."
.
You mean 1200mm boughs with a 300mm chainsaw  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"All my trees have TPOs on them however, and the guy said he was allowed to reduce foliage by 25% and as the tree is leaning, it would help restore the balance, and that he'd not need to get explicit permission for the work.
They aren't bothering me that much and the tree (Scots Pine) is healthy - it's mainly the pigeon shit on visitors cars (well, I move mine there if they're staying overnight).
I had a couple taken down a few years ago as they were rocking, but obviously had to get the TPO man out to approve it."
The guy is talking bull. Any work on a tree with a TPO requires planning authority consent unless it falls under a specific exemption. Exemptions include dead or dying branches and branches causing a nuisance. Nuisance, by the way, refers to the legal term and I doubt that bird poo would qualify. There is no "25%" exemption.
And, no, climbing a tree is not a criminal offence. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
You mean 1200mm boughs with a 300mm chainsaw
Actually, 4" is 100mm, yes 12" is 300mm - I wouldn't take on a 4 foot bough with a 12" chainsaw  "
.
Damn it I saw 4'...
Bloody eyesight..
What's a bough anyhow |
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
"
You mean 1200mm boughs with a 300mm chainsaw
Actually, 4" is 100mm, yes 12" is 300mm - I wouldn't take on a 4 foot bough with a 12" chainsaw .
Damn it I saw 4'...
Bloody eyesight..
What's a bough anyhow "
Half a dog word |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
You mean 1200mm boughs with a 300mm chainsaw
Actually, 4" is 100mm, yes 12" is 300mm - I wouldn't take on a 4 foot bough with a 12" chainsaw .
Damn it I saw 4'...
Bloody eyesight..
What's a bough anyhow
Half a dog word"
.
My dog only knows the words "biscuits" and "who's farted" |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Is it illegal to climb your own trees above a certain height?
Just had tree fellers (but there were only 2 of them) ring my bell touting for work.
Quoted me £120 to take a few branches off and I said I'd do it myself. He said I wasn't allowed to climb my own trees above a certain height and said google it.
So I did - several sets of search terms, but no hits, except for commercial activities covered by HSE legislation. "
so you have the answer. |
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
"
You mean 1200mm boughs with a 300mm chainsaw
Actually, 4" is 100mm, yes 12" is 300mm - I wouldn't take on a 4 foot bough with a 12" chainsaw .
Damn it I saw 4'...
Bloody eyesight..
What's a bough anyhow
Half a dog word.
My dog only knows the words "biscuits" and "who's farted""
You have a talking dog? |
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Any minute now someone is going to say:
"..on Wednesdays I go shoppin' an' have buttered scones fer tea."
Ps. If those guys introduced themselves as being tree fellers but there were only two of them you could report them for breach of the trades and services descriptions acts |
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I did climb the ladders last week, but only to take a better look at the fitties who were climbing and cutting.
Unless you were entering CAA governed airspace and also attempting to fly, you can climb your own tree as much as you want.
Some reckless street crawler had been touting his tree services - and full of BS too - last week, just as my fellas pulled in to climb up. I know a lot about plants and trees and no dick-brained twat should try to pretend they know much much when trying to dupe me. But you'd be amazed the crap that these fly by nights try on. I've not heard this one about illegality of mounting your tree before, so to speak |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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How do you know if you have a TPO on a tree. I have got a bit lively with the Chainsaw lately and have my eye on some Ash trees that are annoying me now. |
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By *osieWoman
over a year ago
Wembley |
"Is it illegal to climb your own trees above a certain height?
Just had tree fellers (but there were only 2 of them) ring my bell touting for work.
Quoted me £120 to take a few branches off and I said I'd do it myself. He said I wasn't allowed to climb my own trees above a certain height and said google it.
So I did - several sets of search terms, but no hits, except for commercial activities covered by HSE legislation. "
The restriction is only above 3.7 m at which height you must be wearing a harness and tool belt but otherwise stark naked |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"How do you know if you have a TPO on a tree. I have got a bit lively with the Chainsaw lately and have my eye on some Ash trees that are annoying me now. "
your local council will tell you if a tree has a tpo on it |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"How do you know if you have a TPO on a tree. I have got a bit lively with the Chainsaw lately and have my eye on some Ash trees that are annoying me now.
your local council will tell you if a tree has a tpo on it "
Cool so it's not as simple as looking on a website? Should be ok they are only Ash nothing special |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"How do you know if you have a TPO on a tree. I have got a bit lively with the Chainsaw lately and have my eye on some Ash trees that are annoying me now.
your local council will tell you if a tree has a tpo on it
Cool so it's not as simple as looking on a website? Should be ok they are only Ash nothing special "
The difficulty is once alerted the council can come out and slap a tpo on. Ash are actually under threat at the moment as well. It would depend on the size and circumference of the trees. If they were to specifically have orders on them at around eye height can be either a metal or leather 'badge' with a number on. Some areas do have blanket tpo's. You should be able to find that out on the website. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I find cutting the tree down in it's entirety from the base then allows for trimming the upper branches from a safe standing on the ground position...no need for professionals...no worry about laws  |
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By *eMontres OP Man
over a year ago
Halesowen |
"I find cutting the tree down in it's entirety from the base then allows for trimming the upper branches from a safe standing on the ground position...no need for professionals...no worry about laws "
Yes but if it has a TPO you could face a hefty fine of a couple of grand or so.
The Ash, Sycamore Maple and Oak trees in my rear garden (oo er Matron) I pollard in rotation, they have TPOs but it's only going to be an issue if neighbours get arsey and they won't because it benefits us all.
The 100 foot scots pines out the front are pretty magnificent and highly visible, so anything I've ever done to those, including having 2 taken out for safety reasons, I've had the TPO man out to assess and approve.
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"...
As far as I am aware there is nothing stopping anyone climbing trees, kids do it all the time! Provided you have a head for heights and not using a chain saw, common sense really, whether you fall out of it is up to you. As others pointed out, working for a company opens up a whole raft of health and safety. Sole trader it would be different, but tree surgeons usually work in pairs anyway or should do. But they also have all the kit and if in doubt get them in to quote it may save a nasty fall.
I would be using a chain saw, I pollard some of my trees in rotation every couple of years. The 100 foot Scots Pines out the front I leave alone as they've been trimmed back to the trunk up to around 30 feet and there won't be any new growth below that height."
They sound like nice trees. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I find cutting the tree down in it's entirety from the base then allows for trimming the upper branches from a safe standing on the ground position...no need for professionals...no worry about laws
Yes but if it has a TPO you could face a hefty fine of a couple of grand or so.
The Ash, Sycamore Maple and Oak trees in my rear garden (oo er Matron) I pollard in rotation, they have TPOs but it's only going to be an issue if neighbours get arsey and they won't because it benefits us all.
The 100 foot scots pines out the front are pretty magnificent and highly visible, so anything I've ever done to those, including having 2 taken out for safety reasons, I've had the TPO man out to assess and approve.
"
Now I've got 'i'm a lumberjack' stuck in my head |
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