Interesting bits... maybe!!!
Here you'll find random things to do with our family and our friends - They may be of interest . . . well, we find them interesting, but we're a little odd - Haven't really been updating this for a while as we're not social media hungry - but will have a go from now on! ENJOY!
OCT and NOV 25 -- Bit boring but necessary. Annual Lifting Operation and Lowering Equipment Regulations (LOLER) Inspection - -For those of you not in the industry - ALL of the team's climbing kits and rigging kits have to be inspected by an independent and qualified person. We use Charlie Elderton who is very thorough - -which means we're safe but now we have to buy new kit to replace all the bits he's failed - -Highly recommend Charlie to anyone in the industry.
Oh - the picture is of a cat we rescued in Jun 24 - -Picture of ropes and Charlie just wasn't that interesting
Charlie Elderton - Forestry & Arboriculture Training - eldertonc@gmail.com
11th October 25 - Another wedding. Rich and Laura Laura's dad is one of our customers and they met whilst we were cutting the hedges - just to be clear - there will be no family discount for future work - -Congratulations Mr and Mrs Collis
September 25
Another great team day out - Popped up to Wales to walk up gorges and jump in rivers! And why not - Amazing landscape and history and then on the next day went to Big Pit in Blaenavon for an underground tour! Tanya use to live there when it was a working mine. If ever you get the chance to do either - -do both!!!
23rd August 25
Family wedding - -Our youngest son and part time Mender Tom, married his long term girlfriend Liberty with the reception at the farm. Brilliant day (aside of the car we lent them breaking down!) Pic here is with us, his 2 brothers, sister and in laws, his grandad and uncle with his 3 neices scattered in for good measure. Oh - -And Libs in the middle!!!! Lots of love to Mr and Mrs Harris xx
Easter 25 - This picture did the rounds some time ago, but popped back up again on one of the social media platforms - Can't help but feel we've lost the pleasure in scaring the nuts out of our kids - - Bring back the scary bunnies!!!!
March 25
Not so much to do with trees...........but peas - - Solitary pheasant that took up residents with the chickens - -handsome fella!
December 24 - Team day out before TreeMenders Christmas dinner - -GoCarting at Thruxton - -Kern won! Andrew lost so we won't be doing that again!!! But more importantly and funnier - -XP - whilst winning the race had to pull over to throw up and then continued to do so on the way home - - He does this quite a lot to be honest - -like good mates we decided to take pictures rather than look after him!!
4th December 24 - We're delighted to announce the arrival of our latest grand daughter - Maila McArdle.
Looking forward to many happy days at the farm.
Love to all - Nanya and Grandad Big Bear.
10th Oct 24 - Another wedding - Our lovely daughter Jess Rose May married Stu McArdle in a very low key event - We'll have a party next year and all our love goes to the pair of them xx
September 24 - This sort of thing starts wars!! - Having arrived at the job - the customer proceeded to make bacon and egg sarnies for the team - rather than just enjoying the offering - they took a moment out from the scoffing to send pictures to the other team - who had digestives!!
Don't just bloat..........gloat!!!
August 24 - Every year - we take a day off and do something as a team just for fun - This year, Andrew thought it would be a good idea to go caving in the Mendips - We were accompanied by Lawrence from "learn to cave" who took us into increasingly smaller tunnels - Whilst being a fantastic experience, it was absolutely exhausting and rather unnerving - We'd highly recommend it to anyone! We were joined by an ex Mender - another son - Tom!
June 24 - Andrew was surveying near the river at Ibsley and came across a primary swarm of bees - We've just got a hive, so he came back to get a box but by the time we got there, they had found a new home by themselves - If you do come across a swarm, they are usually very docile - tummies full of honey and nothing to defend - so don't be bothered as they won't beeeeee.
June 24 - Annual emergency first aid at work with Dan from MediArb. Course focuses on serious trauma, the kit needed to keep us alive and some scenarios - Highly recommend Dan if you want to pursue it - tracey@mediarb.co.uk
Some pics of the day.
Rescuing a victim from a tree - Kez was a very credible casualty!
June 24 - Annual emergency first aid at work with Dan from MediArb.
Andrew in his usual supervisory role!!!
June 24 - Had a call from an old friend's daughter - her cat had been up a tree for 6 days! Poor Puss! Anyway, Richard and a couple of the guys agreed to pop over on the way to work and rescue it. - Rich going up to bring the puss cat down!
June 24 - Found this little chap at the farm - we've got a couple of hedge pigs at the farm - they seem to hibernate in the eco log piles - not seen any hoglets - but brilliant to see!
Keala and Erik the two rescue hounds from Europe are particularly intrigued by the sharp bits!!!
May 24 - This is what Spring is about!!!! (Update!)
ROBINS HAVE HATCHED!
April 24 - This is what Spring is about!!!!
Tanya returned to our fields at Godshill to find that Robins had made a nest in her hat! That's going to cost me a new hat as we'll have to wait until they fledge before we can have it back!!!
Then - coming home - baby donkey born last night!
March 24 - Brambling Spotted!
We were working locally ( can't say where as apparently the twitchers will be rather excited ) and there was a team monitoring and ringing birds - they were really animated to find this little lady in the net and kindly allowed me to take a picture.
Then 5 minutes later they returned to the nets to see a Kestrel trying to take one of the birds - she in turn got "netted" and there's a pic of her as well.
Really interesting and caring bunch of people.
MARCH 2024 - A WINTER ENGAGEMENT
Congratulations to Ricky and Laura - Another proposal - better get in there quick if you''re hoping to bag a Mender - they're going fast. We were all expecting Ricky to marry a tractor - but Laura's a far better choice - Laura is the daughter of one of our customers and we think it is important to point out that we don't give discounts to family! Well done you two - look forward to another Menders wedding!
March 24 Tanya's dig at Andrew's love of Vinyl Records
FEB 2024 - A ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
Congratulations to Kez and Alicia who have just agreed to be Mr and Mrs Bates. Kez has decided to say goodbye to his wild boy past and settle down with not only one pair of ourdoor slippers but an indoor pair as well.
Kez popped the question under a waterfall in South Wales - It was that or aisle 3 in Lidl (jams, preserves and socket sets!)
Date for the diary 29th December 2025 - Now that's planning.!!!
February 24 - The arrival of ERIK
Nothing to do with trees - But this is Erik - He's a rescue from Romania - 5 months old - more energy than is necessary and now that makes 5 dogs! It's an illness that Tanya has!
If you are thinking of getting a dog - look at rescuing - give a dog a home then give the dog a bone! Woof!
December 2023 - MOYLES COURT OAK
One of the larger Oaks in the forest - Known as the King Oak and the Queen's opposite. We've been involved with this tree for about 10 years now. We've inspected this every Spring as it's been in a steady decline - We reduced it about 4 years ago in the hope that it might stimulate reactionnary growth, but sadly, it continued to decline. In September 23 we commissioned a Picus report ( a sort of 3D CAT scan ) to assess the density of the timber - it came back with some pretty conclusive evidence that the tree was structurally compromised. In conjuction with the owners (Somerley Est) and the NFNPA tree team (Nik and James) - we agreed that the tree should be pollarded to retain the habitat but lessen the risk of failure - we also agreed to undertake "natural" pruning by leaving uneaven cuts to mimic a natural break. We worked with Wallace Timber to remove the limbs quickly and safely and to retain as much of the viable timber as possible.
It's always a shame to see a tree of this longevity die - but that's life I suppose - We're privilaged to have been involved with the project and hope the bole will remain as a landmark for many years to come.
It made the BBC, Arb Journals, NFNPA Web Site and Local papers - so here's a couple of the articles.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23997793.new-forest-centuries-old-king-oak-saved-felled/
NOVEMBER 2021
Massive congratulations to Kern & Ellie on their new arrival - Esme Tilia Sherwood. Their first child and a gorgeous new grand-daughter for us :) xx
NOVEMBER 2021
Another brilliant TreeMenders wedding, Craig, aka XP, married his 'Queen' Lauren. He also mentioned his love for their cat several times in his speech!!
APRIL 2021
We are keen nature lovers and Andrew will help with anything he can... here he's helping to erect a Buzzard feeding station. Also hoping that maybe a White Tailed Eagle will be enticed to use it!!
SEPTEMBER 2020
Kern and Ellie got married!
It was an absolutely wonderful day despite the weird Covid regulations. So happy!!
FEBRUARY 2020
Some of the team were on their way to a job and came across a fallen tree trapping a car! TreeMenders to the rescue.
The first we knew of it was a call from someone saying thankyou to the guys for helping out. Go TreeMenders!!
and the road all cleared :)
JANUARY 2020
One of the more unusal trees for us to dismantle... and not popular with the team - It's SPIKY!!
Monkey Puzzle or Araucaria araucana
One of the team... being a Koala!! :)
DECEMBER 2019
Christmas team day event... an Escape Room, one team did it all proper like and worked out the clues.. the others cheated as one of the team had done it before!! What a swizz!!
Then it was bowling before all meeting at a pub for dinner.
Massive thanks go to this truly fantastic team. We are so proud of TreeMenders and we couldn't do it without them! xxxx
JUNE 2019
An unusual and tricky emergency call out... pouring with rain and the tree is in a river! Kern got the short straw and ended up working in the water!!
NOVEMBER 2018
One of our old team members (now a tree officer) joins us for old times sake when we work at Rolls Royce on their impressive Lime tree cubes... he came across this picture of the trees just after planting...
This is what they look like now!!!!
OCTOBER 2018
The brave Menders give blood again. Stocks are low at the moment so if you can please go along and donate blood. :)
SEPTEMBER 2018
We held the monthly team meeting in our back garden as we were working just up the road. Every month two of the menders do a 'bake off' and this month it was Andrew's tiffin versus Richard's chocolate cake.
AUGUST 2018
Amazing how high, and on such small branches, our skilled Menders can climb... related to squirrels maybe!!
July 2018
Back to Rolls Royce in the baking hot sun! Good to see a couple of old 'menders (Jamezz and Tom not in livery!) back to help out :)
June 2018
Some brave TreeMenders gave blood for the first time... Andrew, Chris, Jez, XP, Rhob and Kern.
We are planning on it being a regular thing now. Hopefully we will never need to get some back.
Jun June 2018
Have you heard of the Overlanders?? Well Andrew has and has one of their records (amongst his collection of over 3000 vinyls!) and so he was very happy that one of the Overlanders needed some tree work... he took his album in to be signed :)
May 2018
Emergency call out... how are they going to get to the shops!!
April 2018
It's a tough and tiring TreeMender life....
March 2018
Awkward and tricky.... and so was the tree :) !!
February 2018
The evenings are getting lighter. :)
January 2017
Beautiful early evening sun...
SEPTEMBER 2017
Team Day Out. This time we went to Forest Falconry in Landford. It was a fantastic morning being introduced to lots of stunning birds of prey and flying a Barn Owl, a Kestrel, a Harris Hawk and an Eagle Owl. Absolutely stunning. Followed by a pub lunch :)
Even the owl doesn't want to talk to Richard :)
SEPTEMBER 2017
Our last visit to Rolls Royce this year, making sure the Lime trees are beautifully cuboid ready for Goodwood Revival
JULY 2017
You see this a lot in Scandinavian countries... but this one is a TreeMenders log pile.
JUNE 2017
Kez, Kern and Ciaran looking very smart in their hi viz.... probably best not to stand in the middle of the road though boys!!
MAY 2017
Our treemenders terrier Ted... seems to have stolen all the chewy bones and taken them to bed with him :)
March 2017
And every Spring actually - this is a photo of a Hazel flower - it's about the size of peppercorn.
Nobody ever notices them on the trees, as they are so small - but once pollinated, will turn into a Hazel nut - not much of a suprise that!
December 2016
TreeMenders Christmas get together... bowling, quiz, dinner and awards!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
November 2016
We had a Macrocarpa to remove - so Kern put his carving skills to good use ...
November 2016
Pidwidge - We felled a conifer and unfortunately, despite checks, disturbed a Pigeon nest - This is what a baby pigeon looks like - it's the one on the right. After 6 weeks of tender care by Tanya ( my fingers are to fat too feed pigeons) . . Pidwidge was released and we hope is now running for the office of US President or leader of UKIP - could be an improvement - vote for Pidwidge now!
SEPTEMBER 2016
Another visit to Rolls Royce ready for Goodwood festival... there are over 50 of these 'cubed' lime trees... we have to use a set square to get them exact ;)
AUGUST 2016
TreeMenders fun day at GO APE!
Segway madness, they are a competetive bunch, and then the TreeTop challenge.. Good day had by all.
AUGUST 2016 Welcome to the newest member of the family - Our gorgeous grand-daughter; Amelia Charlotte Rose xx
JULY 2016
I entered a prize draw at The New Forest Show and won second prize from Chris Hoare Tree Sevices - 20 bags of logs !! :)
JUNE 2016
Team first aid day... the whole team refreshed and improved their first aid skills, particularly focusing on falls and injuries relevant to our profession.. I'm pleased to say everyone passed :)
FEBRUARY 2016
We do work in odd or tricky places sometimes, this one was particularly challenging as we had to work from a canoe in order to clear overhanging branches on an island!!
JANUARY 2016
Proof that 4X4s still get stuck particularly when we've had so much rain!!
Kern most unhappy that his Ranger dropped into the soft ground and had to be pulled out by the faithful old Hilux (plus some manual effort)
January 2016
Sadly, we have had to say goodbye to our good friend Jimmez Jammez. He has been working with us on and off since he was a mere whippersnapper of 18, but now he's landed a job as one of the Tree Officers for the New Forest National Park. Jim may be coming in occasionally to help out on some of our bigger weekend jobs, but other than that he will be getting flabby!!
Jim, thankyou for your friendship, humour and hard work for the past 7 years. Good luck from all The Menders xxxx
DECEMBER 2015 - CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
A fun afternoon go-karting, all vying for podium position... not that the team are competitive!! Followed by dinner at a Turkish restaurant and secret santa presents... A good time had by all....
First Place went to Kern!
OCTOBER 2015 - TEAM DAY OUT
A day of random fun stuff...... started with a big fry up breakfast at a cafe then on to mini golf.. a testing start to the day! Andrew came first in this challenge much to his delight. This was followed by lazer quest... everyone against everyone... Keiran triumphed...watches too many action movies!! some more refreshments were in order, then bowling and maybe a couple of beers.
A BIG THANKYOU TO OUR WONDERFUL TEAM - YOU MAKE TREEMENDERS THE FANTASTIC FIRM THAT IT IS :-) XXX
JUNE 2015
A customer sent us this rare photo of the whole team together... and all smiling!
OCTOBER 2014
Not only is Andrew trying to encourage our youngest son Tom to join the family firm but may be this is the first female climber in TreeMenders - our grandaughter Seren :)
Rather you than me... Jon and Gareth go up in the world! Working from a MEWP (mobile elevated working platform) Not sure I fancy going up there!
AUGUST
TreeMenders day out - We all had a whale of a time on a RIB zooming around the Solent, Lunch at Bucklers Hard, then off to the Isle of Wight for a pint or two. Quick spin around the Needles then home again.. FANTASTIC.
Thankyou to the TreeMenders Team for being such a great bunch and a pleasure to work with. Andrew, Kern and Tanya xxx
APRIL 2014
Kern returned from his six months in Canada, sporting a new beard, and raring to go, within an hour of getting home he had his TreeMenders tee shirt on and a chainsaw in his hand!!
JANUARY 2014
WITH ALL THE STORMS, WIND AND RAIN WE HAVE HAD OUR WORK CUT OUT KEEPING UP WITH THE EMERGENCY CALLS; TREES ON SHEDS, TREES ON CARS, TREES ON HOUSES!!
DECEMBER 2013
Merry Christmas from the TreeMenders team, best wishes for a fabulous 2014! xx
NOVEMBER 2013 - First photos back from Kern, who has gone to Canada for 6 months snowboarding...... they have trees over there too!
JUNE 2013 - TEAM FUN GOLF DAY :-)
Half of us could play and half definately could not! so we played a Texas Scramble format and had a fantastic time. Two lots of nine holes, lunch and beer, what more could we want!
TreeMenders built a tree platform for a much valued customer and friend who is very sadly no longer with us.
APRIL 2013
Andrew and Jon hiding under tonne bags and plastic on top of a hedge whilst the rain pours and pours and pours!
MARCH 2013
Kern's impression of the Vitruvian Man on an enormous Cedar stump we had just felled.
FEBRUARY 2013
The whole team take a first aid course with St. John's Ambulance service. Everyone passed :-)
The First Aid team!
From right to left - Andrew, Richard, Kern, Jon, Tom, Gareth, Jammez and our St. John's ambulance instructor.
DECEMBER 2012 CAT RESCUE
Andrew had a phone call on Sunday afternoon - could he come and rescue a cat which had been stuck in a tree for several hours... Off he went with ladders and a cheery 'I'll be back soon'.... hmmmm... three hours later he returned, the cat was not as co-operative as he had hoped! Nonetheless Peanut was eventually removed from the tree and was very happy to be back home :-)
Peanut safely back at home
DECEMBER 2012
We took down a tree in a customers garden and this is what Kern did with the stumps :-)
TreeMenders Team Waterpark Day - September 2012
The team had a well earned day at the New Forest Water Park; water-skiing, wake-boarding, bouncing along in ringos and falling off the banana boat!! great fun!!
29th July 2012
Nozstock Festival - Tree planting with 'The Proclaimers'
We helped Charlie and Craig plant a tree in the Celebritree Avenue at Nozstock :-)
July 2012
We were at Blissfields festival helping build the Hidden Hedge with the lovely 'Coalescence-Collective Scrapmetal Artworks'.
Kern and Andrew spent most of their time putting lazers, lights and tramposcreens into trees :-)
JUNE 2012
Ted the Terrier, the newest member of the TreeMenders pack, joins the rest of the dogs in the Chipper!! Don't worry it's not running :-)
May 2012
Kern makes friends with pets of one of our customers; Alf the Great Dane and Trevor the turkey.
Trevor took rather a shine to Kern and followed him everywhere!
April 2012
Andrew and Kern were chatting with one of our customers when Kern spotted this fledgling owl sitting in a nearby tree. It's parent was keeping an eye on it from from an adjacent tree.
February 1st 2012
Our latest addition to the family - Seren Anne - We are now treemenders grandparents!
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