Proprietor : Clare Overhill

Manager/Climber : John Rhodes

Landcare Services, established 1989, is a family business operating out of the village of Painswick near Stroud in Gloucestershire. All works are carried out by John & Clare with occasional extra help from another skilled climber. Much can be achieved by a small unit using carefully prepared equipment & machinery. The machinery supplements the tree surgery skills by reducing the subsequent labour needed to move timber & brush.

John has been a tree surgeon for nearly 20 years and consequently John & Clare have both assembled a huge knowledge of trees and working techniques. Both were in the Horticulture Trade before becoming involved in Tree Surgery. This has enabled them both to have a 'sense' of the natural proportions and 'aesthetic' values of trees and their effects on the environment.

Clare & John both have the relevant skills certificates plus a few extra to ensure full compliance with Health & Safety plus other regulations that can be said to effect tree surgery work. This includes knowledge of Hedge & Tree overhang rules, Rights of Way, Countryside & Wildlife Acts & Wildlife Rescue and Planning Regulations.

On the occasions when we use extra operatives we make sure they are suited to our standard of work and have the necessary wherewithal & certificates to carry out the work.

Our working kit is inspected & certified every 6 months plus the routine of inspecting machinery and road vehicles every week. Essentially we have 2 main trucks , which carry our work equipment, safety gear, signs etc., back-up equipment and spares, tools etc. with 2 further trucks of 6.5 t. & 7.5 tonnes for craning, winching and generally mucky & heavy-duty works.

Skills

Both Clare & John have the necessary certificates to legally carry out tree surgery and related works. Basically a whole host of the damn things. Certification is increased as more regs. come into fashion i.e. every year we update or increase our qualifications.

Regulations

To ensure that our clients are covered in case of accident or injury or damage to property we are compliant with Health & Safety plus the 'Risk Assessments' which show a valid assessment of the risks involved in the work to ensure validity of 'Insurance' and the 'Government Regulations'.

Health & Safety Regulations :-

L.O.L.E.R. Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regs.

P.U.W.E.R. Provision and use of Work Equipment Regs.

P.P.E. Personal Protective Equipment

C.O.S.H.H. Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regs.

R.I.D.D.O.R. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regs.

Responsibilities

Management

John organises the works on a daily basis and ensures the working conditions of climbing kit & machinery. He also ensures that Landcare is compliant with regulations such as Planning, Health & Safety, Wildlife & Countryside Act etc.

John manages and overseas the work, also carrying out the unending process of paperwork. Clare is responsible for the ground works on site and at our yard.

Complaints Procedures

Any complaints from individuals, firms, organisations or authorities are dealt with directly by Clare Overhill and John Rhodes. Complaints must be made within 14 days of any incident to which written replies are sent within 14 days of any communication. The same process applies in reverse with a reply expected within 14 days.

1ST Aid and safety management on site or on private property is handled jointly by both Clare & John. John has the certificate & Clare has the skill.

Investment

Our investment in our business is huge. In the last year alone we have spent some £ 25,000 in new equipment bringing our total investment of over £ 75,000. This also ensures that we come up to standard with H.S.E. on all machinery & vehicles.