The last week of February was mostly spent high up in various trees at Bridgwater College in Somerset. The purpose of the week? To become professionally qualified in tree climbing using ropes and performing aerial rescues. I loved it!
Over a period of four days, myself and three other attendees learned about ropes, knots, climbing systems, health and safety, legislation in regards to equipment and working at heights, emergency procedures, actually climbing trees, rescuing people from up in a tree, and doing branch walks, as well as climbing and rescuing from a ‘pole’ using spikes.
It was a very intensive and physically demanding week but we had a wonderful instructor who was very patient and had a good sense of humour. And after a long assessment time on the Saturday, we all came away with a pass. Yay!
The reason for gaining this qualification is so that I along with a second qualified surveyor can climb trees to inspect features that may have potential to support roosting bats, and to climb and inspect trees before any tree works or felling.
And the views from the canopy were lovely too.
