I think Matt and Lee are right.
The only way to protect our trees and our clients from tree hacking is by educating the public.
For me a good way to start that education would be to write articles to my local newspaper and offer public walks through my neighborhood pointing outcorrect and incorrect pruning, the damages and costs involved.
It will take a lot of time and work to do this, so we cannot wait for someone else to do it for us. As a business owner I can look at the time involvedas being time invested that secures my relationship to my clients.
I have never lost work by sharing my knowledge with my clients. My average client does not want to climb up a 20m tree, tie in to a rope and fire up thechainsaw. They rather want to pay me to do that and know that they get what their money is worth.
I think it is time for us to get out there and educate "Joe public" and stop worrying about the tree hackers. They will always be around.
Rossy Ross, Pro Climb
