Specialist Arboricultural Crane & Rigging Training

The Rigging Training Course With Crane is a specialist three-day training programme designed specifically for arborists undertaking crane-assisted tree work.

The first course took place at MediArb Training in Warwickshire, bringing together experienced arboricultural professionals from across the UK with specialist international trainers from Formazione 3T in Italy.

Created and organised by Ron Stanley (@rontherocketclimbeverything), the course was developed to raise standards, improve practical competence and provide dedicated training in the specialist application of crane and lifting techniques within arboriculture.

Unlike general crane training, the course focuses specifically on the challenges of using cranes in tree work, combining lifting and rigging principles with the practical knowledge required by climbing arborists. This course is the first of it's kind in the UK.

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Why Is Specialist Arboricultural Crane Training Different?

Using a crane in tree work requires considerably more than knowing how to operate lifting equipment.

An arborist working with a crane needs to understand the tree, assess individual sections, estimate their weight, select appropriate attachment points and lifting equipment, make suitable cuts and understand how the section will behave once it leaves the tree.

The operation also requires close coordination between the climbing arborist, crane operator and ground team.

The Rigging Training Course With Crane brings these skills together:

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Climbing + Cutting + Rigging + Slinging + Load Assessment + Crane Operations + Communication

 

This combination allows participants to develop a better understanding of the complete crane-assisted tree removal process.

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Formazione 3T – International Arboricultural Expertise

Formazione 3T are a leading specialist arboricultural training organisation in Italy and have developed their own dedicated tree rigging course with crane, with an established and structured approach to specialist crane-assisted tree work.

For the inaugural UK course, Ron brought together this international expertise with experienced UK arboricultural practitioners.

The course followed the structured training approach developed by Formazione 3T while also taking into account the requirements of the forthcoming UK arboricultural TG4 guidance relating to crane work in tree care.

This created an opportunity for experienced arborists in the UK to learn from specialist international trainers while working within the context of emerging UK industry guidance.

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David Juby –  Assistant Instructor

David Juby of David Alexander Tree Care was specifically invited by Ron Stanley to join the inaugural course as an assistantinstructor.

With more than 16 years of professional arboricultural experience, David is an experienced climbing arborist with particular expertise in complex crane-assisted tree dismantling and removal.

David's practical experience includes some of the most technically demanding crane-assisted tree operations that have taken place in the UK during his career.

His role on the course brought the perspective of an experienced working climbing arborist to the training, helping participants understand how crane operations, climbing, cutting and rigging come together in real-world tree work.

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What Does the Rigging Training Course With Crane Cover?

The three-day course combines theoretical knowledge, practical training and scenario-based learning.

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Rigging & Lifting

Training includes:

• Fundamentals of correct slinging

• Load-weight estimation

• Handling and selection of lifting equipment

• Equipment inspection

• Preparing tree sections for lifting

• Understanding the characteristics of irregular tree loads

• Safe preparation of crane picks

 

Crane Operations

Participants also learn about:

• Safe crane manoeuvring

• Handling lifting accessories

• Signalling protocols

• Communication between the climbing arborist and crane operator

• Coordination between the climber, crane operator and ground team

• Safe management of lifting operations

 

Arboricultural Crane Work

The course specifically addresses the application of crane operations to tree work.

Tree sections are irregular loads and their behaviour can change depending on their size, shape, orientation, attachment point and the way they are cut from the tree.

Participants therefore need to understand not only the lifting equipment, but also the arboricultural decisions that take place before and during every crane pick.

The training combines these areas to develop competence in practical crane-assisted tree work.

 

High-Risk Scenario Training

The course also incorporates advanced crane and lifting simulators, allowing participants to work through high-risk scenarios in a controlled training environment.

This provides an opportunity to develop decision-making and risk-management skills before applying them to complex real-world operations.

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Crane Work and UK Arboricultural Guidance

There is currently no regulated RQF UK qualification specifically for cranes in tree work.

Forthcoming UK arboricultural guidance places increased emphasis on competence and demonstrable training in areas including the slinging of tree sections.

The inaugural Rigging Training Course With Crane was structured to address the practical skills required for crane-assisted arboricultural work while taking into account the requirements of the forthcoming TG4 guidance.

The course therefore provides specialist training in an area where formal UK qualifications specifically dedicated to crane work in arboriculture are currently limited.

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Arboricultural Association

The inaugural course also included a session from Tom Hammonds of the Arboricultural Association, providing attendees with an insight into the forthcoming TG4 guidance and the changes it is expected to bring to crane work within the arboricultural industry.

Tom said:

“The training they've done over the last three days clearly covers everything it should do. 

Tom also stated:

“In my view, those that have been on the course are, at present, the most competent in the country for crane work in arboriculture as far as guidance goes.”​

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David's Crane Experience

David's involvement in the course is supported by extensive practical experience in crane-assisted tree work.

In February 2025, David was the lead climbing arborist during the removal of two substantial London Plane trees on Doughty Street in Camden, London.

The operation was a high-profile and technically demanding urban crane removal, carried out in a challenging location with restricted access.

The operation was filmed and documented the specialist crane-assisted removal of the two trees.

The documentary on this was subsequently screened at the 2026 Deutsche Baumpflegetage (German Tree Care Conference) in Augsburg, Germany.

This type of complex, real-world crane experience is directly relevant to the specialist knowledge David brings to arboricultural training.

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From Helicopter Rigging in Italy to Crane Training in the UK

Ron's relationship with Formazione 3T began through specialist arboricultural helicopter training in Italy. 

Last year David attended Formazione 3T's Rigging Training Course With Helicopter, a specialist programme focused on planning, rigging and safely carrying out arboricultural operations involving helicopters.

The course provided an opportunity to work alongside the Formazione 3T team and develop an international professional relationship.

Following this experience, like Ron was last year and again this year, David has now been invited to return to Italy in 2027, this time to participate in the training as an instructor.

The Rigging Training Course With Crane therefore represents another step in an ongoing exchange of specialist arboricultural knowledge between experienced practitioners and international training specialists.

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The Inaugural UK Course

The first Rigging Training Course With Crane brought together:

• Specialist arboricultural trainers from Formazione 3T, Italy

• Experienced UK arboricultural professionals

• Specialist crane and rigging knowledge

• Practical climbing and tree-work experience

• Crane and lifting simulation

• Current and forthcoming UK industry guidance

The course was created to provide dedicated training for arborists working with cranes and to help raise standards within this increasingly important area of professional tree work.​

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                                   Professional Arboriculture | Specialist Climbing | Crane-Assisted Tree Work