Tree Surveys & Consulting

Professional advice, surveys and

reports, helping you take care of your

current and future tree population

With over 30 years of experience in the arboricultural industry, our qualified provides a comprehensive arboricultural consultancy service to our residential and commercial clients, throughout London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and the south east. Contact us today for professional advice, tree condition surveys, development site surveys, mortgage reports and a wide range of other services, all covered by our professional indemnity insurance.

We offer a comprehensive range of arboricultural consultancy services, helping you to manage health and safety issues, budget effectively and care for your current and future tree population.

Tree Surveys

Why do I need to have a tree survey?

Allows you to budget and plan works effectively
To identify tree related hazards so that risks can be managed methodically, to fulfil your duty of care as a landowner.
For managing your tree population – identifying the species and age of trees within your population so that you can target resources appropriately and identify opportunities for new planting to provide future generations of trees.
To comply with planning regulations and with mortgage and insurance company requirements

Types of survey:

Tree condition/ risk assessment surveys – identifies hazards and makes recommendations for remedial work.
Development site surveys – British Standard 5837 (2012) surveys, to comply with planning conditions.
Insurance/ mortgage surveys – To comply with insurance/ mortgage company requirements.
Ancient and veteran tree surveys – To provide management information for the long-term conservation of these rare and vitally important old trees.

Detailed Tree Inspection:

Individual, or small groups of high value trees sometimes need more detailed inspection to inform management decisions. The will be a thorough visual inspection, often complimented by the use of decay detection equipment (Resistograph; Picus sonic tomograph) to allow us to see what is going on inside the tree. Following the inspection, you will receive a detailed report of our findings and management recommendations.

Aerial Tree Inspection:

Where ‘defects’ within the tree crown are identified from the ground (e.g. woodpecker holes and other cavities; Massaria infection of London Plane etc.), a closer inspection may be required.

Our consultant team will use a drone, climb the tree, or access via a work platform (MEWP) to assess the ‘defect’ more closely, so that appropriate management recommendations can be made.

Subsidence investigations

Trees can, on clay soils, cause damage to building foundations, via the extraction of water from the soil. This is known as tree-related subsidence.

In cases of subsidence, detailed investigation is required, to assess whether a tree is involved and, if so, which tree is responsible.

Tree Craft, often working with allied professions, carries out investigation and offers advice and management recommendations in cases of suspected tree related subsidence. Whilst tree removal is sometimes the only effective remedy, proper investigation can help to avoid the unnecessary removal of trees.

Local authority tree work applications and appeals (TPO and conservation area)

Where work is required on trees which are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or are within a local authority Conservation Area, an application is required before working on the trees. Tree Craft can help by submitting the application on your behalf, ensuring that the correct specification is submitted, together with the necessary justifications and supporting evidence.

Tree planting and species selection:

Providing future generations of healthy trees is an essential part of addressing the climate change and biodiversity crises, as well as maintaining and improving the liveability of our built landscapes.

Tree Craft can help you, by:

Providing advice on suitable tree species for specific environments or landscapes.
Assisting in planning tree planting projects, considering factors like soil type, climate, and available space.
Ensuring establishment and survival of trees, with appropriate recommendations for aftercare (watering, mulching, pruning).

Site Supervision

Where trees might be damaged due to human activities on a site (usually construction sites, or installation of utilities), arboricultural supervision is recommended, to ensure that damage is avoided during the work.

We can help, by:

Helping in pre-commencement planning, to highlight activities which might damage trees.
Overseeing activities on construction sites and other projects to ensure that work is undertaken in a way that avoids damage to trees (particularly their roots).
Providing evidence and reporting as proof that activities have been undertaken in accordance with planning conditions, TPO regulations or client specifications.

Speak to one of our team today