Location
Caterham, Surrey

The problem
A very large mature beech tree in the front garden had become unsafe, due to heartwood decay throughout the trunk and main limbs. The tree was well within falling distance of the road and both the client’s and neighbour’s houses.

There wasn’t space to fell the tree from the base and so it needed to be taken down in small sections.
Our problem was that the tree sat on a steep slope, meaning that sections of falling timber were at risk of bouncing down the slope and into the road, or into the front of the houses opposite!

The brief
Our brief was to safely and efficiently remove the tree….. no pressure.

Project specifics
Our solution was to use a piece of equipment called a ‘grapple saw’ which is mounted at the end of a long hydraulic arm, attached to a lorry.

The machine holds sections of timber in a mechanical grab whilst it is cut by the saw, or by our climber and then lowers it to the ground where the branches can be chipped.

We were able to carry out the work very safely, with a minimum of disruption and in half the time that it would have taken us otherwise, saving our client money and inconvenience.

The branches were chipped for recycling and the logs were loaded on to our fleet of trucks for removal from site.
The site was left clean and tidy.

Next steps
Our client intends to plant a replacement tree. Tree Craft is advising on the selection of a suitable species and will supply and plant the replacement in the autumn.

Duration: 1.5 days