Arboricultural consultancy services
Tree surveys and advice on planning processes
We offer a range of arboricultural consultancy services to help you better understand your trees and support planning applications.
Whether you are just interested in knowing the condition of an individual tree or group of trees in your garden, or you need a full arboricultural tree survey, we offer professional, and efficient consultancy services.
Our experienced team carry out a range of surveys, from a basic Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) to extensive surveys required for planning applications (including BS5837 Tree Surveys). Surveys can also be provided for insurance or mortgage purposes to demonstrate that nearby trees are healthy and do not present a danger to property.
Frequently asked questions
Tree surveys are comprehensive assessments of trees and vegetation within a specific area, often conducted in relation to development projects, urban planning or land management. They gather detailed information about the health, age, species and location of trees, which is crucial for various planning needs.
Yes, our full tree surveys are carried out in line with British Standard BS5837:2021.
This detailed survey is a requirement for planning applications affecting sites where trees are present or adjacent.
Generally speaking, tree surveys related to planning processes include:
- Environmental Impact Assessment – assessing how trees and vegetation might be affected by proposed developments.
- Preservation planning – identifying trees that should be preserved and integrated into new developments.
- Regulatory compliance – ensuring adherence to local laws and regulations regarding tree preservation.
Any development of sites containing or adjacent to trees requires a BS583 tree survey as part of the planning application.
The resulting report helps to inform site layout, placement of structures and landscaping plans to make the most of existing trees.
For community projects, tree surveys help to guide decisions in park developments, road construction and urban renewal efforts.
This will depend on the agreed scope of the survey, but you may receive:
- Tree inventory – a detailed list of trees in the survey area, including species, size (Diameter at Breast Height) and health condition.
- Tree mapping – geographical mapping of trees using tools like GIS to visualise their locations in relation to proposed development plans.
- Tree condition assessment – evaluation of tree health and potential risks, such as disease or structural stability.
We also offer a Basic Tree Inspection (BTI) service, undertaken by one of our BTI trained arborists (not a surveyor). If you are worried about one or several of your trees, but not planning to develop that location, this may be an appropriate solution.
This service is it is undertaken by arborists who work with trees every day and will be able to offer peace of mind and insight into the condition of your trees.
Where further investigation is needed, for example a resistance test using a micro-drill to determine the extent of decay in a tree stem, we’ll refer you on to one of our trained surveyors who can undertake a full tree survey which will be compliant to BS5837.
These will be chopped or chipped on site and we can either remove the wood or, if you prefer, leave it with you.