Trees are so vital to our collective well-being. They must be protected at all costs. As things like climate change and other human activities threaten our tall green friends in urban and rural environments alike, more should be done with safeguarding measures. Everybody has a part to play here, especially regarding construction activities. If these sites are mismanaged, they can heavily damage the natural environment around them.
Enter the tree survey! These reports offer useful insights into how trees should be treated when building works are underway.
So, now that we’ve touched on the topic, let us explore the matter of tree surveys in more detail. Here are some of the important things you should know about these measures.
Table of Contents
What Are Tree Surveys?
Let’s unpack the tree survey a little more. What can you expect from these efforts?
Qualified arboriculturist typically carries out a tree survey. They work very hard to assess what condition the trees on or near a building site are in. These professionals will observe the tree and document its physical condition and physiological status. The tree species and its life expectancy, height, age, and general health will be determined.
Once all the details are recorded, they’ll pass on this information to better inform the building activities of architects, landscape designers, developers, and tree owners.
Tree surveys can be carried out for a range of reasons. They include:
- Providing peace of mind from things like storm risks and ground disruption from roots.
- Legitimising planning applications.
- Meeting mortgage approval criteria.
- Authorising tree preservation order applications.
So, it’s not just about building works! There’s a range of dynamic solutions that tree surveyors can help with here, and they’re all worth keeping in mind.
Who Can Help You With Tree Surveys?
As mentioned above, a qualified arboriculturist can help you with your tree survey. However, services are far-ranging here, and some services will undoubtedly be more efficient than others. So, what should you look for in more precise terms?
Try to look for tree surveyor support that provides a simple, hassle-free service with same-day quotes for you to utilise. They should also focus on securing planning permission instead of inviting an onslaught of delays. Friendly team members should be ready to offer helpful advice for any concerns you might have, too. Money-back guarantees and positive client testimonials can be comforting too.
Are Trees Categorised?
All trees are valuable. Some are categorised, so others know they’re of particular import. These are known as Category A trees. They typically have cultural relevance or environmental qualities. The trees may also be part of certain ecosystem services, such as if they’re actively used as a habitat for endangered creatures. Category A trees are usually in excellent health, as well.
There’s a mixture of factors at work here which can mean that local authorities won’t be inclined to consent to any works that disrupt the viability of Category A trees. There are some situations where leniency can be shown, but not usually. Tree surveyors will likely explain all of this to you if Category A trees are encountered, but it’s worth knowing anyway so you can set reasonable expectations.
There are Category B, C, and U trees to consider too. As you might expect, there’s more gradual leniency as you work down the pecking order, becoming less of a constraint on any development plans.
Who Demands These Measures?
It’s worth asking which parties can enforce a tree survey. Well, there’s more than one answer to that! Local authorities typically make demands for a tree survey. A good example of this is the Staffordshire County Council, which requests tree surveys be submitted where trees are within 10m of a proposed construction site and can be affected. Local authorities also oversee the TPOs, so you’ll hear from them in those situations too.
Other entities may follow suit, though. As mentioned earlier, tree surveys can be part of securing a mortgage and planning application. Lenders and banks can be directly involved here rather than using any type of third-party service to represent their eco-interests. Tree surveys are in their wheelhouse too, and you should consult with them where necessary.
So, it’s reasonable to expect to hear from a handful of people with tree-related concerns across various circumstances. It shouldn’t come as a cause of worry or overwhelming concern if you anticipate being contacted by them and know the circumstances in which closer collaboration is required. They’re all consummate professionals and should be easy to work with.
What Laws are Involved?
Obviously, removing trees without good cause isn’t recommended. It’s also immoral and becoming increasingly frowned upon in wider society. New powers were introduced at the end of 2022 to crack down on illegal tree felling, so skirting around obligations here can come with hefty consequences. The Forestry Act 1967 has now been amended to carry out increasingly heavy punishments for flouting the law.
The failure to adhere to the Forestry Commission Enforcement notice and the court-ordered Restocking Order that followers can land offenders with time behind bars. The Restocking Order is self-explanatory; it demands that trees lost are replanted. These notices can also be made public knowledge on the Local Land Charges Register, thereby reducing the land’s value. Lastly, fines for felling trees used to be capped at twice the value of the trees lost, but now unlimited fines are justifiably in place as well.
So, there’s a lot to consider here, and all of it can add weight to the value of tree surveys and probably maintaining these spaces. It’s not an optional, ‘nice’ thing one can do when building on the land, but an essential part of key legislation.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s much to know about tree surveys. Still, not everything is mentioned in this article, so if you want to learn more, conduct additional research. What matters most is knowing what you need tree surveys for, which experts can help you efficiently, and which laws you will need to heed. After that, you can be more confident that you’re going about these matters properly and responsibly. All trees are important, and they must be looked after and replanted elsewhere if they must be tampered with.
