Arboricultural surveys
Why do I need a tree survey?
Anyone who owns or manages land containing trees has a legal duty to ensure that they are in a safe condition so that foreseeable damage does not occur due to tree failure (Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957/1984). Commercial premises have a further obligation under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to undertake regular tree surveys so that trees do not cause foreseeable damage.
Guidance issued by the government, the Forestry Commission and the Arboricultural Association advise that a tree survey is regularly undertaken by a professional tree surveyor. Failure to do so may leave those responsible liable to prosecution.
How we can help
RSK Countryside Management will undertake a tree survey to identify hazardous trees, and our tree report will make prioritised recommendations to reduce owner liability. An inspection frequency will ensure that funds are not wasted inspecting healthy trees in future tree surveys.
Our visually engaging, accessible, and intuitive tree risk assessment report includes:
- GPS plotted trees transposed onto site plans.
- colour coding to highlight the defective trees, making it easy for tree surgeons to identify the defects and undertake the correct remedial action.
Tree surveys and risk assessment reports
RSK Countryside Management provides professional health and safety tree surveys, enabling our clients primarily from large estates, councils (parish, local, district and county) and schools to understand and manage risks associated with trees they own or that affect their property.
While we look at all the trees, we will only record a ‘risk’ where it is necessary or clearly evident, using our experience and judgement to make pragmatic decisions and thus keeping the cost manageable. Alternatively, we can record and plot all trees if required.
Types of tree surveys
Our tree risk assessment always starts with understanding a client’s priorities and includes safety, aesthetic and risk areas. We will efficiently and accurately collect all the data (up to 40 individual elements per tree) needed in one site visit.
This is the most economical type of tree survey. All trees will be inspected, but only details of those trees that are potentially hazardous are recorded within the tree report. Clients with a large number of trees and a limited budget tend to favour this type of tree survey.
This is the next level of tree survey whereby details of all trees are recorded within the tree report. This type of tree survey suits clients who wish to have a full inventory of trees under their care.
RSK Countryside Management is a licensed users of the QTRA system and is able to undertake tree surveys that quantify risk. A figure representing the probability of significant harm occurring is included within the QTRA tree report. This type of tree survey is often favoured by those responsible for a very large tree stock.
This type of tree survey assesses the extent of decay deep within the tree. This requires the use of specialist tree survey equipment such as a resistograph, or the ultrasound PiCUS Tomograph machine.
Occasionally defects are apparent but their extent cannot be determined during a ground-level tree survey, in which case the tree surveyor may recommend that a climbed tree survey is undertaken.
A tree survey may identify potential hazards that require remedial work. RSK Countryside Management can support you with any work identified.
A complete service
Professional and safe surveys for arboriculture on your land.
Enquire about a survey or assessment