Billingham Tree Surgeon County Durham: Trees are a crucial feature of many gardens and properties in Billingham, and they will often transform an otherwise 2 dimensional area by adding style, structure and substance. But problems can arise when trees are poorly maintained or have been impacted by extreme weather events, for example flooding or gales. If you need to have work completed on your trees, the best option is to consult a seasoned tree surgeon in Billingham, for their expert advice before any work starts.
Those in Billingham who try to do tree work on their own, or by using unqualified personnel may well risk causing damage to the trees, to property and to life. However, even for trained tree surgeons who are familiar with all the dangers, tree work is not entirely safe. On average there are 140 serious injuries and 3 deaths each year within the profession, making it one of the most hazardous jobs in Britain and definitely not for novices to attempt.
With around five people a year being tragically killed by falling branches and trees in Britain, even a damaged or neglected tree can also pose a risk to life. If you hire somebody to do tree work and subsequently an injury, or damage to property occurs, you may well be liable for any compensation to any third-party. These are merely a few of the reasons why using a skilled Billingham tree surgeon to do the work on your trees is essential. (All figures from HSE).
FINDING A TREE SURGEON IN BILLINGHAM - A certified tree surgeon in Billingham will likely be a member of one or both of the two major professional arboricultural bodies. Both the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Arboricultural Association (AA) offers a website where you can check out the professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon. This webpage permits you to check out if any specific local tree surgeon has ARB Approved Contractor status, and is a member of either of these bodies.
If there's an issue during or after any tree work has been accomplished you're able to get hold of these industry organisations for mediation assistance and for help and advice at any point.
You shouldn't be frightened to respectfully decline the offer of a quotation from somebody who isn't on this directory, as at the end of the day, it's an approved and fully qualified contractor who you are looking for. As soon as their accreditations and professional memberships have been meticulously checked, you should try and get at least three price quotes from different companies in the Billingham area. You should ask the questions below whilst obtaining the quotations, making it crystal clear that you need them to provide the answers due to the risks of the work involved:
- Can I contact a recent person who you have worked for so I can inspect the quality of your work? It is generally a good idea to perform an independent examination of recently completed work.
- Do you have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for chainsaw use, and documentary verification of your qualifications and professional memberships? Any operative/tree surgeon using a chainsaw, must by law hold NPTC/LANTRA certification. A competent tree surgeon in Billingham will probably hold National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
- What insurance cover is provided? As suggested by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon ought to be able to show you an insurance certificate covering no less than five million pounds public liability.
- Do you provide written quotations? Verbal quotes alone aren't satisfactory. Always get a quote in writing.
The written quote that you are given should include easy to follow details about the proposed work. It should state who's responsible for the removal of debris, tree branches and stumps, and should also include details about any trees which may be protected in law, and the steps required to get permission to work on them. You should also make certain that VAT has been included on the quote unless you are a commercial enterprise. It is very important to realise that you've got a responsibility to employ only competent tradespeople to work on your trees and property. This is stated under the "Common law duty of care responsibilities and sometimes liabilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."
PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - Checking into the possibility of any of your trees having protected status, your chosen Billingham tree surgeon should make sure that any work can get the green light from the relevant local authority department. Even protected trees need maintenance so as to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public, so discovering that a tree has protected status does not imply that work can't still be carried out.
No less than 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be conducted, if your property in Billingham is located in a designated conservation area. However, tree stems of less than 75 millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from the ground are free from this requirement. If a protected tree's branches need to be pruned or thinned to encourage and sustain growth, it's also not necessary to provide written notice.
After fully assessing the health of your trees, your Billingham tree surgeon will decide on the necessary treatments and how the required outcome can best be achieved. Where there is any possibility of falling debris and branches, a risk assessment will need to be performed on your property, public areas, and parts of a neighbour's property that could be affected. At this point, the quantity of workers required and the level of protection needed will also be ascertained. This is both personal protection equipment along with other safety measures to keep the public and other property safe from harm or damage.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the work area, cones, barriers and safety measures should be put in place before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing is started. Where there's the possibility of debris and branches crashing onto a public road, it might be necessary to temporarily halt the traffic.
Varying degrees of protection will be necessary for the tree surgeon subject to what tree work needs to be executed. At the very least they're going to be wearing specialist protective clothing to avoid injuring the legs, hands and torso, when doing chainsaw work. Eye and head protection, and high visibility clothing, must be worn by all workers involved in the operation.
Extra personnel will generally be needed to help with the removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, especially if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being used. For removing waste, unhindered access to the site will be necessary. So, it's recommended that you inform your neighbours, since a lorry or skip will need to be parked as close as possible to the workplace while the work progresses.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - Once the tree work has been completed all the waste materials can be hauled away and the whole site cleared of all debris. Your tree surgeon should then prepare and sign off a certificate of work, a copy of which will be handed to you. This is particularly important where trees with TPOs are concerned. Any safety measures that were put in public areas can then be removed, with roads and footpaths being re-opened.
Issues or problems should be fixed immediately by approaching the tree surgeon directly. If your tree surgeon is a member of a professional body, you can obtain guidance and help from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association so as to come to an acceptable conclusion, if there is any further dispute.
Local Billingham tree surgeons will probably have the phone code 01642 and the postcode TS22. They'll work in Billingham itself, as well as nearby areas like Thorpe Thewles, Elwick, Wolviston, Grindon, Seal Sands, Claxton, East Hartburn, Haverton Hill, Stillington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Wynyard, Greatham, Newton Bewley, Norton, and these postcodes: TS22 5EU, TS22 5BE, TS22 5EH, TS22 5BU, TS2 1SS, TS2 1TG, TS18 2RJ, TS22 5EN, TS22 5NA, TS22 5DS.
For this sort of assistance it's certainly far better to bring in a reputable tree surgeon. Billingham home and property owners can benefit from the knowhow and expertise that are the trademark of a trained professional.
A Tree Surgeons's Everyday Tasks
- Service equipment like chainsaws and chippers.
- Evaluate the health of trees and create plans of action.
- Tidy up area on completion and fulfil removal of waste product from client's site.
- Prepare tree survey reports for both commercial and domestic customers.
- Deal with clients and complete administrative duties.
- Establish hazards posed by trees.
- Climb trees to remove or prune branches as required.
- Produce telephone or on-site price quotes with the clients.
- Cut and chip logs and branches.
- Plant trees and vegetation.
- Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
- Be competent using power tools and other powered machinery.
Storm Damaged Trees Billingham
When you look at a strong, sturdy tree standing proud and tall in your garden it's difficult to visualise it ever toppling over. In actual fact certain types of tree can live for hundreds of years and happily do so without any problems.
Despite all of this, trees are certainly vulnerable to adverse weather, and apart from the possibility of falling tree limbs and branches, when confronted by certain conditions trees may also fall over completely, causing lots of damage or even death. Trees have one main weather related enemy, and that is high winds. As extreme weather events and violent storms become more and more common with climate change, this kind of damage will occur more frequently in Billingham in the future. Other issues can be heavy winter snow, and waterlogged soil during floods or extended periods of rainfall.
To prune and remove any dead, dying or overhanging branches that could cause an issue in times of severe weather, it is advisable to get a certified Billingham tree surgeon to check out your trees regularly.
It is also recommended to fit bigger trees with lightning rods, copper conductors, or other protection systems, to stop them being struck by lightning, and to safeguard surrounding property and buildings which may be susceptible to "arcs" and side-flashes. Trees can be damaged, drastically weakened, or even killed by a lightning strike, they can be split in two, burnt to the ground, or left susceptible to pests, disease or decay - not the happiest of situations! Whilst you might not believe that lightning is all that common in Billingham, every year around three hundred thousand strikes occur throughout Great Britain.
If you are worried about the possibility of storm damage to your trees in Billingham, you should ask what your local tree surgery company can do to protect them, and lower the risk of mishaps happening.
Woodland Clearance Billingham
Woodland clearance in the Billingham area is a sophisticated process that can be influenced by a number of regulations and restrictions. Calling on the skills of a professional Billingham tree surgeon for your woodland clearance, will see them following applicable covenants and protection orders, applying for any required permits, and use ethical and eco-friendly methods in completing the clearance.
A decent tree surgeon will establish if there are any special planning permissions, ecological constraints or felling restrictions by carrying out a full habitat survey and having discussions with the local council. If it's learned that protected animal or plant life is on the site to be cleared, it is possible to transfer such species, on approval from the appropriate authorities.
The expensive and specialist mulching, chipping and felling equipment used in woodland clearances means that it's far more cost effective to bring in a specialist tree surgeon to accomplish the project.
The Use of Chainsaws
Perhaps the most common tool used by Billingham tree surgeons, the chainsaw, in untrained hands, is also the most dangerous. Although mains electric and battery versions of chainsaw are available, the most popular with professionals are powered by petrol, thanks to their ease of use and greater portability. For substantial tree work, the only serious option is to use petrol driven chainsaws, because they're able to slice through trunks and branches of any size, and are exceptionally robust and powerful.
Essentially, a chainsaw is composed of a rotating motor-driven chain that has a row of teeth for slicing through bark and inner wood. For the various different tasks that are called for, there are different styles of chainsaw, pole saws for hard to reach branches and long distance pruning, rear-handled for working on the ground (two handed) and top-handled for working at height (and which can be used with one hand if necessary).
While climbing high up a tree with a twirling blade in your hand is a pretty dangerous thing to do, you'll seldom see a tree surgeon in Billingham who doesn't use a chainsaw. Being trained in the safe use and maintenance of chainsaws is a key requirement for any professional tree surgeon, and is crucial before they can even be considered for membership of the Arboricultural Association (AA) or the ISA.
Although there are various different chainsaw makes available to tree care professionals, the most popular ones the UK are Stihl, Hyundai, Husqvarna and Makita.
Tree Cable Bracing Billingham
A procedure that is used to offer support to a tree when it is showing signs of damage or decay or is a risk to nearby persons or property, cable bracing can be really helpful in specific circumstances. Cable bracing is widely used on older or specimen trees in Billingham where the aim is to avoid chopping down the tree or removing large unstable sections.
A cable bracing system can be employed for adding support to defective joints, V-shaped forks and weak tree limbs. Most tree surgeons in Billingham will be prepared to undertake various forms of bracing work by the fitting of rods and cables to help redistribute structural stresses and considerably prolong the lifespan of veteran trees.
Cable bracing has the goal of providing a shock-absorbing and flexible method of support which is non-invasive and does not cause damage to the tree by having to drill and bolt the branches. To guarantee the safety of the tree and surrounding areas, a risk assessment should be conducted before any actual work can begin. (Tags: Cable Bracing Billingham, Cable Bracing Techniques Billingham, Tree Cable Bracing Billingham, Cable Bracing Trees Billingham).
Tree Preservation Orders & Conservation Areas Billingham
You must ensure that there is not a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on any of your trees in Billingham, before you undertake any serious work on them. To check whether the trees on your property are covered by Tree Preservation Orders, contact your local authority. If there are TPOs on one of your trees, you'll need local authority consent to do any of these: removal, wilful destruction, cutting down, lopping, wilful damage, uprooting or topping. Any reputable tree surgeon in Billingham will be glad to help you out with this process.
If you live in a conservation area in Billingham, and plan to carry out any work on a tree with a diameter of 75mm or more (1.5 metres from the ground), you must give a minimum of 6 weeks notice in writing to your local planning authority. (Tags: Tree Preservation Order (TPO) Billingham, Tree Preservation Orders Billingham, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) Billingham).
Pollarding Trees Billingham
Pollarding is mainly done for health and safety reasons and is a procedure for substantially decreasing the size of trees which have got too large for their current environment. This tactic is in some cases used for aesthetic reasons to change a tree into an especially desirable form or shape. You will sometimes see trees which have been pollarded growing alongside highways in Billingham, and also pretty frequently in managed hedgerows Because pollarded trees have got such a bare and stark appearance, and will never go back to their former shape, this method is not usually popular with tree lovers. The advantageous aspect of the pollarding process, is that trees which would normally need to be felled can be saved. Pollarding is routinely done on broad-leafed species like limes, beeches, oaks, maples, planes, sycamores and horse chestnuts.
The Skills and Knowledge Needed to be a Tree Surgeon in Billingham
- Have the ability to repair, maintain and use tools and equipment.
- Be aware of the complexities and dangers involved with the various areas of tree work.
- The capacity to work well with other folks.
- Be able to work well with your hands.
- Have an organised way of working.
- Physical skills such as co-ordination and movement.
- Good customer skills.
- Have necessary computer skills and know how to carry out basic tasks on handheld devices.
- Patience and the ability to stay calm in times of stress.
- Good knowledge of public safety and security.
- Be professional and capable of completing work within the specified timeframe.
Dutch Elm Disease
Although Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not quite the concern that is was previously, over the past 50 years or so it has killed off many millions of precious elm trees all around the UK. Caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus which is spread by the elm bark beetle (Scolytus), DED (Dutch Elm Disease) was imported into the British Isles accidentally in the nineteen sixties from North America (Canada).
After arriving in the British Isles, it was swiftly spread through the nationwide transportation of elm products such as saplings, mulching bark, crates, and logs with the bark on. Dutch Elm Disease did not only affect Great Britain, but also destroyed stocks of elms in mainland Europe and North America, it is believed to have originated in Asia (probably Japan).
The first signs of DED are:
- Clusters of yellow leaves that wilt and then fall.
- Dark streaks beneath the bark of twigs.
- Shoots that die back from the tip.
- Twigs turning into a "shepherd's crook".
It normally starts to show up in early summer.
Because there are now very few large elms in the British countryside, the beetle's habitat has been largely removed, which has resulted in a slowing of DED. There's a continuing project for propagating young trees which are so far resistant to DED.
You can speak to your local tree surgeon for guidance and advice, if you suspect that you might have affected elm trees on your property in Billingham, or you can request a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service, for which you will be charged.
(Tags: Spotting Dutch Elm Disease, Signs of Dutch Elm Disease, Dutch Elm Disease Billingham).Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus)
A destructive fungal disease that's likely to decimate close to 80% of the current UK ash trees, in the next few years, ash dieback was first reported in Great Britain in 2012, when a nursery imported a couple of thousand trees from the Netherlands. Ash dieback is likely to have a huge impact on our beloved countryside, adding to the destruction resulting from the earlier Dutch Elm Disease (DED) outbreak.
Ash dieback has a particularly disastrous effect on the native Fraxinus excelsior (common ash), British Fraxinus excelsior (common ash), although it affects all trees of the Fraxinus genus, with varying levels of tolerance. Originating in Asia where the native Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) and Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis) are more resistant to it, the fungus which causes ash dieback is called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, and it kills off a tree by obstructing its vascular (water transport) systems.
Already present in most areas of the UK, ash dieback is dispersed by minute spores that blow on the wind, and produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are able to travel for tens of miles.
The conspicuous signs of ash dieback are:
- Foliage that wilts, turns black in colour and falls early.
- The formation of lesions (often diamond shaped) where limbs meet the trunk.
- Leaves and new shoots which are dying during the growing season.
- New epicormic growth appears from previously dormant buds.
- Leaves with dark patches that appear during mid to late summer.
Stronger ash have the ability to fight off the disease to some degree, but ultimately die from sustained attacks, year-after-year. At present there's no apparent technique for stopping the spread of achalara ash dieback, and there is no cure or effective treatment.
Whilst cases of ash dieback can be reported to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", it is so common right through the British Isles that they are really only interested in hearing about cases that are found in areas not previously affected. If you believe you have a tree infected with ash dieback on your property in Billingham, you should still speak to a local tree surgeon, who will offer advice on how best to proceed - ultimately the trees or tree will need to be felled and removed.
Tree families affected: the Fraxinus genus (Fraxinus excelsior, EXTRAwoodland clearances Billingham, crown cleaning, coppicing, tree work, forestry management Billingham, tree waste removal, tree removal, formative pruning in Billingham, hedge trimming, root flare exposure in Billingham, stump treatment in Billingham, root decompaction, crown raising in Billingham, damage restoration, hedge lowering, waste removal in Billingham, crown thinning in Billingham, tree topping Billingham, shrub maintenance, tree reshaping, tree watering Billingham, tree felling, tree care, tree bracing, tree reduction Billingham, damaged tree cutting and removal in Billingham, drop crotching, root pruning Billingham, arboriculture, woodland managementNINE).
(Tags: Signs of Ash Dieback, Spotting Ash Dieback, Chalara Ash Dieback Billingham).Tree Surgery Tasks Billingham
Billingham tree surgeons will likely help you with woodland clearances Billingham, crown cleaning, coppicing, tree work, forestry management Billingham, tree waste removal, tree removal, formative pruning in Billingham, hedge trimming, root flare exposure in Billingham, stump treatment in Billingham, root decompaction, crown raising in Billingham, damage restoration, hedge lowering, waste removal in Billingham, crown thinning in Billingham, tree topping Billingham, shrub maintenance, tree reshaping, tree watering Billingham, tree felling, tree care, tree bracing, tree reduction Billingham, damaged tree cutting and removal in Billingham, drop crotching, root pruning Billingham, arboriculture, woodland management and other tree surgeon services in Billingham, County Durham. These are just a few of the tasks that are carried out by a local tree surgeon. Billingham companies will inform you of their full range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Greatham tree surgeon, Stillington tree surgeon, Seal Sands tree surgeon, Claxton tree surgeon, Haverton Hill tree surgeon, Wolviston tree surgeon, East Hartburn tree surgeon, Elwick tree surgeon, Grindon tree surgeon, Newton Bewley tree surgeon, Wynyard tree surgeon, Norton tree surgeon, Thorpe Thewles tree surgeon and more. Practically all of these places are serviced by tree care companies. Home and property owners in these areas can obtain tree surgery quotations by going here.
Tree Care Services Billingham
- Billingham Tree Topping
- Billingham Tree Dismantling
- Billingham Tree Care
- Billingham Cable Bracing
- Billingham Tree Surveys
- Billingham Arboriculture
- Billingham Site Clearance
- Billingham Tree Bracing
- Billingham Stump Treatment
- Billingham Tree Cutting
- Billingham Eco-Plugging
- Billingham Crown Cleaning
- Billingham Tree Reduction
- Billingham Air-Spading
More Billingham Trades: Naturally, when you're having tree surgery done in Billingham, County Durham, you'll probably need other garden related services, and together with a tree surgeon in Billingham, County Durham, you may additionally need waste removal in Billingham, garden design and planning in Billingham, garden digging services in Billingham, hedge trimming in Billingham, artificial grass installers in Billingham, garden wall construction in Billingham, patio layers in Billingham, driveway pavers in Billingham, garden shed installation in Billingham, garden clearances in Billingham, SKIP HIRE in Billingham, lawn mowing in Billingham, fence installers in Billingham, decking specialists in Billingham, garden pond installation in Billingham, landscape gardeners in Billingham, and other different Billingham tradespeople.
Tree Surgeon Jobs Billingham: Find Billingham tree surgeon jobs here: Tree Surgeon Jobs Billingham
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Tree Surgery TS22 area, (dialling code 01642).
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