Tree Surgeon

In the UK, undertaking tree work independently or with the assistance of an unqualified person carries a significant risk of harm to trees, property, and even human life. Yet, even for certified tree surgeons, who are fully aware of the potential dangers, the task remains fraught with risk. The stark truth is that tree surgery ranks among the most perilous professions in the United Kingdom, evidenced by the alarming statistics of three fatalities and approximately one hundred and forty serious injuries annually within this sector. This highlights the inherent dangers of the work and underscores the fact that it is unequivocally unsafe for amateurs. The complexities and hazards associated with tree surgery demand a high level of expertise, caution, and appropriate safety measures, which only trained professionals can provide, making it imperative to entrust such tasks to experienced and qualified tree surgeons.

With around 5 people per year being fatally wounded by falling branches and trees in Britain, even a damaged or neglected tree can also present a threat to life. If there is an injury, or damage to property due to you bringing in somebody to do tree work, you may be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. These are just a few of the reasons why retaining the services of a professional UK tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees is very important. (Figures sourced from HSE UK).

CHOOSING A TREE SURGEON IN UK - A certified UK tree surgeon will likely be a registered member of at least one of the 2 major professional arboricultural bodies. Both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Arboricultural Association offers a website where you can check out the professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon. Membership of either of these bodies will give the tree surgeon Approved ARB Contractor status which can be checked out on this webpage.

You are able to get in touch with these trade organisations for mediation assistance and for advice and help, if a problem develops at any stage during the course of the tree work, or after it has been completed.

You shouldn't be frightened to decline the offer of a quotation from somebody who you're unable to find on this directory list, since at the end of the day, it is an approved contractor who you should be looking for. As soon as their qualifications and professional memberships have been meticulously checked, you should try to get at least 3 different quotes from various companies in the UK. There are several crucial questions that you need to ask while you're in the process of gathering these quotes, and because of the risks involved in tree work, you should make it abundantly clear that you need the answers. You should for example ask:

• Can I contact a recent person you have worked for so that I can assess the quality of your workmanship? Doing an independent check on any recent work is always recommended.
• Do you provide written quotations? Only ever accept a written quote. NEVER accept a verbal quote alone.
• What insurance cover is provided? As suggested by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon should be able to produce an insurance certificate covering at the least five million pounds public liability.
• Can you provide documentary proof of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC certificate for chainsaw use? Any tree surgeon using a chainsaw, must by law have gained NPTC/LANTRA certification. Qualifications can include City & Guilds Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.

On the written quotation that you receive, you'll need there to be easily followed details about all the tree work that's to be undertaken. It should include details of any trees which may be protected, and the steps necessary to obtain permission to work on them, and also state who's responsible for the removal of tree branches, stumps and waste. You should also make certain VAT has been included on the quote unless you are a commercial business. Understanding that you've got a responsibility to employ only qualified people to work on your trees and property, is crucial.

PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - The tree surgeon that you've selected in the UK, will be able to look into whether any of your trees are subject to a tree protection order (TPO), and will check with the local authority if the green light for any work is forthcoming. To ensure the safety of the public, even protected trees require maintenance in order to cut back dead or dying wood, therefore finding that a tree is protected does not imply that you are unable to carry out essential work.

If your property in the UK is within a conservation area then at least 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority prior to any work being conducted. This is only required for trees with a trunk diameter of over 7.5cm in diameter, at a point 1.5m from ground level. If a protected tree's branches need to be pruned or thinned to sustain and encourage growth, it is also not necessary to give written notice.

After fully assessing the health of your trees, your chosen UK tree surgeon will decide on the appropriate treatments and how the required outcome can safely be achieved. This will involve a risk assessment of areas that could be impacted by falling branches, such as in public spaces, on your property, and on the properties of your neighbours. The quantity of workers required and the level of protection needed, will also be ascertained at this point. This is both PPE in addition to other safety measures to keep the public and other property safe from harm or damage.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Safety measures and barriers will be put in place before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing begins, to keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the area of work. Traffic might have to be stopped temporarily if there is a threat of falling debris onto a public highway.

The tree surgeon will need different degrees of protection depending on the kind of work being carried out. At the bare minimum they're going to be wearing specialist protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the hands, torso and legs, when working with a chainsaw. At all times, every worker involved in the operation should wear head and eye protection, and high visibility clothing.

Additional staff will normally be necessary to help in the safe removal of high branches and pieces of tree trunk, particularly if working at height is involved, and where safety climbing equipment and ladders are being deployed. A truck or skip for removing the waste will be parked as close to the work area as possible, so it's recommended that you inform your next door neighbours of the need for access.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - Upon completion of all the work, the whole area can be cleared of any debris, and all the waste materials can be transported away. A certificate of work done will then be prepared by your tree surgeon, particularly where the trees are under a protection order, which can be signed off and a copy given to you. Roads and footpaths can then be re-opened, and any safety measures places in public areas taken away.

If you've got any issues or problems with the completed work, you should first take them up with your tree surgeon in order that they can be put right straight away. If your tree surgeon is an approved member of a trade body, and there is any further dispute, you can obtain guidance and advice from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association in order to come to an acceptable solution.

Local UK tree surgery services will most likely have the postcode UK and the phone code 044. They will operate in UK itself, in addition to nearby areas like Wales, Northern Ireland, England, London, Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sheffield, Swansea, Greater Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool, and these postcodes: LU7 1EH, LU7 1AR, LU7 1AP, LU7 1HW, LU7 1ES, LU7 1AW, LU7 2EP, LU7 1DN, LU7 1TR, LU7 1HF.

If you require this sort of assistance it's certainly best to hire a reputable tree surgeon. UK homeowners can benefit from the knowhow and expertise that are the trademark of a fully trained professional.

Accidents Through Tree Surgery

As has been stated previously on this page, the work that is tackled by tree surgeons and tree care professionals in the UK can be very dangerous. All possible precautions should be taken when carrying out work on trees, because most tree work involves a high risk of injuries to both operatives and passers-by.

It would seem (as reported by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive)), that falls from trees, the use of chainsaws, and being hit by a falling branch or tree are the cause of the vast majority of fatal and major injuries that are linked to tree work. In actual fact, arborists and tree surgeons are more at risk of being seriously injured than those involved in building and construction.

The most accident claims, when it comes to insurance, are for being struck by objects (trees, ropes, branches, grapple hooks, cranes etc), lifting injuries and falling from ladders.

This is why hiring a knowledgeable UK tree surgeon is so vital when you have tree work that needs doing. Most accidents that occur in the tree care industry are down to unskilled workers trying to carry out tasks that they are not fully trained in. So, using a trustworthy and experienced company which has been working in the UK area for a good few years, is the best way to avoid such problems.

Hedge Trimming UK

While the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs is the primary focus of UK tree surgeons, they're sometimes asked to look after hedges, for example height reduction and general trimming. When you have conifer hedges like Leylandii, this is particularly helpful, since they can grow so tall that a homeowner or gardener will find them nigh on impossible to cope with using everyday tools.

Fairly quickly spiraling out of control, a hedge which is uncared for and poorly maintained has the opportunity to become overgrown. It's recommended that you clip your hedges on a regular basis, and this isn't purely to stop them from overwhelm large parts of your garden, but also to make them more visually appealing and heathier.

Neat hedges help to make your entire garden look tidier, and might even add to the value of your home in the UK, if at some point you have plans to sell it. You should also be able to obtain hedge trimming services in Wales, Northern Ireland, England, London, Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sheffield, Swansea, Greater Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool, and UK itself. (Tags: Hedge Cutting UK, Hedge Clipping UK, Hedge Maintenance UK, Hedge Trimming UK).

Logs/Firewood UK

Tree surgeons can be a good source for logs and firewood in the UK, if you are searching for this useful commodity. As the majority of their time is spent cutting down trees and branches, it is hardly surprising that many choose to adopt this as a lucrative sideline.

Recently cut down logs and branches are often available "free to collector" from certain the UK tree surgeons, who are simply pleased to get shot of them. Other local tree surgeons, who have the space to store them, will dry out and season the logs and sell them by the bag or lorry load, and will often even deliver them to your home.

Logs with a moisture content of below 20% are best for burning on your open fire or log burning stove, and these should have been left to dry out for a year or more. Tree surgeons in the UK will mainly have supplies of hardwood logs and these are brilliant for a sustained burn that will throw out heat for several hours. Softwood logs are fantastic for getting a fire going, so if you can get your hands on some of these too, that is going to be helpful.

The Skills and Knowledge Needed to be Tree Surgeons in the UK

• To be methodical and pay attention to detail.
• Be professional and capable of completing work within the specified time frame.
• Good customer skills.
• Have the ability to work well with your hands.
• Good knowledge of public safety and security.
• Have the ability to work successfully others.
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful circumstances.
• Have necessary computer skills and know how to accomplish basic tasks with handheld devices.
• Be conscious of the complexities and dangers involved in all areas of the work.
• Physical skills like coordination and movement.
• Be capable of using, maintaining and repairing machinery and tools.

Cable Bracing UK

A method which is employed to support 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 effective in certain circumstances. When older or specimen trees in the UK are involved, cable bracing is generally used where it's unsatisfactory to chop down a tree or remove large sections that are unstable.

In order to support weak limbs, V-shaped forks and poor joints in a tree, a specially designed cable bracing system can be installed. To help alleviate structural tension and prolong the lifespan of old and specimen trees most UK tree surgeons will be able to undertake different forms of bracing work through the installation of cables and rods.

Cable bracing has the goal of providing a shock-absorbing and flexible method of support that is non-invasive and does not damage the tree by drilling and bolting the branches. A comprehensive risk risk assessment, to ensure the safety of the tree and surrounding areas, needs to be done prior to the commencement of any cable bracing work in the UK.

The ISA (International Society of Arboriculture)

Having its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the International Society of Arboriculture, usually referred to as the ISA is an international, non-profit organisation that encourages the awareness and benefits of trees. Serving the tree care industry across the world, the ISA is a membership association that upholds the professional practice of arboriculture, providing credentials for tree care professionals.

The ISA has its focus on best tree care practices, inspiring individuals in the tree care sector develop their arboricultural expertise, knowledge and skills, by promoting educational events, services and publications.

After signing a partnership agreement with them the Arboricultural Association (AA) became an associate organisation of the ISA in 2016. This allowed the two organisations to strengthen their relationship, whilst offering more opportunities for anybody in the UK and Ireland who is a member of the ISA. Being part of a wide and varied global network of tree care professionals is something that ISA and AA members in the United Kingdom and Ireland are now able to enjoy. The International Society of Arboriculture now has over twenty two thousand members worldwide with associate organisations and professional affiliates in EXTRAshrub maintenance, root pruning, site clearance, tree pollarding in the UK, tree fertilising, woodchipping, tree bracing, damage restoration UK, tree topping, brush cutting services in the UK, crown lifting, tree management, vegetation management, drop crotching in the UK, waste removal, stump grinding, hedge laying, fruit tree pruning, crown removal, landscape clearance, tree waste removal, tree watering, landscaping, crown thinning UK, root flare exposure UK, stump removal in the UK, hedge lowering in the UK, shielding trees from grazing animals UK, cut sealing, root grinding in the UKTEN, and the United Kingdom.

Safety

One of the most important considerations with tree surgery in the UK is the health and safety aspect, because it is a dangerous procedure if tackled incorrectly. Unqualified or inexperienced "tree surgeons" are liable to cut corners and just ignore recognised safety advice, with the result that there could be a lack of head protection, falling timber and branches, not using hearing or eyesight protection, neglecting to cordon-off the work area to safeguard pedestrians and vehicles, little fall protection, in the shape of harnesses, platforms and ropes and failing to put on cut resistant clothing (especially safety boots and leggings). What can be in danger due to this form of incompetence are the people living in the property, vehicles, those working on the ground, the tree surgeon (up the tree), the street facilities, fencing and garden features, the home or property, passers by, the tree itself.

Tree Surgery Tasks UK

UK tree surgeons will likely help you with shrub maintenance, root pruning, site clearance, tree pollarding in the UK, tree fertilising, woodchipping, tree bracing, damage restoration UK, tree topping, brush cutting services in the UK, crown lifting, tree management, vegetation management, drop crotching in the UK, waste removal, stump grinding, hedge laying, fruit tree pruning, crown removal, landscape clearance, tree waste removal, tree watering, landscaping, crown thinning UK, root flare exposure UK, stump removal in the UK, hedge lowering in the UK, shielding trees from grazing animals UK, cut sealing, root grinding in the UK and other tree surgeon services in the UK, UK. These are just a handful of the duties that are undertaken by a tree surgeon. UK companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their full range of services.

Tree Care Services UK

Find a Tree Surgeon in the UK Here

• UK Woodchipping
• UK Tree Inspections
• UK Woodland Management
• UK Tree Maintenance
• UK Crown Removal
• UK Stump Removal
• UK Cable Bracing
• UK Tree Care
• UK Eco-Plugging
• UK Tree Pruning
• UK Root Decompaction
• UK Tree Removal
• UK Tree Watering
• UK Tree Reduction

Arboriculturalist - Stump Removal - Crown Lifting - Tree Surgeon - Root Removal - Tree Surgeons - Tree Management - Tree Stump Removal