Introduction
The purpose of this leaflet is to help anyone who needs to
engage a tree surgeon for advice or to carry out the pruning or
felling of a tree.
Engaging a tree surgeon should not be taken lightly. It
should be treated in much the same way as if you were engaging a
plumber or an electrician.
Carrying out works to a tree can be dangerous both to the tree
surgeon and other people around him. We strongly advise
therefore that you only engage a suitably qualified and competent
person.
Find a suitable tree surgeon
There are a number of ways you can find a tree surgeon,
including:
Advertisements in the Yellow Pages
Advertisements in your local parish news.
A personal referral
Someone you already know.
The Arboricultural Association, which is the principal national
body of the arboricultural profession, maintains a quality
assurance scheme for arboricultural consultants and tree surgeons
through its register of approved consultants and contractors. (see
contact address and telephone number overleaf)
Are there recognised standards
for tree work?
Yes. There are British Standards for tree work which
include most of the common operations likely to be carried out.
The two main British Standards are British Standard 3998:1989
‘British Standard Recommendations for Tree Work’ and British
Standard 5837:1991 ‘Trees in Relation to Construction’
Will I be breaking the
law if I carry out works to my trees?
In many cases trees are protected by law. These include
trees in a Conservation Area or trees that are
covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Your tree
surgeon should be able to find this out for you but if you are
unsure Ask Us
First. We have separate leaflets entitled A Guide to
Trees in Conservation Areas and A Guide to Tree Preservation
Orders.
If your trees are protected then you or your tree surgeon
will need to either notify the Council or obtain the Council’s
consent before works can be carried out.
If the works to your tree(s) are being carried out in connection
with building or related work we have another leaflet called Trees
on Development Sites which gives advice about tree protection
during construction work.
How do I know which tree surgeon to
choose?
You should always consider the following points:
Is he/she qualified?
Most tree surgeons have a recognised qualification. They usually
refer to this in advertisements or on letter heads, but don’t be
afraid to ask if you’re not sure. If they are qualified
they’ll be happy to let you have details.
Does the tree surgeon have the necessary insurance?
Given the nature of tree surgery work it is essential that the
tree surgeon is insured.
This insurance should include professional indemnity insurance
to cover them for the advice they give, but most importantly,
public liability insurance should something go wrong. It is
not uncommon for tree surgeons to be covered for a liability of up
to £2,000,000.
You should never engage a tree surgeon who is unwilling to show
you a copy of his public liability insurance and you are strongly
advised at least to ask to see a valid certificate of
insurance.
There are very strict regulations regarding safety equipment
used by tree surgeons to ensure their own safety and the safety of
others around them. This includes proper signage, especially
if working within the vicinity of members of the public and
roads.
Obtain a quotation
No matter how small the job is, it is always advisable to obtain
a written quotation so that you are sure how much you will be
paying, including VAT if applicable. Do not accept estimates for
work as these is likely to change.
Is everything included in the price?
The quotation should include full details of the work to be
carried out including the removal of prunings, stumps etc. If
you are unsure, ask the tree surgeon if there are likely to be any
other costs.
If this is the first time you’ve had to undertake works to trees
and/or your are unsure what would be a reasonable cost to pay for
the work, it would be a good idea to get at least two (and
preferably three) written quotations, but be sure that each quote
is for similar works, otherwise this may not help you in making
your decision.
All written quotations should include the company or tree
surgeon’s name, address and a contact telephone number.
Clearing away the rubbish
Pruning or felling trees can produce a lot of waste
material. Make sure that your tree surgeon has included the
removal and disposal of this in his quotation. If you are
able to burn logs or would like to create a log pile habitat in
your garden you may be able to reduce the cost of the work by not
having to dispose of these.
Most tree surgeons use a mechanical wood chipper. The
woodchips could be left in the garden to use as a mulch around
trees or shrubs. This helps to reduce the cost.
There is government legislation covering the transport and
disposal of waste which includes prunings from trees. Whilst
this is the responsibility of the tree surgeon, you may wish to
find out more.
Quick checklist for employing a tree
surgeon
-
Find a suitable tree surgeon
-
Is he/she qualified?
-
Does he/she work to British Standards?
-
Does he/she have the necessary insurance?
-
Obtain a quotation
-
Is everything included in the price?
-
Are my trees protected by law?
