Bucks Plant Care Ltd

Tree surveys

We carry out tree surveys to assist planning applications gain approval. It is a standard requirement now with all local authorities to consider trees where a development is taking place. This is to ensure that trees worthy of retention are facilitated within the design process and are protected during the demolition and construction phase.
 

In both cases trees are plotted onto as scaled plan.

Tree reports
Arboricultural reports are the basis of presenting the information to enable the local authority officer to determine the impact of a proposed development on surrounding trees.

Arboricultural/Tree reports for development planning applications must be written in line with BS5837 (2012) Trees in relation to demolition, design and construction - Recommendations. This standard was written in order to ensure that quality trees are retained on a development site and that they are protected during the construction process.
 

The process has 5 main stages:

 1. The tree survey

Tree surveys are required for two main reasons:
 

1. Tree safety and
2. Development of a site

An arboricultural survey must be carried out by an experienced and qualified arboriculturist. Whether the survey is for planning or safety purposes the following basic data should be collected:

1. Site
2. Location
3. Reference
4. Species
5. Stem diameter
6. Height
7. Branch spread
8. Life stage
9. General observations
10. Remaining contribution
11. Proposed works

For development purposes a quality category is recorded and for safety purposes a risk assessment factor is noted.

Tree safety

Tree owners have a duty of care to ensure that their trees are in a healthy and safe condition.
A risk assessment or tree safety survey should be carried out by a professionally qualified and experienced arboriculturist.

 2. The Tree Constraints Plan (TCP)

This is a commonly overlooked aspect of the planning process for a development, which can be costly when new architect designs need to be drawn up.
 

 3. The Arboricultural Impact Assessment plan (AIA)

The arboricultural impact assessment plan illustrates the impact that the proposed development has nearby trees. The ideal situation is that proposed works are located outside the Root Protection Areas (RPA) in order to ensure that those retained trees are not harmed.

In some situations it may not be possible to avoid all trees to accomplish the desired scheme/project. In those cases some trees may need to be removed if it is justified. In order situations the impact may not require removal but may require other measures to ensure the retention of those trees. This can be achieved by various means; trial excavations to determine if roots are growing in the area in question and the use of engineering solutions.

 4. The Tree Protection Plan (TPP)

Tree protection during a development is the essence of what the whole process is about as the most important factor is to ensure the retained trees will not be harmed and will flourish after the construction has been completed .

 5. The Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS)

The propose of the arboricultural method statement (AMS) is to lay out the process of ensuring retained trees are protected during the demolition and construction stage of the development.  
 

Examples of areas covered by an AMS :

1.  Identification of trees to be retained and protected
2.  Responsibilities and emergency contact details
3.  Planning operations
4.  Tree Protection measures
5.  Phasing of construction
6.  Special construction techniques
7.  Site compound
8.  Material storage
9.  Site monitoring
10.  Site awareness