Tree Surgeons St Leonards

There's a big risk of damaging property, trees or even life, for those in St Leonards who attempt to do tree work by themselves, or by using non-qualified personnel. However, tree work isn't even safe for qualified tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the risks involved with it. Within the profession there are a worrying average of 3 deaths and 140 major injuries per year, making it among the most hazardous jobs in Britain.

A damaged or neglected tree can also cause a danger to life, with around 5 people each year being fatally wounded by falling trees or branches in the United Kingdom. If there is an injury, or damage to property due to you employing someone to carry out tree work, you may be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. This is why it is important to employ a professional tree surgeon to work on your trees in St Leonards. (Figures sourced from HSE).

There are two major professional arboricultural bodies, one or both of which a decent tree surgeon in St Leonards should be a registered member of. You can check up on the professional status and membership of any St Leonards tree surgeon on the websites of either the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) or the AA (Arboricultural Association). This webpage allows you to check if any specific tree surgeon has Approved ARB Contractor status, and has membership of either of these two associations.

If there is a problem during or after any tree work has been accomplished you'll be able to communicate with these trade bodies for arbitration assistance and for help and guidance at any stage.

If anyone offers to provide you with a price quote for any tree work and they're not on this directory, you should respectfully decline their offer of work and carry on with your search for an approved tree surgeon. Once their professional accreditations and associations have been meticulously checked, you should try and get a minimum of 3 quotes from different companies in and around St Leonards. While acquiring these quotations you should ask the below questions, making it abundantly clear that you need to know the answers due to the risks involved with the work:

• What is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to show you an insurance certificate covering no less than £5 Million public liability, as recommended by the AA and ISA.
• Do you have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for chainsaw use, and documentary proof of your qualifications and professional memberships? Any tree surgeon using a chainsaw, must by law have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. City & Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture are qualifications that could be held by a certified St Leonards tree surgeon.
• Can you give me a quotation in writing? Verbal quotes alone are not satisfactory. Always get a written quote.
• Could I contact some past customers to check the quality of your workmanship? It's advisable to do an independent check of any recent work.

Easy to understand specifics of all the work that's being undertaken should be included on the written quote. Who is responsible for removing tree branches, stumps and debris should be stated, as should details of any trees which might be protected in law, and the necessary steps to get permission to carry out work on them. Unless you are a commercial business, you should also make certain VAT is included on the quote. You have a responsibility to hire only qualified tradespeople to work on your property and trees, and it is important to understand that fact. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - The tree surgeon you have chosen in St Leonards, will be able to look into whether any of your trees are under a TPO, and will consult with the local authority to find out if the green light for any tree surgery is possible. Even protected trees require maintenance in order to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure public safety, so finding a tree has protected status does not mean that work cannot be carried out.

A minimum of six weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be performed, if your property in St Leonards is located in a conservation area. This notice is not required if the stem of the tree is under 75 millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from ground level. If the thinning or pruning of a protected tree's branches are required in order to promote and sustain growth, notice is also not necessary.

On site they will carry out a thorough assessment of your trees and determine the remedial treatment required and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner. Public areas, your property and any parts of a neighbour's property that could be impacted by falling branches and debris will all be given a risk assessment. At this stage, the level of protection required and the amount of workforce needed will also be determined. This could include a number of safety measures along with PPE (personal protective equipment) to guarantee the safety of passers-by and nearby property.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the work area, cones, safety measures and barriers should be put in place before any tree felling, cutting of branches or climbing commences. When there's a chance of debris falling onto a public road, it may be necessary to stop the traffic temporarily.

The tree surgeon will need different levels of protection based on the kind of tree work being executed. At the very least when doing work with a chainsaw they will be wearing protective clothing to prevent cutting injuries to the hands, torso and legs. Every operative involved in the work, should at all times be wearing high-vis clothing, together with head and eye protection.

If working at height is involved, ladders and climbing equipment will have to be used, and extra workers will be there to help in the removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk. For removing waste materials, easy access to the site will be needed. So, it's a good idea to inform your next door neighbours, as a skip or pickup truck will need to be parked as close as possible to the work area while the work proceeds.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - The site can be cleared of all debris, and all of the waste can be transported away, once all of the work has been finished. Your tree surgeon should then sign off and give you a certificate of work done, particularly where the trees are covered by TPOs. Roads and pathways can then be re-opened, with any safety measures in public spaces being taken away.

Problems or issues should be rectified immediately by approaching your tree surgeon directly. If your tree surgeon is a registered member of a trade association, and there is any further dispute, you can obtain help and guidance from the ISA or AA so as to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Accidents Through Tree Surgery

As has been stated previously in this article, the work carried out by tree surgeons in St Leonards can be pretty dangerous. Tree work involves a risk of injuries to both operatives, co-workers and passers-by, therefore all possible safety measures should be implemented when working on trees.

The vast majority of fatal and serious injuries are linked to the use of chainsaws, falls from trees, and being hit by a falling branch or tree, as reported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In actual fact, the risk of sustaining a serious injury is higher in tree surgery work than it is for those in building and construction.

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

This should all help you understand why it is so important to employ a qualified tree surgeon in St Leonards. The majority of accidents that happen in the tree care industry are down to unskilled workers trying to tackle tasks that they are not properly trained in. So, try to always use an experienced and trustworthy company that's been working in the St Leonards area for a good few years, to avoid this type of problem.

Pollarding Trees St Leonards

Pollarding is primarily undertaken for basic safety reasons and is a technique for greatly decreasing the size of trees which have outgrown their present surroundings. This approach is from time to time employed for visual reasons to mould a tree into a particularly appealing form or shape. It is quite often seen on trees that function as borders or hedgerows, as well as trees which grow beside roads in St Leonards. For individuals who adore trees it is not a popular practice, as the result tends to be rather stark and bare, with the appearance of being almost lifeless. Tree species like beeches, maples, limes, oaks, horse chestnuts, sycamores and planes are regular contenders for pollarding, and the beneficial side of this process is that trees which might normally have to be cut down can be retained for the enjoyment of everyone. (Tags: Pollarding St Leonards, Tree Pruning St Leonards, Tree Pollarding St Leonards)

Conservation Areas & Tree Preservation Orders St Leonards

Before performing any major work on your trees in St Leonards, you should make certain that there is not a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) on any of them. You should talk to your local planning authority to find out if any of the trees within the boundaries of your property are subject to Tree Preservation Orders. You must not carry out removal, uprooting, wilful destruction, topping, wilful damage, felling or lopping, without written consent from your local authority, if a tree on your property is covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Any reputable tree surgeon in St Leonards will be ready to help you through this process.

For those of you whose home is within a conservation area in St Leonards, no less than six weeks written notice must be given to the local planning authority if you want to conduct any work on a tree with a diameter of 75 millimetres or more (1.5m from the ground).

Dutch Elm Disease

Devastating tree stocks and wiping out tens of millons of precious elm trees all around the UK over the last fifty years or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not so widespread now, as it was in the past. Unintentionally imported into the UK from North America (Canada) in the late 1960s, Dutch Elm Disease is spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus.

Its swift spread was ascribed mainly to elm products such as mulching bark, elm crates, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark still attached, being transported throughout Great Britain. This terrible disease did not only affect elms in the UK, but also devastated elm stocks in mainland Europe, North America and New Zealand. Although the origins of DED are as yet unproven, the suspicion is that it first originated in Asia (most likely Japan).

The first signs of Dutch Elm Disease are:

• Clusters of yellow leaves that wilt and then fall.
• Twigs that turn into a "shepherd's crook" shape.
• New shoots that die back from the tips.
• Dark streaks under the bark of twigs.

It generally starts to appear in early summer.

Due to disease and the subsequent felling of dead, infected and dying trees, there are now very few large elms remaining in the UK's countryside, therefore the spread has slowed down and the beetle's favourite habitat essentially decimated. The propagation of young saplings that are so far resistant to Dutch Elm Disease is a continuing project.

You can speak to your neighbourhood tree surgeon for guidance and advice, if you are suspicious you might have affected elm trees on your property in St Leonards, or you could ask for a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service (THDAS), for which there is a fee.

Leylandii Hedge Removal

In St Leonards, many property owners favour the Leylandii hedge due to its fast growth and ability to offer privacy. Nonetheless, they have the tendency to grow out of control and become hard to keep in check. If you are planning to remove a Leylandii hedge, there are several crucial factors to take into account. The first step is to confirm that the hedge isn't safeguarded by any legal designations such as a Tree Preservation Order. In the event that the hedge is safeguarded, you will require permission from the local council before proceeding with its removal. Furthermore, Leylandii hedges may have sprawling root systems, emphasizing the need to employ a skilled tree surgeon to remove the hedge and its roots safely. Lastly, it's imperative to dispose of the hedge waste in an environmentally responsible manner once it's removed. In a nutshell, removing a Leylandii hedge can be a hazardous and time-consuming enterprise, necessitating the adoption of necessary safety measures and potentially engaging the services of a professional.

Skills and Knowledge Necessary for Tree Surgeons in St Leonards

• To be able to carry out basic tasks on a hand-held device or computer.
• Be professional and capable of completing work within the specified timeframe.
• Have a good understanding of public safety measures.
• Have the ability to use, maintain and repair tools and machinery.
• Be patient and have the ability to stay focused in stressful situations.
• Be aware of the dangers and complexities involved with the various areas of work.
• Have the ability to work happily with others.
• Good customer skills.
• Be able to work with your hands.
• To be meticulous and pay close attention to detail.
• Physical skills such as movement and co-ordination.

Logs/Firewood St Leonards

Of course, you may be looking for a tree surgeon for an entirely different reason, because they are frequently a great source for firewood and logs in St Leonards. As tree surgeons spend a good deal or their time chopping down trees and branches, I suppose this is not really surprising.

Some St Leonards tree surgeons will charge you for seasoned and chopped logs which have been dried out and are ready to burn, whilst others will be happy to give you branches and logs cost-free, since they usually have an excess of them to get rid of.

The ideal logs to burn on your open fire or log burning stove will be those that have a moisture content of less than 20%, and will have been dried out for at least 12 months. The advantage of getting logs from tree surgeons, is that these are likely to be mostly hardwood logs, that will generate heat for 3 or 4 hours, and give a sustained burn. If you are also able to lay your hands on some softwood logs, these are superb for getting a fire started, and upon which you can chuck your hardwood logs once the fire is blazing.

Tree Surveys St Leonards

There are a number of instances when a tree survey may be required, land development and property extension being the most common. As required by British Standards BS5837, if you're clearing a piece of land to make way for a new house or an extension to an existing property in St Leonards, and trees are growing on that land, you may need to implement a professional tree survey. St Leonards tree surveys on both private and public property, should be carried out by a certified tree surgeon or tree surveyor.

If a tree survey is conducted correctly, it will glean a whole bunch of information about the trees located within the area specified. For example:

• The height of each tree in metres.
• The health of the trees.
• The branch spread towards the West, East, North and South.
• The ages of the trees (i.e. young, semi-mature, mature, over-mature and veteran).
• The species of trees (either scientific or common).
• The life expectancy of the trees.
• The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above the ground).
• The existence of any TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders).
• Allocating a unique tree reference number for every tree.
• The number of trees (those of more than 75mm diameter 1.5m from ground level).
• Tree management recommendations.

If you are carrying out work on an existing property or home in St Leonards, and are not modifying the access points or service lines, or increasing the footprint of the property, you will most likely not need to carry out a tree survey. (Tags: Tree Survey St Leonards, Tree Surveys St Leonards, St Leonards Tree Surveys, Tree Surveyors St Leonards).

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Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks St Leonards

St Leonards tree surgeons can usually help with waste removal, root pruning, hedge lowering, shrub maintenance in St Leonards, stump removal, tree planning, retrenchment pruning, tree pollarding in St Leonards, tree planting St Leonards, formative pruning, crown reduction in St Leonards, removal of storm damaged trees, landscaping in St Leonards, landscape clearing, cabling, tree surveys, tree bracing, tree cutting, tree watering, stump grinding in St Leonards, hedge trimming in St Leonards, woodland clearances, tree lightening protection St Leonards, woodchipping, tree removal, root removal, crown raising, damage restoration, cut sealing St Leonards, tree transplanting in St Leonards, damaged tree cutting and removal, tree pruning St Leonards, hedge laying, tree reshaping, forestry management St Leonards and other tree surgeon services in St Leonards, Dorset. These are just a selection of the tasks that are carried out by tree surgeons. St Leonards companies will tell you about their full range of services.

More St Leonards Trades: Needless to say, when you happen to be having tree surgery done in St Leonards, Dorset, you will probably be in need of other garden related services, and aside from a tree surgeon in St Leonards, Dorset, you may also need garden waste removal in St Leonards, weeding services in St Leonards, garden planning and design in St Leonards, garden clearances in St Leonards, garden shed installers in St Leonards, artifical grass in St Leonards, SKIP HIRE in St Leonards, patio installers in St Leonards, landscaping in St Leonards, fence fitters in St Leonards, hedge trimming in St Leonards, grass cutting in St Leonards, block pavers in St Leonards, garden wall construction in St Leonards, pond maintenance in St Leonards, garden decking in St Leonards, and other different St Leonards tradespeople.

Tree Surgeons Near St Leonards: Also find: Woodlands tree surgeons, Ashley Heath tree surgeons, Matchams tree surgeons, Crow tree surgeons, Horton tree surgeons, Colehill tree surgeons, Hightown tree surgeons, Edmondsham tree surgeons, Three Legged Cross tree surgeons, Hampreston tree surgery and more. Most of these villages and towns are serviced by trained tree surgeons. St Leonards home and business owners can get quotations by going here.

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