Tree Surveys & Reports
Know What You're
Working With.
Whether you're developing a site, selling a property, managing risk, or dealing with a council, a professional arboricultural report gives you the information and authority to proceed with confidence.
BS 5837 Tree Surveys (Planning)
If you're applying for planning permission on a site with trees, your local planning authority will almost certainly require a tree survey carried out to British Standard BS 5837:2012, "Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction."
The survey classifies trees by category (A: high quality, B: moderate, C: low, U: remove) and maps their root protection areas. This informs what can and can't be built on the site, and what protective measures are required during construction.
We produce BS 5837 tree surveys with accompanying Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) and Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) where required. Reports are produced to a standard accepted by planning authorities across Kent and Greater London.
Tree Risk & Condition Reports
As a landowner, you have a legal duty of care to ensure that trees on your property do not pose an unacceptable risk to people or property. A tree condition survey identifies hazardous trees, quantifies the level of risk, and provides a prioritised schedule of recommended works.
We carry out condition surveys for private landowners, schools, housing associations, commercial landlords and managing agents. Reports include photographs, tree schedule, risk ratings and recommended action: everything you need to demonstrate due diligence.
TPO & Conservation Area Advice
Before any work on a protected tree, you need to understand what you're permitted to do, and what requires consent. We advise on TPO and Conservation Area restrictions, check the local register, and help you understand your options.
We can also assist with preparation of TPO consent applications where consent is required, setting out the justification for the proposed works in terms the local authority will accept.
Pre-Purchase Tree Reports
Buying a property with mature trees? A pre-purchase inspection can identify trees that may require costly work, flag TPO restrictions you'd inherit, and highlight any signs of disease or structural defects that aren't visible to the untrained eye.
Report Types
- BS 5837 Survey
- For planning applications
- AIA
- Arboricultural Impact Assessment
- AMS
- Arboricultural Method Statement
- Condition Survey
- Risk management & duty of care
- Pre-purchase
- Property buyers & solicitors
- TPO advice
- Consent applications & compliance
Who commissions tree surveys?
- Property developers & architects
- Planning consultants
- Solicitors (pre-purchase)
- Schools & local authorities
- Housing associations
- Commercial landlords & managing agents
- Private homeowners
Cost
What the price depends on.
- How many trees need assessing
- What the survey is for, such as planning or peace of mind
- The size of the site
Every quote is free, written and itemised, with no obligation to go ahead.
Our guide to tree surgery costs →“The team are always very considerate and do exactly what is quoted for.”
What is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?
A legal protection the council places on a specific tree, group of trees or woodland. It's an offence to prune, fell or damage a TPO tree without the council's written consent. We can check whether your tree is protected and handle the application for you. Check for TPOs at your address
Do I need permission to cut down a tree?
Most garden trees need no permission. If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you need written consent from the council before any work. If you're in a Conservation Area, you must give the council six weeks' notice before working on trees with a trunk over 7.5cm. Even dead trees under a TPO or in a Conservation Area need 5 working days' notice. Unauthorised work on a protected tree can bring an unlimited fine. We check TPO and Conservation Area status before every job. Check your tree in 30 seconds
What is Ash Dieback and does it affect my tree?
A fungal disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) affecting ash trees across the UK. Signs include wilting and blackened leaves, bark lesions and the canopy dying back. Infected trees become brittle and hazardous, and as a landowner you're responsible for managing trees that pose a risk. If you have an ash showing symptoms, get it assessed. Ash dieback explained