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Edited by Ali Lijee Edited by Ali LijeeTrees are essential for our comfort, well-being, and their visual appeal, which is why tree surveys and assessments are an essential service to maintain the vitality of trees on a property.
Landowners, developers, local planning authorities, and many other private individuals and professionals may require a tree survey for specific purposes, so it’s essential to choose a responsible, qualified arborist to carry out this task to abide by all laws and regulations.
The below guide aims to inform the reader of tree surveys and assessments in the UK and why they may be needed.
Table of contents
- What are tree surveys & assessments?
- Why are tree surveys & assessments needed?
- Types of tree surveys and assessments
- The tree survey process explained
- What information is recorded in a tree survey?
- How to get tree surveys & assessments near you
- Tree surveys & assessments in the UK: frequently asked questions
- Get a tree survey & assessment quote today
What are tree surveys & assessments?
A tree survey is a thorough inspection of one or more trees which evaluates things like the tree’s condition, location, potential hazards, and its impact on a property. Tree surveys are typically carried out by qualified surveyors and arboricultural professionals in the UK and can vary in depth and complexity depending on the context and purpose.
Given the importance of trees in the UK and the amenity value they can bring, knowing the status of a tree can greatly assist in keeping people safe, preserving the tree’s health and averting death or disease, and maintaining safety for property.
Assessment of a tree can reveal important information to homeowners, prospective homebuyers, contractors and project managers for new developments, insurers, solicitors, local planning authorities and tree officers, and many other private individuals or organisations. Tree surveys and assessments can often be crucial for meeting planning and/or legal requirements in the UK.
Why are tree surveys & assessments needed?
Tree surveys and assessments may be needed for many different reasons. Here are a few of the most common:
- Safety: arborists can determine whether a tree is safe or unsafe, as well as survey the crown and root system for signs of imbalance or damage that could pose a threat to safety.
- Development planning: contractors commonly require a comprehensive BS5837-compliant tree survey for the proposed development’s impact on trees.
- Subsidence and damage mitigation: tree root movement can cause damage to foundation walls and structures, lead to soil erosion or compaction issues.
- Insurance: insurers may require a tree survey as evidence in their investigation of issues such as subsistence or damage caused by trees.
- Before purchasing a new home: pre-purchase home inspections commonly include tree surveys which can be useful for prospective homebuyers as well as sellers to show full clarity regarding the actual condition of the property.
Benefits of tree surveys & assessments
There are many benefits to having one or more trees surveyed. Some of the most common include:
- Improved public safety: identification of hazardous trees, branches, or roots can greatly assist tree surgeons in rectifying the situation and improving public safety.
- Preserves the long-term vitality of trees: arborists can determine the presence of tree diseases and develop strategies to contain the disease and improve the vitality of the tree.
- Full clarity on tree status: a tree survey can immediately notify the property owner about the full status of one or more trees, including possible protection statuses such as Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) placed on a tree.
- Full legal compliance: maintain compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to trees and wildlife by having a survey conducted before any works take place.
Tree surveys and assessments are often necessary for development planning, insurance, and general public safety reasons
Types of tree surveys and assessments
Since there are many reasons why one might want (or need) to have a tree surveyed, there are many different types of surveys that arborists can carry out depending on the needs of the client. While not comprehensive, the most common types of tree surveys and assessments are:
BS5837 tree surveys
The most common type of tree survey adheres to BS5837:2012: Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. It’s a specific type of survey used for planning applications, and developers require one in order to ascertain the potential impact of developments on trees.
The study should be comprehensive and include a full set of recommendations for any trees identified as being under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), as well as various assessments to be shared with local planning authorities and the client (often the developer).
Some of the assessments that a BS5837 tree survey considers are:
- Tree retention value: systematic categorisation of every tree and how important it is to maintain.
- Tree constraints plan: detailed outline of tree canopies and root systems which could potentially impact the development.
- Arboricultural Impact Assessment: a study of the potential impacts of the proposed development on existing trees and risk assessment strategies for each tree.
BS5837 recognises the visual amenity value and importance of trees in our gardens and in public spaces. It’s essential for the progress of a development and for decision-making, so developers and all key stakeholders in a project (e.g. architects, builders, local planning authorities, etc.) preferably need a BS5837 tree survey as early in the planning stage as possible.
Subsidence tree report
Whenever trees are located in close proximity to a structure, there is a risk of subsidence. Clay soils are especially prone to shrinkage and consequent subsidence because the tree’s roots absorb moisture from the soft soil, and the soil movement may damage foundation walls or otherwise damage nearby structures.
A subsidence tree report identifies the subsidence damage and proposes recommendations to remediate the damage. Typically, the subsidence report includes a geotechnical soil analysis, tree root inspection, a heave analysis, building movement monitoring, and vegetation surveys.
Clients that normally request subsidence tree reports are homeowners themselves, insurance adjusters, geotechnical engineers, and structural engineers. The recommendations of a subsidence report often include remediation techniques such as soil and vegetation management, installation of tree root protection barriers, and reinforcing foundation walls.
Tree condition survey
Property owners who are concerned about the health and/or safety of one or more trees on their property commonly request a tree condition survey.
Residential property owners must abide by the Occupiers Liability Act 1954/1980 and demonstrate a duty of care for anyone on their property. This includes managing trees so that they do not pose a risk to people or property. Pruning away dead or damaged branches and removing trees at risk of falling over can be effective ways to remain compliant with the act and to keep people safe.
Commercial property owners must also abide by this act, but they are also bound by an obligation under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure that tree condition surveys are routinely taken.
Tree condition surveys consider the health of one or more trees on a property, including an inspection for disease and decay, the structural integrity of a tree, and the risks they may potentially pose to people and/or property.
Tree Preservation Orders
Any tree or group of trees in the UK could be designated as a protected tree, including trees located in private gardens. This could make it challenging or even impossible to fell the tree or even to prune it legally.
The most common method of protection for one or more trees is through the local planning authority issuing a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. Illegally felling a TPO-protected tree could lead to unlimited fines or even criminal prosecution.
Anyone who needs work done on a TPO-protected tree must submit a formal application to carry out works to the local planning authority, typically with a minimum 8-week waiting period and no guarantee of whether or not permission will be granted. If denied, applicants may submit an appeal to the Secretary of State within a 28-day period.
Trees located within Conservation Areas will also require permission; the waiting period for a Conservation Area tree is normally around 6 weeks.
Arborists can request TPOs be placed or revoked from one or more trees, submit applications for proposed works to be carried out on protected trees, negotiate consent dealings, and ensure full compliance is met with regard to protected trees in the UK.
Pre-purchase tree survey and report for properties
Anyone looking to purchase property in the UK should strongly consider a pre-purchase survey. While not a legal requirement, a pre-purchase survey containing a tree survey can highlight any necessary or desired remedial works that need to be undertaken, which can potentially affect the negotiating price.
A tree survey is normally one of many elements that a property surveyor will conduct during an on-site visit. The survey should consist of a feasibility study, including any constraints such as the root system and subsidence, cracked or damaged branches, or signs of disease or decay in trees located on the property. It will also evaluate whether the tree(s) are subject to TPOs or Conservation Area restrictions.
Other tree surveys & assessments
Depending on your needs and circumstances, there are many other tree surveys and assessments that may be beneficial to you. Arboricultural professionals across the UK may provide tree surveys beyond those listed above.
Some examples include technical surveys of internally decayed trees (PiCUS testing), geotechnical and soil plasticity testing, property mortgage and re-mortgage tree surveys, insurance assessments, and more.
One specific type of survey that may be retained on behalf of a homeowner or a neighbour is a tree survey for boundary disputes, or a survey for litigation purposes or witness testimony in the event of a tree injuring someone or causing damage to property. These surveys should always be conducted in a manner that adheres to the standards of law courts.
Beyond these surveys of existing trees, arboricultural professionals may also provide detailed tree planting and management consultancy. This is often subcontracted to landscape architects, architects, and engineers during the planning phases of a new development. Qualified arborists can assist with selecting suitable species, identifying optimal planting locations, and developing management plans to ensure the vitality of proposed trees and other vegetation.
There are many types of tree surveys available for many different reasons, but the most common tends to be BS5837 tree surveys for development planning
The tree survey process explained
All tree surveys are different from one another, but they generally have a few things in common. The tree survey process tends to follow the steps below:
- Site visit: a qualified arboricultural professional will visit the property in-person to survey the tree.
- Initial assessment: the arborist will assess for signs of decay, disease, or deadwood, signs of incline or crown imbalance, the tree’s species and approximate age category, and management needs (e.g. tree pruning, tree removal, or retention).
- Tree measurements: detailed measurements are taken with tools of the tree’s incline, stem diameter, crown radius, total height, and root protection area.
- Photography and field notes: several photographs will be taken of the surveyed trees and the arborist will note anything of importance whilst there in person.
- Mapping: upon returning to the office, the arborist will prepare a detailed site plan (typically at a 1:500 scale) of the tree(s). The plan will contain the crown and root spread, location on the property, and relevant dimensions (distance to structures, right-of-way, etc.).
- Submission of report and key findings: all relevant findings will be enclosed in a report, and key recommendations made. This report will be submitted to the client and/or any relevant authorities or stakeholders.
Note that many of these steps may be optional, depending on the type of survey. Moreover, it is assumed that the survey is for one tree. Surveys for multiple trees follow the same steps but will naturally take longer.
Tree surveys typically include many key details recorded during in-person visits from qualified arboricultural professionals
What information is recorded in a tree survey?
A tree survey will include all relevant information about one or more trees on a property, depending on the purpose and context of the survey. Information that is typically recorded in a tree survey includes:
- Species (common name and scientific Latin name)
- Height of tree and stem, clearance
- Diameter of the stem
- Crown spread (lateral radius in all cardinal directions)
- Age classification
- Quality and retention classification as per BS5837: A, B, C, or U
- Health and structural condition
- Root protection area
- Unique identification number (if required for a site plan)
- Boundary features, proximity to structures, hedgerows, and/or other vegetation
- Presence of nesting birds, roosting bats, or other wildlife
- Protection status, e.g. TPOs and Conservation Areas
A tree survey typically records all relevant information about one or more trees
How to get tree surveys & assessments near you
Whether you want a tree survey for peace of mind and to exercise due diligence or you require one for planning reasons or otherwise, it’s essential to leave this important task only to a qualified arboricultural professional near you.
Whereas many tree surgeons excel at performing routine day-to-day tree pruning, stump grinding, and other similar services, tree surveys are often conducted by professional arborists who may or may not also provide tree surgery services.
For compliance, safety, and the vitality of trees, the best way to get a tree survey or assessment near you is to contact an arborist through a platform such as TreeMend.
Get no-obligation quotes for tree surveys & assessments near you by using TreeMend
Tree surveys & assessments in the UK: frequently asked questions
How much does a tree survey cost?
According to our tree surgery pricing guide, the average cost of retaining a tree survey in the UK is around £340. The price tends to range from around £280 to £385, although some comprehensive surveys could cost up to around £1,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the survey.
Who can tell me what is wrong with my tree?
If you suspect something is wrong with your tree, you should contact a tree surgeon or arborist at your earliest possible convenience. For hazardous trees or emergency tree service, a tree surgeon can assist you. For less-urgent matters such as diagnosing the health and condition of a tree, call a qualified arborist.
Is a tree survey a legal requirement?
A tree survey is not itself a legal requirement, but it is for all intents and purposes necessary for proposed development applications and many other situations. BS5837 tree surveys are the industry standard in the UK and are practically required by local planning requirements, whereas other forms of tree survey may be necessary for boundary disputes, insurance claims, and to request works on TPO-protected trees, for example.
Does a house survey check trees?
Property surveyors typically analyse the structure(s) and exterior elements of a property, including trees. Qualified arborists can assist with pre-purchase home inspections by surveying the status of all trees on a property.
What is the purpose of a tree survey?
A tree survey could serve many different purposes depending on who commissions it and in which circumstances it is desired or needed. Most tree surveys in the UK are required for BS5837 compliance during development planning; their purpose is to determine the impact of the development on existing trees.
How long does a tree survey take?
Most tree surveys take less than a day to conduct, but some may take up to five working days. The in-person visit typically takes a day or less, but preparation of site plans, the report, and key findings and recommendations may take a few days to complete. It’s best to enquire with a qualified arborist near you about your specific needs to obtain a more accurate timeline and quote.
What should a tree survey include?
A tree survey should include all information relevant to the purpose of the survey, which often includes details such as the tree’s species and dimensions, location, proximity to structures and boundary lines, general health and condition, and its protection status.
What is the method of tree survey?
Tree surveys are typically conducted with one or more qualified arboricultural professionals using tools such as laser rangefinders, clinometers, measuring tape, notepads, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Most surveys can be performed from the ground, but in rare cases the arborist may need to climb the tree with harnessing equipment or a mobile elevated work platform.
What is a tree consultant called?
Tree consultants often use different terms for their profession, depending on their area of expertise. All tree surgeons and consultants who work with trees in private gardens and public spaces - but not in woodlands and forestry - fall under the category of arboriculture, so a general term would be arboricultural professional. They are commonly referred to as arborists or arboriculturalists.
Who is qualified to do a tree survey?
Any arboricultural professional with a Level 4 Certificate or Level 5 Diploma in Arboriculture and requisite educational qualifications in arboriculture ought to be sufficiently qualified to operate as a consultant and provide tree surveys in compliance with British Standards, as well as laws and regulations pertaining to trees and wildlife. Membership with a professional arboricultural organisation is a strong indicator of a responsible arborist.
Get a tree survey & assessment quote today
Whether you’ve got a tree on your property that looks a little suspicious or you’re a developer, architect, insurance adjuster, or other professional in need of a detailed tree survey, your best choice for affordable tree surveys and assessments near you is to use TreeMend.