Our clients often ask us to investivate and advise on the safety of :

• leaning trees
• trees with decayed wood, cracks or hollows
• trees with fungi on the ground around them or on the trunks or branches
• trees with exudations
• trees close to buildings and public places

In such cases we test trees using the most advanced up-to-date 3D internal decay and crack mapping equipment. In combination with wood strength testing apparatus we produce scientifically valid evidence in assessing the condition and vigour of trees. Based on this data we are able to accurately define hazards and produce meaningful risk calculations. From this we develop prioritised work schedules to address identified hazards and present management plans to maintain trees in an acceptible condition.

We are skilled in the examination of symptoms of diseased trees and those affected by pests or abiotic factors to determine the cause of poor health. Treatments can then be applied to preserve the tree when possible to maintain its appearance and prolong safe life expectancy.

For those responsible for trees to which there is close public or employee access it is important to remember that trees are the responsibility of their owners. Owners are liable in the event of property damage or personal injury if they can not prove a competent inspection and maintenence system. These responsibilities are laid out in the Occupiers Liability Act. Tree owners have been sucessfully sued for damage and injury caused by their trees which have not been competently inspected. We offer a system designed to satisy your responsibilities to ensure that your trees are properly inspected and remain in a condition that does not pose unreasonable risk. To achieve this, we provide comprehensive survey and inspection services presenting the owner with a detailed plan indicating positions of trees in their grounds, identification of species, age and size together with a description of the condition, risk and hazards presented by each tree and prioritised details of works needed to establish acceptible levels of risk.

The scale of or work ranges from a single tree in a residential garden through to entire golf courses or housing associations with hundreds of trees.

2. Developments and buildings-trees interactions
Developers of sites have a responsibility to ensure that trees to be retained on the site will be appropriate to the development and that they will not pose unaceptible risk to that development.

To maintain trees in a healthy and stable condition it is important that they are properly integrated into the development and protected during development. We work alongside planners, architects and construction companies from the very beginning of the planning stage to completion. We produce Tree Surveys and Tree Constraints Plans then work with the planning and design team to develop an Arboricultural Implications Assessment which leads to a Tree Protection Plan. We ensure trees are given the protection they need during development. We work to British Standards recommendations and follow BRE guidelines.

Other tree-building problems we work with clients to resolve include:

• High hedge disputes
• Determination of risk, or cause of, subsidence related to trees. We work in collaboration with structural engineers and soil testing laboratories to effectively manage full mitigation including felling / pruning of implicated trees, underpinning and installation of root barriers.
• Microscopic / genetic identification of tree roots responsible for, trespass, damage and subsidence.

We also offer Homebuyers Reports for potential property buyers and mortgage providers to report hazard assessment and potential for subsidence.

We work with solicitors in nuisance claims related to trees.

3. Tree Preservation Orders, Conservation Areas and Planning Conditions
Many trees are given legal protection under several instruments available to local authorities.

We regularly help owners of trees to demonstrate the need for work to, or even felling of, protected trees, even when previously refused by the local authority. We have a great history of successful applications for consent for works to trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas.

Owners are often concerned about the potential of trees close to buildings or public areas to cause damage or personal injury in the event of the tree blowing over or branches snapping. Sometimes trees can cause excessive shading, leaf fall can block gutters and aphids can cause damaging deposits, branches can interfere with access. Perhaps a tree has simply outgrown its position.

We can evaluate whether percieved hazards and risks are significant.

Our report will allow the client to be reassured or to allow them to take forward their concerns to the local authority backed with our expert opinions and evidence. We usually submit an application for works to protected trees to the local authority directly on your behalf, saving you the stress and hastle, and maximising the liklihood of obtaining a favourable outcome.

4. Accident Investigation and Legal Expert Reports
Section 1 above describes our services designed to prevent accidents and damage. Our systems work because many tree failures and accidents caused by trees are predictable given appropriate knowledge, experience and equipment.

We also offer services to owners of trees that have caused damage or personal injury. We can establish whether failure of a tree or part of it, or an accident caused by a tree, such as tripping over root damaged pavements, would have been reasonably foreseeable to a competent inspector prior to the incident and hence whether the owner of the tree is liable. Our report can form an important part of your defense.

We also offer services to individuals, and solicitors representing them, who have suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of trees. We have prepared a number of expert reports for cases in which tree owners, including local authorities and highway agencies, have been taken to court and sued for damages.

Payne Arboricultural Consultancy works with those responsible for trees. If you own, occupy or manage any property with trees on it, this means you.

Arboriculture means anything to do with trees.

Our clients include homeowners, businesses, local and county councils, highway authorities, golf clubs, estates, farms, churches, schools, developers, architects, builders, landlords, housing associations, insurance companies, solicitors, etc..

We offer an expert service in all aspects of arboriculture throughout the UK.

Our Principal Consultant holds a Ph.D. in wood, fungi and trees; Professional Membership of both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Arboricultural Association; has published work in several scientific and trade journals and has over 15 years experience in the field. He personally undertakes all our site inspections and writes all our reports.

Unlike some consultancies we do not employ second rate surveyors or use sub-contractors or students. Furthermore, we do not undertake any tree surgery work, so no conflict of interest can occur. All our work is always in the best interest of the client and their trees.

Our website aims to give just a brief flavour of what we do. For more information and to discuss how we can help you, please call on our local-rate phone number 0844 800 7377, write or email.