Argyll Tree Surveys

We specialise in tree surveys for planning, mortgages, health and safety, pests and diseases

Argyll Tree Surveys

Comprehensive Tree Surveys

Argyll Tree Surveys provides expert arboricultural services to meet all your tree-related needs. With 29 years' experience, we offer comprehensive reports and advice to satisfy planning authorities, Scottish Forestry, mortgage lenders and insurers. Services include health and safety and pest and disease assessments.

PLANNING

Scottish Ministers and planning authorities must ensure that, in considering development proposals, adequate provision is made for the preservation of trees https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/8/part/VII/chapter/I. As such, planning applications that may impact upon trees, both within and directly adjacent to the redline boundary* should include a tree survey in accordance BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. Recommendations. Correctly used, BS 5837 is a design tool which allows trees to be assessed prior to, and independently of, the design and layout processes with the findings of the tree survey used to inform these processes; the aim being that best/better trees can then be considered for successful (long-term) retention within new development (by adopting calculable tree-development distances and suitable orientation and fenestration of structures to minimise perceived disbenefits of retained trees in new developments).

Whilst trees are only a single planning consideration amongst a plethora of others, trees are not uncommonly one of the most emotive of planning issues; dealing with trees in the proper fashion tends to result in less contentious, prompter, more successful planning outcomes. Additionally, most planning consents will require details of how retained trees are to be protected on development sites. Argyll Tree Surveys also provides this service (either separately or as part of the initial BS 5837 survey; this depends upon the nature and scale of development).

*the minimum requirement for a planning location plan; highlighting the area of land included in an application for planning permission

Received a letter from SCOTTISH FORESTRY?

Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations. It is not unusual for Argyll Tree Surveys to hear from tree owners that the rules relating to trees and woodlands are rather complex and that despite their best efforts they have fallen foul of the rules (in that the checks they have undertaken have turned out not to have been exhaustive, resulting in enforcement action by the agency). Argyll Tree Surveys can advise on the rules (including, for example, where to check elsewhere for Tree Preservation Orders - the Local Planning Authority - and when Scottish Forestry exemptions do and do not apply!); https://www.forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/felling-permissions

MORTGAGE REPORTS

A Pre-purchase Tree Survey & Report is sometimes required by a mortgage lender or insurer before you can buy a house. These organisations require reassurance that any trees within or nearby your potential new property are not going to pose a threat to the structure of your house or harm anyone in your home or on your land. A tree survey is a specialised survey and is not usually carried out in full by a property surveyor. However, a property surveyor may request for a specialised tree survey to be carried out if they are concerned about the position of nearby trees. Our pre-purchase tree survey and report will address the following issues: tree hazard evaluation & assessment of potential harm to persons/property due to tree/branch failure; potential for future direct damage caused by roots, branches or climbing plants; vegetation related subsidence on clay soils; Conservation Area & Tree Preservation Order constraints. Our reports meet the requirements of mortgage lenders & insurers.

PEST & DISEASE; HEALTH & SAFETY

Free verbal advice and (charged) reports on generic issues of the often related issues of health & safety and pests & diseases, with specific input as appropriate.

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Tree Care Specialists

Welcome to Argyll Tree Surveys, where we specialise in tree surveys for planning, mortgages, health and safety, pests and diseasess. Let our expertise help with your tree issue. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Argyll Tree Surveys

Hours

Mon	09:00 – 17:00
Tue	09:00 – 17:00
Wed	09:00 – 17:00
Thu	09:00 – 17:00
Fri	09:00 – 17:00
Sat	Closed
Sun	Closed

TREES – HOW TO PROTECT THEM ON DEVELOPMENT SITES

A tree, and its associated rooting area, may take a century to reach maturity but it can be irrevocably damaged in a few minutes. A tree does not 'begin' at its stem; it is its rooting zone (the root protection area; the minimum area around a tree deemed to contain sufficient roots and rooting volume to maintain the tree's viability, and where the protection of the roots and soil structure is treated as a priority) that requires as much protection as the above ground parts of the tree. Guidance on how to prevent damage to trees retained within a development scheme can be found in the documents below:

Witness the Art of Tree Protection

Fine pedunculate oak in Taigh na Bruaich basal girth ~5m; area of protected roots = 575.7 square m

Our Work in Action

Some ways to protect trees from development activity

The more intense and prolonged the development the more robust the tree protection should be.

The location of the protective barriers needs to be on an approved plan, either as part of the planning permission or as a result of the condition discharge process.

Argyll Tree Surveys