What Happens During a Tree Survey?
Trees offer several benefits ranging from boosting the value of a property and maintaining a balanced ecosystem to helping the environment. Trees are undoubtedly aesthetically pleasing, and many hold historical significance, especially those that have been around for decades.
Removing a tree can negatively affect the ecosystem. For example, some trees serve as homes for animal species. If you cut them down, then they will lose their habitat. Not only that, trees help prevent flooding. Cutting them down means the area will be more prone to it.
Trees also help improve the quality of the air through the production of oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide. If you remove a tree, it’ll also affect the process of photosynthesis that plants go through in your area.
Now, if you’re planning to develop a certain property, the trees within the area may be affected. You need to have a tree survey to help you decide how to proceed.
Understanding the process involved in a tree survey
A qualified and experienced arboriculturist should perform the tree survey. The first step is what is referred to as the stage one survey or the BS5837 tree survey. The potential effect of new construction on trees and the environment needs to be assessed.
A BS5837 tree survey is a British Standard survey involving performing the relevant checks. It is a must for any design work, demolition, or construction job that could potentially put trees at risk.
The arboriculturist will ask you some questions before the tree survey begins. The said inquiries will be about the development, such as your plans with the area and the other details on how you plan to proceed with the site development.
You also need to provide a site plan. Once all details have been provided, the arboriculturist will perform the tree survey.
What is the purpose of a tree survey?
Through the BS5837 survey, you and the local planning authority would learn the practical constraints to the land and the development. The survey is performed using professional equipment that allows the experts to gather specific data, such as the condition of the trees and what species they belong to.
What is a BS5837 retention category?
All trees within and near your site will fall under the retention category. Under this category, you’ll receive crucial information from the tree survey. There are four categories, A, B, C, and U.
Category A is where the ones with the highest classification fall. The trees that are added to this category are in good health. They are also prominent and possess essential qualities like adding cultural values to the site. Trees under category A are expected to offer up contributions for more than forty years. You will be allowed to do any work below or above ground within a certain distance of these trees unless necessary.
Category B is similar to Category A but only has an expected contribution of about 20 years. The local authorities would like the trees under this category to be preserved. But if they need to be removed, you have to plant another one to replace them.
Category C is where trees that are in poor condition fall under. They’re not a risk for planning and only have about ten years of contribution. Despite their condition, the local authorities may still require you to plant a new one to replace the tree you wish to remove.
Category U, the final category, is where dying or dead trees fall under. They pose a safety risk and have less than ten years of contribution. They have to be removed regardless of whether they interfere or not with your development or the site in question.
©Treework Environmental Practice
