Sound tree management begins with good information and an understanding of the legal framework that applies to your trees. Arbortech Professional Tree Services provides tree surveys and specialist advisory services across Somerset, helping homeowners, developers, landowners and businesses understand the condition of their trees, the obligations they carry, and the options available to them.
This is work that requires both technical arboricultural knowledge and a clear understanding of planning law and process. Our team has extensive experience of navigating the requirements around tree surveys, Tree Preservation Orders and conservation area designations — advising clients on the correct course of action and carrying out the subsequent tree work to the required standard once consents are in place.
Tree and Site Surveys
A professional tree survey provides a documented assessment of the trees on a site — their species, size, condition, any defects identified, and the management they require. We carry out tree condition surveys for ongoing management purposes, BS 5837 surveys required by planning authorities when development is proposed near trees, and risk assessment surveys for trees in locations where failure could cause injury or property damage.
If you are buying a property with significant trees, taking on a new site, or simply want to understand the condition and management requirements of the trees in your care, a professional survey is the right starting point. It gives you an objective, documented baseline and the information you need to plan and prioritise management work effectively.
Tree Preservation Orders
A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) places a legal duty on the tree’s owner to obtain written consent from the local planning authority before carrying out any significant work. Failing to do so is a criminal offence, regardless of whether the intention was to improve or maintain the tree.
We can advise on whether a tree on your land is subject to a TPO, assist with preparing a supporting arborist’s report for the planning authority, and carry out the approved work once consent is in place. If you have recently had a TPO served on a tree and are unsure of the implications, our team can explain what it means in practical terms and what work — if any — you are still able to carry out without consent.
Conservation Areas
Trees within designated conservation areas are subject to a separate set of requirements — a Section 211 notification must be submitted to the local planning authority and six weeks allowed to elapse before most work can take place. Somerset has a large number of conservation areas covering historic towns, villages and landscapes, and many of our clients in these areas are unaware of the obligation until it is pointed out to them.
Our team will check whether your property falls within a conservation area, advise on whether the proposed work requires notification, handle the notification process on your behalf where needed, and carry out the work once the appropriate period has passed.
Practical Advice From Qualified Arborists
All advisory and survey work is carried out by qualified arboricultural professionals with direct experience of working with planning authorities across Somerset. Arbortech holds full public liability insurance, is approved as a contractor for Somerset County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall. Free site visits are available for straightforward enquiries, and written quotations for formal survey work are provided on request.
