Tree Condition Surveys: Protecting Trees and Managing Risks
At Down to Earth Trees Ltd, we specialise in tree condition surveys that provide essential insights into tree health, structural integrity, and potential risks. Our surveys not only support your duty of care obligations but also help ensure trees are managed responsibly, sustainably, and with a balance between safety and environmental benefits.
Why Tree Condition Surveys Matter
Trees are living, dynamic organisms that contribute significantly to the environment, aesthetics, and biodiversity. However, trees can develop structural weaknesses or succumb to pests and diseases, posing risks to people and property.
A tree condition survey is a vital tool for:
Identifying risks: Detecting potential hazards before they lead to damage or injury.
Assessing vitality: Evaluating a tree’s overall health and its ability to thrive in its environment.
Informing management decisions: Providing practical recommendations for tree care, maintenance, or removal.
Duty of Care and Legal Obligations
Under UK law, landowners have a duty of care to manage risks from trees on their property. Key legislation includes:
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 & 1984: Landowners must ensure that trees do not pose foreseeable risks to visitors or trespassers.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Employers must manage risks posed by trees in the workplace or on sites they control. Failure to take reasonable precautions can result in liability for damage or injury caused by falling trees or branches.
Our Common-Sense Approach to Tree Risk Management
Balancing Risk and Benefits
At Down to Earth Trees Ltd, we adopt a common-sense, proportionate approach to tree risk management, grounded in industry best practices and guidelines such as the National Tree Safety Group (NTSG) framework.
Our approach involves:
Balancing Risk vs. Tree Benefits
We carefully weigh the potential risks posed by trees against the considerable benefits they provide—environmental, social, and aesthetic. This ensures that trees are not needlessly felled and that sensible management practices are implemented to protect both trees and public safety.
Evidence-Based Decisions
Balancing retention and risk reduction to achieve an acceptable level of safety (ALARP – As Low As Reasonably Practicable) without unnecessary interventions.
Complete Solutions
Where mitigation is required, our team of skilled tree surgeons can carry out any necessary tree works, including pruning, crown reductions, and removals. This ensures a seamless process from survey to implementation.
Clear Recommendations
Providing practical, actionable advice tailored to the needs of your site and objectives.
What Sets Our Tree Condition Surveys Apart?
Balanced Management: Our approach ensures risks are managed proportionately while preserving the benefits that trees bring to your environment.
Complete Solution: We provide end-to-end support, from surveys to any necessary tree works identified during the process, ensuring your site remains safe and compliant.
Professional Presentation: Our reports include photos, maps, and diagrams for easy understanding of the condition and location of each tree.
Digital Integration: Clickable Google Map links help you locate and manage trees efficiently.
Qualified Consultants: Our team holds advanced arboricultural qualifications and has extensive field experience.
Book Your Tree Condition Survey Today
Take a proactive approach to tree management with our expert, common-sense risk assessments. Ensure the health, safety, and longevity of your trees with a professional survey. Contact us today to schedule your assessment!
Our interactive tree schedule presents clear and concise tree condition data with user-friendly features, including clickable Google Map links for precise locations and embedded photographs for visual reference. Designed for clarity and efficiency, this structured format ensures easy navigation and informed decision-making in tree management.
Areas we cover
We cover most of the South East including Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London and Essex.
An unpleasant job, taming the leylandii trees which we had inherited and had been allowed to do their own thing for too long! We are grateful to our friends who recommended "Down to Earth" and we are very happy to say to anyone else who reads this, that from Andy who came to give us a very reasonable estimate, and Frankie's team who did skilful and beautiful job, we couldn't be happier. Very nice people too!
Excellent service, professional team, very large job bringing down dead sequoia; handled the job very well, cleared everything up, went above and beyond what we expected
Down To Earth were great. They did an excellent job from start to finish. Good customer service. Excellent team on site who did a fantastic job that went beyond my hopes and cleared up after themselves in an extremely thorough way.
An excellent job from start to finish, arrived on time and did a great job at clearing up afterwards. Worked the whole time they were here and couldn’t be happier with the results!
Exceptional service from start to finish. The job was carried out (non-stop working by the crew!) at the exact time agreed with all the remnants cleared up and taken away. They even ended up clearing my patio!
Another excellent job from Down to Earth trees. They have carried out all pruning and planting a new hedge in my garden for many years and I would never use anyone else. They are reliable, everything is cleared at the end of the job and all the staff from start to finish are polite and professional. I was happy with the quotation given. The 2 guys who carried out the latest work were very pleasant and listened to what I said before beginning the work. I would definitely recommend them.
I have been most impressed with DTE's professionalism and integrity. The scope of work I proposed I discussed was reduced as it wasnt all needed, and the work itself was carried out to a high standard
I had my trees done recently and the four gentlemen did a great job. Very professional and cleared all fallen debris at the end. Will definitely use the company again.
This is an excellent company to do business with. Their quote was thorough and very competitive. The team turned up on time and were very professional, polite and respectful of both our property and our garden. The work undertaken, (tree prunning and removal of a large shrub), was carried out to a high standard and everything was left very tidy. I can only recommend this company for their excellent service.
This company is outstanding in professionalism, care and efficiency, so we didn’t hesitate in using for this job. The weather was bad on the day of the booking and we thought they might postpone the work, but they didn’t. Our job involved varied work - trees, bushes and hedges. Everything is in much better shape now. Thanks, again to Down to Earth.
I have used this company on 3 occasions now. I have found all staff including administrative and the tree surgeons themselves to be consistently efficient, polite and informative. They have always arrived at the arranged time and date, completed the work effectively and well and left the garden clean and clear of all cuttings. Have recommended to neighbours and friends.
Fantastic from start to finish, from the quoting process, application to local council for approval, and the people on site doing the work. Had two trees taken out, one planted and general hedge height reduction work done. Superb team, cleaned up after themselves, very polite to me and neighbours. Will be using again. Thank you!
Had Ben along for a tree survey and risk assessment. Very professional and knowledgeable. Inspected every aspect of our spinney. Would highly recommend!
All work was carried out to my specification and care was taken to protect my walls and side gates. All refuse was removed from my property and my neighbours efficiency
Very professional. DTE did an excellent job reducing my large dead oak tree; and leaving everything in good order when they had finished the job.
We had one tree cut down, bushes cut back and a very high and difficult-to-reach ivy hedge trimmed neatly into a straight line. The team were brilliant; very punctual, tidy and polite and they did an excellent, professional job. Highly recommended.
One tree was felled, two pruned and large hedges cut back, all done neatly, quickly and exactly to my specifications. Everything was tidied away afterwards. I am more than happy with the result, and would definitely recommend this company.
They turned up on time and did a good job. They were polite, professional and left the place tidy. Would recommend.
Arrived on time, friendly professional team, did the job quickly, safely at height and went to considerable trouble to reduce any damage to plants or garden pots, ornaments etc. Left site cleared and tidy. Value for money. What more would you want ?
Thoroughly professional service from start to finish. Used on numerous occasions and never dissatisfied!
Very neat work. Professional and safe. We were happy with the quote. We had asked instead of grinding the root to put plugs in and were a little surprised that this was not included as the surveyor had suggested it during his visit
