When is a Tree Survey Necessary?

What is a tree?

For most planning purposes surveys should include any tree with a stem diameter of more than 75mm, measured at 1.5m above ground level.

When will a tree survey be required?

• Alterations to existing properties

  • Where no extension of the building footprint, no new service lines or no change of access is proposed, it is unlikely that a tree survey will be required.

• Extensions to existing properties, construction of ancillary buildings or changes of access

  • A survey will be required of those trees on and adjacent to the site, which stand within 15 metres of any new building, new service line or new access.

• New buildings

  • A survey will be required of all trees on the site and within 15 metres of the site boundary.

Information to be recorded on a Tree Survey

You should engage a professional arborist for this task and refer to British Standard BS5837 (2012) Trees in Relation to Construction - Recommendations. (The British standard states that execution of its provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people).

All trees on which information is required should be shown on plans scaled at 1:500 to an accuracy of ± 0.5m.

A schedule should accompany your plans identifying the trees by reference to a unique reference number marked on the plan and on the tree.

For each tree the following data should be recorded:

1.      Reference number of the tree.

2.      Species by common and/or scientific name.

3.      Height in metres.

4.      Stem diameter in centimetres, measured 1.5m above ground level.

5.      The north, south, east, and west crown radii in metres.

6.      Age class: young, semi-mature, mature, post mature, veteran.

7.      Physiological and structural condition of the tree:

A: Trees of high quality with an estimated life of at least 40 years.

B: Trees of moderate quality with an estimated life of at least 20 years.

C: Trees of low quality with an estimated remaining life expectancy of at least 10 years.

U: Dead or showing signs of significant, immediate, and irreversible decline.

8.      Preliminary management recommendations.

9.      Categorise on the plan by colour coding and in the schedule by letter, trees for removal and trees for retention. This should be based on the Cascade Chart for Tree Quality Assessment (Table 1 of BS5837:2012).

10.   Hedgerows and substantial internal or boundary hedges (including evergreen screens) should be recorded in a similar fashion to the trees.