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As 2025 draws to a close and we prepare for a break over the festive period, we wanted to reflect on what the year has brought. This time last year we were highlighting the adverse weather experienced through the year, the anticipated changes to the NPPF as well as updates to our industry standards (BS5837). Although a full calendar year has passed it seems that at least these three particular topics have not changed dramatically.

The weather over the course of the year is always a talking point and 2025 has been no exception. With a number of storms throughout the year, an incredibly hot and dry spring and summer, and a very wet autumn, many have reported a decline in the condition of their tree stock. This is likely compounded by the weather in 2023 and 2024. We’d recommend a quick review of your trees to identify if any proactive remedial works are required.

A revised NPPF is due to be published later this month following consultation responses, with an emphases on ‘pro-growth and rules-based’ approaches to policy. One of the key areas is in relation to those applications where a planning committee intends to refuse a scheme contrary to advice of planning officers, but we do not believe there will be any changes to guidance in relation to trees.

Lastly, the latest revision of BS5837 is not expected until March 2026. After receiving over 2,000 comments on the draft, with each comment needing to be addressed separately, it will take the panel substantial time to produce a final document.  There are no indications on what changes, if any, will be made to the document that was put out of consultation or whether there will be any further consultation, so wait to see what 2026 will bring.

Despite what seems to be a hiatus in progress, it has been an incredibly busy year for us and concludes with the appointment of an arboricultural consultant (Max). We have enjoyed working on an incredibly wide range of projects, with new garden villages, college/university restoration schemes, small homeowner projects and condition surveys in Scotland and Wales, to name but a few!

We would like to extend our gratitude to all our clients for their support and confidence in our services, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and new clients in 2026. We wish you all a happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

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Tree Frontiers News

  • We would like to extend our thanks to all our clients and contacts for making 2025 a truly incredible year, with some fantastic projects across all parts of the country. Our office will be closed from

    Author Imageadmin
    11 December, 2025

  • This month’s tree is steeped in North American history. It symbolises longevity, wisdom, and protection. Not to be confused with another tree of the same genus, but still a tree of immense heigh

    Author Imageadmin
    11 December, 2025

  • Last month was the annual ‘National Tree Week’ 22nd-30th November. The event marks the UK’s largest annual tree celebration and the start of the winter planting season, with the them

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    11 December, 2025

  • Last month our client obtained planning consent for a new 21MW solar farm in Bedfordshire. Having undertaken the tree survey at the feasibility stage meant that virtually all trees within the site cou

    Author Imageadmin
    11 December, 2025

  • Thanks to Carter Jonas (Oxford) for inviting us to join their table at the third OUD Christmas Quiz. Not only was it a fantastic event, raising over £20,000 for the Oxford Food Hub, but the team also

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    11 December, 2025

  • In November, Steve was invited to the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group at the UK House of Lords. Steve previously represented the Arboricultural Association when the Ornamental

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    11 December, 2025

  • We’re delighted to welcome Max Bell to the Tree Frontiers team as an Arboricultural Consultant. Max brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked as a consultant, in local authority roles, a

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    11 December, 2025

  • Final Push for Fundraising for Chipping Norton Theatre Some people need a little evidence before donating – so here it is! Steve managed to beat his previous time (albeit cutting it extremely fi

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    03 November, 2025

  • Case Study: Eddington Cambridge We were delighted to be part of the design team for the future phases of Eddington in Cambridge. This is a scheme that Nick has personally been involved with for the la

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    03 November, 2025

  • Tree of the month Our tree this month is often found growing alongside rivers, or watercourses and it gets its common name from the distinctive sound of its branches breaking…. Surely you can fi

    Author Imageadmin
    26 September, 2025

Industry Articles

Forestry England launches a new resilience strategy

Forestry England is today launching a new strategy and action plan which will protect the nation’s forests against the multiple threats they face. Three key principles of assessing, diversifying and restoring will guide foresters across the organisation so the 1,500 forests and woodlands in their care are fit for the future. As the combined effects of the climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, and tree pests and diseases put the nation’s forests at ever greater risk, the science-led strategy sets out a bold approach to forest management.

Carbon budget & growth delivery plan published

The UK Government published a new Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan on 29 October, featuring details on how the country will deliver emissions reductions up to the year 2037, how the government meets its statutory carbon budgets and secures the benefits of this transition for people and businesses.

 

BS 8640:2025 A Guide to Structural & Supported Soils for Trees in Hard Landscapes

The newly published British Standard BS 8640:2025 provides guidance on designing and managing soils to support healthy tree growth in urban and engineered environments.

Council uses AI to identify diseased ash trees for removal

Leeds City Council has announced an initiative to address two thousand ash trees infected with ash dieback disease, identified as safety risks, particularly near highways. To manage the threat in the area, they have employed AI technology with teams verifying their condition on the ground. 

Have your say with London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Over the past couple of years, The Greater London Authority have been putting together a new nature strategy for London. They are now consulting the public on the Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Take part in the consultation, they particularly want to hear what Londoners and organisations in London think of the draft priorities for nature in London and the opportunity areas they have mapped.

Forestry Facts & Figures 2025

Forestry Research have released a summary of statistics about woodland and forestry in the UK. This report offers a snapshot of the UK’s woodland landscape, timber production, and environmental impact, highlighting trends across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This year’s edition underscores forestry’s growing role in climate resilience, biodiversity, and the rural economy – providing essential insights for policymakers, landowners, and conservationists navigating a changing climate and evolving land-use priorities.

First Professional Forester Apprentices awarded chartered status

The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) is delighted to celebrate a significant milestone, as three apprentices from the University of Cumbria’s inaugural Professional Forester Apprenticeship, in partnership with the ICF and the Forestry Commission, have been awarded Chartered Forester status after presenting for Professional Membership Entry (PME).

The achievements of these three new Chartered Foresters are a testament to the programme’s success in opening new doors for talent in the forestry sector, addressing the skills gap, supporting ambitious government targets for tree planting and woodland creation, and championing excellence across the profession.

National survey launched to assess grey squirrel tree damage

A new UK survey has been launched assessing the extent of tree damage caused by non-native grey squirrels, a problem previously estimated to cost the economies of England and Wales £37m per year.

The initiative, led by the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), is calling on landowners, forest manager, and members of the public with access to private woodlands to participate. The goal is to build a comprehensive, national picture of the bark-stripping impacts inflicted by the invasive species.

“We need to protect the UK’s trees and woods from threats that include grey squirrels. Damage from bark stripping reduces the ability of woodland ecosystems to deliver important functions. We hope people will get involved in this survey to help us build a clearer understanding of the problem we face.” – Kay Haw, UKSA

Children, young people & the built environment

Research from the House of Commons has highlighted the challenges facing children and young people in accessing formal and informal play spaces. This highlights the opportunities offered through the built environment, by focusing on a child-centred place-based approach to design and development. The briefing highlights the wider benefits this brings for health, well-being and the realisation of vibrant, sustainable communities.

Every Interaction Matters: Mental Health in Forestry

Most people working in forestry know someone who has been severely affected by issues surrounding mental health. The Royal Forestry Society have released this striking video, with a message that ‘Every interaction matters’.

Evaluating urban tree population fitness for a changing climate: using climatic moisture index

This study explores how trees handle changing moisture levels. By comparing climate moisture and leaf water potential across species, researchers found that some trees are better at coping with drought than others. These insights can guide smarter conservation, restoration, and tree planting as climate conditions shift.

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