Tree Risk Management

Landowners have a statutory duty of care to do all that is reasonably practical to ensure that people are not exposed to a risk to their health and safety. This duty can be fulfilled by having a system in place to control the risk from trees. A tree risk management system comprises of four components:

  • A policy that details how the landowner will approach the management of tree related risk
  • A zoning plan to inform decision making for tree surveys
  • A tree survey to assess the trees and determine the level of risk
  • A mitigation plan to reduce any risk to as low as reasonably practicable

This approach is advocated by the Health and Safety Executive under the Plan Do Check Act methodology for effective tree risk management.

The Four Components of Tree Risk Management

Tree Frontiers has developed a bespoke methodology for providing landowners with a suitable policy document, scaled to the size and needs of the estate. This is a highly cost-effective solution, following best practice guidelines while ensuring compliance with statutory obligations.

We can undertake each stage of the system with the exception of physically completing tree works. We have an excellent network of highly skilled and reliable contractors we are happy to recommend to undertake these works.

Tree Risk Surveys

The primary goal of tree risk management is to ensure there is a systematic and defendable approach to determining risks and the way in which such risks are managed.

Surveyors at Tree Frontiers are qualified in tree risk assessment using the International Society of Arboricultural Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). This is a qualitative tree risk assessment methodology that considers the hazard, the target, the likelihood of failure (of the hazard), the likelihood of impact (of the hazard on the target) and the consequence of that failure (to the target). A risk rating is derived from these factors and remedial action can be taken as required to mitigate that risk.

A tree risk survey is a critical component of a tree risk management system and Tree Frontiers hold full insurance for the provision of this service.

Tree Condition Surveys

There may be trees that are present in locations that offer a low level of risk but for which a landowner may wish to determine its condition to inform management decisions. An example might be a large tree growing in a garden which has suddenly produced a less dense canopy. The landowner may wish to understand what has happened to cause this and for advice of what options are available for the managing the tree.

Proactive management of trees ensures a sustainable and healthy tree population to the benefit of all.

Advanced Tree Condition Assessments

There are many very special trees throughout the UK for which alternative methods of management will be required. Veteran and ancient trees or trees with significant cultural importance cannot be managed in the same way as an average street or garden tree. There may be occasions where advance assessment measures are required to assess the condition of the tree and there are a variety of tools available for this purpose. This may be a simple climbed inspection or a more technologically advanced solution such as a resistograph to help determine wood density and strength.

A Tree Suitable for Tree Risk management on an Oxfordshire Road
Tree Survey to Determine the Level of Risk
Oxfordshire Tree Related Risk