Tree Surveys

Tree surveys carried out by Stuart Spray Wildlife Consultancy and reports prepared following guidance recommended in the British Standard Document BS5837: 2005 Trees in Relation to Construction - Recommendations.

Tree surveys will gather the following information:

• The precise location of all existing trees on the site and trees on adjacent land where root or branch systems are likely to be within the development site;
• Tree species;
• A brief description of each tree;
• Tree numbering system;
• Tree height: measured in metres from ground level to the highest point of the tree using tape measures and clinometers;
• Canopy spread: measured in metres at magnetic north, south, east and west;
• Height of the underside of the canopy: measured in metres from ground level;
• Trunk diameter: measured and rounded down to the nearest ten millimetres at 1.5m above ground level using specialist tapes. Where a tree divides into multiple stems below 1.5m it will be measured at the lowest point above the root flare;
• Age Class: divided into young, middle-age, mature, over mature, and veteran. (This is an estimate of which stage a tree is at in its natural life cycle);
• Physiological condition: an assessment of the health and vigour of the tree;
• Wildlife value: assessed using a combination of factors such as species, size, location, age (including the presence of veteran trees) and the presence of mosses, lichens and cavities;
• Amenity value: assessed using a combination of factors such as species, size and location;
• Structural condition:  an indication of the structural integrity of the tree will be classified as good, average or poor; and 
• Safe useful life expectancy.

It should be noted that where it is impractical to obtain accurate measurements, due to restricted access or other site conditions, data may be estimated.

The tree reports include:

• Results of the tree survey (see section 4.2 of BS5837:2005),
• A plan showing root protection areas and any above ground constraints (see section 5.2 and 5.3 of BS5837:2005).
• An Arboricultural implications assessment (see section 6 of BS5837:2005); and
• An Arboricultural method statement including a tree protection plan (see section 7 of BS5837:2005).