Berwick-upon-Tweed Tree Surgeons (TD15) Northumberland: Adding style, structure and substance to what can at times be a two dimensional landscape, trees are a crucial feature of gardens and properties in Berwick-upon-Tweed. But when neglected or damaged by extreme weather conditions, for example high winds or flooding, trees can be a bit of an issue. If your trees need attention, it is the safest option to consult an established tree surgeon in Berwick-upon-Tweed, for their expert advice before any work commences.
Folks in Berwick-upon-Tweed who try to do tree work on their own, or by using an unqualified individual could cause a risk of damage to property, the trees and to life. However, tree work is not altogether safe for experienced tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the dangers involved. Tree surgery is certainly not a job for amateurs, and on average there are 140 serious injuries and three deaths annually within the industry, making it one of the most hazardous jobs in the UK.
A poorly maintained or damaged tree can also present a risk to life, with around five people annually being tragically killed by falling trees and branches in Britain. You might be liable for any compensation to any third-party due to the consequences of your actions, if you bring in someone to do tree work and subsequently an injury, or damage to property occurs. This is why it is important to use a competent tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees. (The figures given were sourced from HSE UK).
PICKING A TREE SURGEON IN BERWICK-UPON-TWEED - A qualified tree surgeon in Berwick-upon-Tweed ought to be a signed up member of at least one of the 2 professional trade bodies found in Britain. The websites of either the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or the Arboricultural Association (AA) allow you to check the professional status and membership of any tree surgeon in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Membership of either of these bodies will give the tree surgeon recognised Approved ARB Contractor status which can be checked out on this website.
If there's a problem during or after any tree work has been completed you can get in touch with these professional organisations for arbitration assistance and for help and guidance at any point.
If a tree surgeon offers to provide you with a price quote for any tree work and they're not on this directory list, you should politely decline their offer of work and find an approved contractor. Once their professional qualifications and associations have been thoroughly checked, you should try and get at least three estimates from different companies in the Berwick-upon-Tweed area. While obtaining these quotations you must ask the questions below, making it clear that you need them to provide you with the answers due to the risks of the work involved:
- Do you offer quotations in writing? Only ever accept a quote in writing. NEVER take a verbal quote only.
- What insurance cover do you provide? As recommended by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon should be able to produce an insurance certificate covering a minimum of £5 Million public liability.
- Can you provide documents to show that you have the recommended qualifications, membership of the AA or ISA, and also a certificate for basic chainsaw use from the NPTC/LANTRA? It's required by law that any tree worker who uses a chainsaw must have gained a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. An experienced Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeon could hold City and Guilds Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
- Can I contact some past customers so that I can check the quality of your work? It's advisable to do an independent examination of any recent work.
Easily followed information on all the tree work that is being undertaken should be included on the written quotation. Who's responsible for the removal of debris, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should information on any trees which may be protected in law, and the required steps to get permission to work on them. You should also make certain VAT has been included on the quotation. It is extremely important to understand that you have a responsibility for employing only competent people to work on your property and trees. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."
PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Checking into the possibility of any of your trees having protected status, your preferred Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeon should ensure that any tree work can get the green light from the appropriate local authorities. Even protected trees require maintenance so as to cut back old or dying wood and ensure public safety, so discovering that a tree has protected status does not signify that work cannot still be carried out.
If your property in Berwick-upon-Tweed is within a designated conservation area then at least 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) before any tree work can be undertaken. This only applies to trees with a trunk diameter of more than 7.5 centimetres in diameter, at a point 1.5m from ground level. Also, if a protected tree's branches need to be thinned or pruned in order to sustain and encourage growth, written notice won't be necessary.
Your chosen Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeon will determine the necessary remedial treatment and how best and safely to achieve the required outcome after conducting a full assessment of your trees health. This will include a full risk assessment of areas that could be affected by falling branches and debris, such as on your property, in public areas, and on neighbouring properties. The level of protection needed and the amount of workers required, will also be ascertained at this stage. This is both personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety measures to keep property and the general public safe from damage or harm.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - Barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing commences, to keep unauthorised persons away from the area of work. Passing traffic may have to be stopped temporarily if there is a risk of debris falling into a public highway.
Different levels of protection will be needed by the tree surgeon depending on what work needs to be completed. When working with a chainsaw, they will at a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the legs, hands and torso. All workers involved in the operation must wear eye and head protection, and high visibility clothing, at all times.
Climbing equipment and ladders will be required if any working at height is involved, and to assist in the removal of high branches and large pieces of tree trunk, additional workers will be needed. For transporting waste away from the area, a truck or skip will be parked as close as possible to the area. This requirement for access is reason enough for informing your neighbours of the work you are planning to do.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - The area can be cleared of any debris, and all the branches and waste can be hauled away, once all the tree work has been completed. Especially in the case of any protected trees, a certificate of work will then be created by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy handed to you. Paths and highways can then be re-opened, with any safety measures in public areas being removed.
If you've got any issues or problems with the completed work, you should first take them up with the tree surgeon in order that they can be fixed straight away. If your tree surgeon is a registered member of a trade association, and there is any further dispute, you can obtain help and guidance from the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture so as to come to a satisfactory solution.
Required Skills for Tree Surgeons in Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Be conscious of the dangers and complexities involved with the various areas of work.
- Have good customer service skills.
- Have the ability to work with your hands.
- Physical skills like movement and coordination.
- The cabability to work happily with other folks.
- Have an organised working approach.
- Good knowledge of public safety.
- Have necessary computer skills and know how to complete tasks with handheld devices.
- Be capable of repairing, using and maintaining machines and tools.
- Have patience and the ability to stay calm and focused in times of stress.
- Be professional and capable of completing work within the specified period.
Pollarding Berwick-upon-Tweed
The process whereby the size of a tree is radically decreased because it's outgrown its current environment, is referred to as "pollarding". This approach is also on occasion used for visual reasons to mould a tree into a particularly attractive form or shape. It is sometimes seen on trees that serve as boundaries or hedgerows, in addition to trees which grow beside roadways in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Seeing that pollarded trees have got such a bare and stark appearance, and will never get back to their former shape, this technique isn't usually popular with those who love trees. The positive element of pollarding, is that trees which might normally have to be removed can be saved in-situ. Pollarding is regularly used on broad-leafed tree species like oaks, planes, beeches, sycamores, maples, limes and horse chestnuts. (Tags: Tree Pruning Berwick-upon-Tweed, Pollarding Berwick-upon-Tweed, Tree Pollarding Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Storm Damaged Trees Berwick-upon-Tweed
When you look at a sturdy, strong tree standing proud and tall in your garden it is hard to visualise it ever falling over. Some tree varieties can thrive and survive without any problem for hundreds of years, in particular sweet chestnuts, yews and oaks.
Severe weather can however cause significant damage, and besides the danger of falling branches and tree limbs, entire trees can fall down in certain circumstances. The principal danger to, and enemy of trees, is high winds, and with the increasing frequency of severe storms and extreme weather events this form of damage is becoming more and more common in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Soil that becomes waterlogged during floods or extended periods of rain can be another problem, as can heavy snowfall in winter.
To prune and remove any dead or excessively long branches that may cause an issue in severe weather conditions, it's a good idea to get a competent Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeon to examine your trees on a regular basis.
Lightning rods, copper conductors, or other lightning protection systems are also a good idea for taller trees, to stop them being struck by lightning and to protect nearby property and buildings which could be vulnerable to side-flashes ("jumps") that result in more destruction, along with damage done to the tree itself. A lightning strike could kill a tree completely, or drastically weaken it, rendering it more susceptible to disease or pest attacks. You may not believe that lightning strikes are all that common, yet in the UK alone there are about three hundred thousand lightning strikes recorded every year.
If you're concerned about the possibility of storm damage to your trees in Berwick-upon-Tweed, you should ask your local tree surgery firm what can be done to protect them, and lessen the risk of mishaps taking place.
Protecting Shrubs & Trees in Winter
Whilst you may not believe that the weather in the UK is harsh enough to justify protecting your shrubs and trees, it may be a good idea to take a second look at this. The winter months can actually be a hard time for plants, trees and shrubs and even those that we usually think of as hardy can benefit from a bit of additional protection in times of severe cold.
Although many of your trees may have already dropped their leaves come wintertime in Berwick-upon-Tweed, it is storms and high winds that cause the biggest worry, and although they offer less wind resistance, they might still be vulnerable to damage. If the weather conditions in Berwick-upon-Tweed have been windy, and a tree on your property seems to be weakened or at risk of falling, it is advisable to bring in a tree surgeon to assess whether any action is necessary. You can also have problems with trees due to heavy snow, so when this kind of weather is expected, keep your eyes peeled for possible damage. A substantial layer of mulch round the base of trees and shrubs (in particular recently planted ones), can help to keep the roots frost-free and prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Hedge Trimming Berwick-upon-Tweed
Although the care and maintenance of trees is the primary focus of tree surgeons in Berwick-upon-Tweed, they're sometimes asked to undertake work on hedges, such as controlling the height and routine trimming. This is especially useful if you have conifer hedges (Leylandii for example) which will often get too tall for a homeowner or regular gardener to deal with.
When a hedge is uncared for and poorly maintained, it can become overgrown and out of control very quickly. Frequent clipping is recommended if you do not want a hedge to take over large areas of your garden in Berwick-upon-Tweed, and along with making the hedge stronger it also looks better aesthetically.
Neat hedges help make your entire garden look tidier, and might even add value to your home in Berwick-upon-Tweed, if you've got plans to sell it.
Wood Chipping Berwick-upon-Tweed
To reduce the branches, vegetation and tree limbs that tree surgery generates, most professional Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeons will regularly use wood chipping devices. Although it largely depends on the equipment that's being used, these awesome wood chipping systems can munch up as much as 40 tonnes of material every hour, and even the smaller, more commonly used models can process around 5 tons per hour, or literally as much as you are able to feed into them.
Chipped down tree branches are obviously easier to transport, taking up far less space in the tree surgeon's vehicle or trailer, and can also be used for garden pathways, mulch, weed prevention, mushroom cultivation, wood pulp, landscaping, ecosystem restoration and biomass fuel, to name just a few.
Typically, Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeons will cart away all the wood chips that result from your tree surgery project, unless of course you want them for one of the above uses, in which case they will usually be pleased to let you keep some or all of them. As I am sure you'll appreciate by reading this post, tree surgeons are the best source for wood chippings which you can use in your garden in Berwick-upon-Tweed, whether you actually need tree surgery or not. Wood chips are often available from tree surgeons at no cost, although if you need them to be delivered there may be a modest fee.
Companies like Timberwolf, T-Mech, Forst and Forest Master, make some of the best know wood chipping equipment that is used in the United Kingdom. (Tags: Wood Chippers Berwick-upon-Tweed, Wood Chipping Berwick-upon-Tweed, Wood Chipping Services Berwick-upon-Tweed, Wood Chips Berwick-upon-Tweed).
Crown Thinning Berwick-upon-Tweed
The removing of some of the smallest branches located on the tree's outer crown to create a foliage density that's even all the way through whilst not transforming the shape or size of a tree, is known as crown thinning. This kind of process is mostly only carried out on broad leafed trees and is done to prevent the tree from being uprooted when it's windy, to allow more sunlight inside, to lessen the weight of the crown, to minimize the wind resistance of the tree or to reduce the stress put on specific branches as a result of snow, wind, gravity, or ice. The over-all shape and size of the tree shouldn't be altered by crown thinning, and should only result in a uniform foliage thickness surrounding evenly spread out branches. It should be possible to find crown thinning in East Ord, Ayton, Scremerston, Ancroft, Tweedmouth, Spittal, Coldstream, Ford, Norham, Goswick, Belford, Highfields, Chatton, Haggerston, Horncliffe, Lowick, and the Berwick-upon-Tweed area. (Tags: Crown Thin Berwick-upon-Tweed, Crown Thinning Berwick-upon-Tweed, Tree Crown Thinning Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Tree Surgery Tasks Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed tree surgeons can normally help with crown reduction Berwick-upon-Tweed, expert tree care Berwick-upon-Tweed, waste removal, stump removal, woodland clearances, retrenchment pruning, tree replanting, crown cleaning Berwick-upon-Tweed, eco plug treatments, tree management, tree work, tree lopping, root removal, forestry management in Berwick-upon-Tweed, tree removal in Berwick-upon-Tweed, emergency tree removal, tree lightening protection Berwick-upon-Tweed, tree dismantling in Berwick-upon-Tweed, pollarding, site clearance, tree transplanting, commercial tree surgery Berwick-upon-Tweed, woodland management, hedge cutting, tree pruning, tree fertilising Berwick-upon-Tweed, root pruning, root decompaction, tree reshaping in Berwick-upon-Tweed, crown removal in Berwick-upon-Tweed, brush cutting services Berwick-upon-Tweed, domestic tree surgery in Berwick-upon-Tweed, hedge lowering, tree cutting, root grinding and other tree surgeon services in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are handled by tree surgeons. Berwick-upon-Tweed specialists will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of services.
More Berwick-upon-Tweed Trades: Needless to say, when you're having tree surgery done in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, you are likely to be in need of other garden related services, and aside from a tree surgeon in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, you could additionally need fencers in Berwick-upon-Tweed, driveway pavers in Berwick-upon-Tweed, grass cutting services in Berwick-upon-Tweed, garden shed installers in Berwick-upon-Tweed, garden clearance in Berwick-upon-Tweed, rubbish removal in Berwick-upon-Tweed, artifical grass in Berwick-upon-Tweed, pond maintenance in Berwick-upon-Tweed, local SKIP HIRE in Berwick-upon-Tweed, patio installers in Berwick-upon-Tweed, garden wall construction in Berwick-upon-Tweed, garden design and planning in Berwick-upon-Tweed, weeding services in Berwick-upon-Tweed, hedge trimming in Berwick-upon-Tweed, landscaping services in Berwick-upon-Tweed, decking installers in Berwick-upon-Tweed, and other different Berwick-upon-Tweed tradespeople.
Tree Surgeons Near Berwick-upon-Tweed
Also find: Norham tree surgeons, Horncliffe tree surgeons, East Ord tree surgeons, Haggerston tree surgeons, Wooler tree surgeons, Goswick tree surgeons, Spittal tree surgeons, Highfields tree surgeons, Chatton tree surgeons, Ford tree surgeons, Ayton tree surgeons, Coldstream tree surgeons, Tweedmouth tree surgeons, Scremerston tree surgeons, Belford tree surgeons, Lowick tree surgeons, Ancroft tree surgeons and more. The majority of these towns and villages are serviced by local tree surgeons. Local business and home owners can get quotes by going here.
(Created with tree surgeons Berwick-upon-Tweed text version four.)
More: Woodchipping, Dead Wooding, Woodland Clearance, Vegetation Management, Tree Topping, Tree Maintenance, Tree Transplanting, Tree Bracing, Tree Reduction, Crown Cleaning, Wood Chipping, Stump Grinding, Stump Removal, Tree Lopping, Dead Wooding, Tree Planning, Stump Grinding, Root Removal, Tree Reshaping, Crown Raising, Tree Transplanting, Root Decompaction, Crown Raising, Crown Reduction, Tree Surveys, Crown Raising, Crown Removal, Crown Raising, Dead Wooding, Crown Raising.
TOP - Tree Surgeon Berwick-upon-Tweed
Woodland Management Berwick-upon-Tweed - Vegetation Management Northumberland - Tree Care Berwick-upon-Tweed - Crown Thinning Berwick-upon-Tweed - Tree Surgeons Berwick-upon-Tweed - Tree Management Berwick-upon-Tweed - Tree Surgeon Berwick-upon-Tweed - Stump Removal Berwick-upon-Tweed - Root Removal Berwick-upon-Tweed