Tree Surgeon, Arborist, Arboriculturist, Arboricultural Contractor and Arboricultural Consultant…the names of the professionals you may need to call upon to help with your trees are often confusing and several are used interchangeably.

Periodic works to trees can be needed to maintain tree health, and are often necessary to ensure the safety of the people and property that surround it. One-off works might be needed to deal with a particular problem with the tree. Similarly, you may need to have a tree surveyed to establish its condition and how to deal with any foreseeable issues, how to develop on land with existing trees or whether a tree poses a risk to a property or neighbouring properties.

For tree owners, then, it is important to know who to contact for a particular issue, and what qualifications, insurance and accreditation they should have. This article outlines the most common work carried out at the arboricultural contractor and consultant levels, respectively, what professional names they go by and what you should expect of them.

Tree Surgeon/ Arborist / Arboricultural Contractor

Tree Surgeons are also called Arborists or (less often) Arboricultural Contractors. ‘Tree Surgeon’ is perhaps the name most often used. Tree Surgeons carry out works on trees to BS3998: 2010 ‘Tree Work – Recommendations’. The works most commonly undertaken include:

• crown reduction
• pruning
• lopping
• pollarding
• removing dead branches
• felling
• clearing
• stumping, stump grinding and stump extraction
• emergency tree care
• bracing or cabling vulnerable areas of a tree
• planting new trees, often requiring cabling and machinery

Watching a Tree Surgeon at work can be alarming: not many people can safely operate a chainsaw whilst hanging from the branches of a tall tree, execute the precise cuts necessary to minimise the risk to the tree’s health and prevent injury or damage to anyone or anything in the surrounding area. It goes without saying then that tree work is often dangerous, and poorly executed work can create a huge risk to the tree, the surgeon, the homeowner and their neighbours. What’s more, trees take many years to grow, so shoddy work which damages the tree or causes tree failure can take a long time to rectify.

For these reasons, it is important to choose your tree surgeon wisely, and the Arboricultural Association (AA) have produced a leaflet with succinct advice on this matter. According to AA, it is important your chosen tree surgeon meets the following criteria:

• They are an ARB Approved Contractor; these tree surgeons are approved by the AA and can be identified by the letters ‘ArbAC’ and the associated logo (pictured). Alternatively, look for a contractor certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), again these contractors should display the ISA logo for accredited contractors (pictured). In either case, check accreditation is up to date by searching the relevant directory through the links above.
• They hold City & Guilds NPTC (National Proficiency Test Council) or Lantra  (Land-Based Industry Training and Awarding Body) qualification(s) in aerial and ground-based chainsaw use.
• They hold other qualifications from these (or other reputable) professional bodies demonstrating a fundamental knowledge of arboriculture in theory and practice.
• Public Liability and Employers Liability Insurance (a minimum of £5 million is recommended); check their insurance certificates are current.  
• They can provide references for their work, preferably in the form of a phone number as this allows customers to speak freely with previous clients and hear about their experiences directly, rather than through email or written feedback that could be falsified relatively easily. Failing this, Local Surveyors Direct can provide the details of up to eight local Tree Surgeons alongside verified feedback from their previous customers.
• They provide a written quotation, detailing: the exact work to be undertaken, referenced to BS 3998; whether the surgeon will clear away any branches, pieces of trunk, stump or felled trees; the  risk assessment that will be used; whether VAT is included or excluded. AA advise obtaining at least three quotes from Tree Surgeons.

Arboriculturists/ Arboricultural Consultants

The focus of an Arboriculturist or Arboricultural Consultant is tree management, rather than carrying out maintenance works. Compared to Tree surgeons/Arborists, Arboricultural Consultants have greater knowledge of, and qualifications in, arboriculture, including tree care and management. They usually take on work for private tree owners, for example regarding trees in domestic gardens and commercial properties, as well as local authorities, for example regarding trees are in public parks or on council-owned land.

Akin to ARB Approved Contractor scheme for Tree Surgeons, the AA also have an accreditation scheme for Arboricultural Consultants. When looking for a Consultant, it is advisable to check whether they are an Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (AARC) (they should usually show the logo, pictured) and that their accreditation is up to date.

Arboricultural Consultants can advise on what is likely to cause issues to a particular tree or group of trees in their current environment. Factors at play can include disease, insect infestation, decay, response to wind loading, amongst many others. They can then make recommendations for preventative measures, treatments or maintenance works.

Arboricultural Consultants can advise which trees will thrive in certain locations and/or soil conditions, and are often involved in new property developments or extensions that increase the footprint of a property. They will advise based on British Standard (BS 5837:2012): Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction – Recommendations.

As a summary, the common work of Arboricultural Consultants includes:

• Inspecting and surveying trees
• Producing Arboricultural Reports from inspection findings
• Liaising with other agencies (property developers, planning offices, contractors)
• Advising on Tree Law, and assisting their client in legal proceedings as an Expert Witness

Arboricultural Survey

A qualified Arboricultural Consultant can perform a Tree Survey (or Arboricultural Report). Depending on the scope of the survey, it could include checks such as: tests to determine the condition of each part of the tree; decay mapping (both limbs and trunk); geographical mapping of the trees within the curtilage; tree stability tests and assessment of the roots through excavation.

The Consultant will conduct a visual inspection (at ground level), as well as aerial inspection for the upper areas of the tree. The aerial inspection can be carried out using ropes and harnesses, a Moveable Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) or drone photography, depending on the scope of the survey and the size and number of trees to be inspected.

The report produced will include a thorough but accessible analysis of the findings, including: the number of trees, their reference numbers and/or geographical location where applicable; species, age and life expectancy; current height and diameter of trunk; measurement of the North, South, East and West crown radii; a detailed analysis of tree health and any apparent conditions affecting it in its current environment.  It can also detail any recommended tree works and a priority/schedule of works; tree risk assessment; tree management plan (both short- and long-term), amongst other aspects of tree care.

There are a number of reasons that you may need a Tree Survey. For example, if you are submitting planning a new development or an extension that will impact surrounding trees, a Tree Survey will usually be needed in support of your planning permission application. You will likely need an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) as part of this.

If you are looking to buy a property with a tree or group of trees, you may be advised to have Tree Survey carried out as part of the conveyancing process. This helps determine whether the tree or trees pose a risk to the property, or are in good health and/or sufficiently far from buildings.

Similarly, home insurance providers might ask for a Tree Survey, but often they only ask for the species, age and height of the tree(s), and their proximity to the property. A property owner is liable for any ‘foreseeable’ damage caused by their tree; a Tree Survey is sometimes a good way to demonstrate that they are fulfilling their duty of care, so long as any recommendations are acted upon. If a property owner suspects their tree may be dangerous  then a Tree Survey performed by a qualified and accredited Arboricultural Consultant can identify these hazards and recommend measures to mitigate the risks and/or necessary works to the tree.

Summary

Whether you need the services of a Tree Surgeon/Arborist, or Arboriculturist/Arboricultural Consultant, it is advisable you find a professional with sufficient Public Liability and Public Indemnity Insurance, professional body accreditation, qualifications and references. 

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