Geoffrey March

Trading as Tree Maintenance Ltd
Unit 60 Aston Down, Stroud GL6 8GA

tel: 01285 760466
E-Mail: sales@treemaintenance.co.uk
Web: www.treemaintenance.co.uk

Information

Where trees are present on development sites, Local Authority planning procedures will increasingly require the input of a professional arboriculturalist. As one of about 40 UK consultants registered by the Arboricultural Association, Geoff is able to handle all these issues on your behalf. Typical clients are architects, landscape architects, developers and builders, structural engineers, planning consultancies, structural engineers, ecologists and local authorities.

If you are unfamiliar with current requirements, in September 2005 the long-awaited BS 5837: Trees in Relation to Construction – Recommendations replaced the previous version. This Standard is now the normal requirement of Local Planning Authorities where proposed development and existing trees co-exist. Being a Recommendation rather than a Guide, the new version carries greater weight with the trees being placed firmly on the agenda from the very start. It is proving effective in giving trees the priority and protection they deserve – and in my experience good developers welcome that.
The chain of events should normally be –

• TREE SURVEY & BS CATEGORISATION
  
• TREE CONSTRAINTS PLAN
• INITIAL DESIGN & LPA NEGOTIATIONS
• FINAL DESIGN & LAYOUT AGREED
• TREE PROTECTION PLAN
• TREE WORKS AND PROTECTIVE FENCING
• [CONSTRUCTION STARTS]
• SITE MONITORING

Also provided is a full range of consultancy from safety/condition reports and Risk Assessment to tree-related subsidence issues and legal/expert witness cases. Tree Maintenance Ltd also provide a complete high-quality tree contracting service. View our website for more information!