Tree management frameworks

 

wobbly tree

 

For those who have the responsibility of looking after trees

 

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Under the Owners/occupiers liability act and the health and safety at work act, landowners, tenants and individuals entrusted with care of an estate, or trees, have a duty to ensure no harm comes to people or property from activities or negligence on their land (the act is a little more complicated than that definition, but that's the gist of it). This responsibility is normally termed the 'Duty of care'. Where this involves trees, is in the responsible management of them (so they don't fall over/apart and damage someone/something).

Under the tort of negligence and other charges, the above individuals or organisations could find themselves in court, in the event of tree failure and damage being caused, as a result of that failure. If they cannot provide evidence of a comprehensive tree management system, judgement is likely to be found against them and substantial damages imposed at the least.

Such a comprehensive tree management system would normally include detailed information on the frequency of inspections, quantifying of any risks associated with the tree stock, subsequent prioritising of work, type and cost of work recommended, recording of data and the competence of those inspecting the tree stock. It would also specify the frequency of inspections needed, in order for an individual to effectively discharge the duty of care required of them.

We provide a tree management service that satisfies at the least, the duty of care required under the Acts and the body of law that is built on them.

Benefits of our service are:

• Maximising the efficiency of your financial resources, by identifying the highest priority work needed.
• No vested interest in procuring unnecessary work (we are not tree contractors)
• Effective tree management - we know how to look after trees
• Proactive tree management strategies allow for a short and long term budget allocation as well as being a far cheaper alternative to adopting a reactive approach.
• Immunity from successful legal action.
• Risk of injury or death and damage to property, reduced to an acceptable level
• Accurate and up-to-date information on tree assets
• Increase in quality of tree assets
• Peace of mind

Our management plans include:

• Accurate tree stock inventory, mapped and tagged
  
• Stock appraisals on health and value
  
• Assessment on risk of failures
• Work recommendations, prioritised to satisfy "duty of care" and to aid budget allocations.
• Recommended time-frames for inspections and remedial or cyclic work
• Long-term assessments of tree stock health, quality and value (if requested)
• Planting schemes (if requested)
  
• Recommendations on management systems and retention of necessary data for the purposes of duty of care
• Detailed information on any legislative constraints on the tree stock and how to manage them within these constraints

As is evident from the below flow chart, we do tailor our management plans around the needs of our clients, while still effectively discharging the duty of care, required of them.

We also provide a complete management service, where we manage everything from tree inspections, to retention of necessary data, to managing contractors and working practices and standards.

If you need further information on any of the above, or have any queries regarding tree management, please feel free to contact us.

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