Frequently asked questions

What type of maintenance is carried out on trees?

Predominately works mainly consist of remedial pruning works such as;

            • Lifting low branches over footpaths.
            • Cutting back branches from lamp posts.
            • Removal of deadwood.
            • Removing weak or damaged branches.

Will any trees be removed following the survey?

It is sometimes necessary to remove trees when they are dead, dying, and diseased or when there is structural damage.

How do you know when a tree is diseased or dying?

Diseased trees can often appear to be perfectly healthy, but a detailed inspection by a qualified tree officer can reveal problems that are not obvious to the untrained eye. All our surveys are conduction by trained arboricultralist. Specialist equipment such as PICUS® Tomograph is used to provide a decay detection and analysis of the inside of the tree. The PICUS® Tomograph consists of a set of sensors which are placed around the part of the tree identified as potentially suffering from decay or having a structural fault. Each sensor is connected to a nail which is tapped through the bark into contact with the wood beneath. This process is virtually non-invasive to the tree’s living system.

How will I know if you are planning to remove trees from my local park?

If we identify any trees that need to be removed we will;

            • Post notices on the tree identify that the tree is earmarked for felling
            • Post notices in the park outlining the dates the work is due to take place
            • Update our website.
            • In cases where there are major works that need to be undertaken that may affect access to the park we will notify   residents nearby by letter.

What about bats?

It is sometimes the case that trees with cavities may provide a roost for bats. All bats are protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and are also included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. These include provisions making it an offence to:

            • Intentionally kill, injure or take (capture) bats;

            • Intentionally or recklessly disturb bats in a roost or any other structure or place it uses for shelter or protection;

            • Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts even if bats are not in residence.

A bat survey will be undertaken prior to any works being undertaken to determine and mitigation works incorporated into the schedule if required.

Can you cut down a tree if it has a tree preservation order (TPO)?

Consent is required before any works can be carried out on a tree TPO. This includes pruning, lopping, felling, crown raising etc. We will not undertake any work on a tree that has a TPO with gaining prior consent from the councils planning department.

Contact

If you have any queries concerning the planned tree works in the boroughs parks please contact John Laing Integrated Services on 0845 456 2796 or email hounslow-info@laing.com