About Urban Tree Management
Urban Tree Management is an independent arboricultural consultancy based in Bolton, serving clients across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, and nationally.
We have no connection to any tree surgery contractor — so every recommendation we make is based entirely on what is right for your trees and your project, not on any commercial interest in generating tree surgery work.
Every project is led by a dedicated, fully qualified consultant from first contact to final report.
Why Choose Urban Tree Management
Urban Tree Management delivers the full range of arboricultural consultancy services — from BS5837 planning surveys, arboricultural impact assessments, tree constraints plans, tree protection plans, and arboricultural method statements for residential, commercial, and infrastructure development, to QTRA-based tree risk assessments, cyclical inspection programmes, and tree risk management strategies for landowners, housing associations, schools, local authorities, and commercial estate managers. Pre-purchase and mortgage tree reports serve homeowners and property buyers across the North West, and our NHBC Chapter 4.2 surveys support housebuilders on residential development sites.
Our specialist capability extends into advanced decay detection using Arbotom sonic tomography, IML Resistograph resistance drilling, ArWiLo wind load analysis, ArboStApp structural assessment, and ArboRadix root plate mapping — a range of diagnostic tools that places us in a very small group of consultancies in the North West capable of providing this level of specialist investigation. This is why other arboricultural practices, including some of our closest competitors, subcontract their decay detection work to us.
Our Team
At Urban Tree Management our arboricultural consultants are fully qualified, highly experienced, and specialists in their respective disciplines. With a collective 30 years of industry expertise, our team holds academic qualifications and is proud to be professional members of the Arboricultural Association. Every project is led and managed by a dedicated team member from beginning to end — ensuring consistency, strong professional relationships, and a seamless client experience.
Principal Arboricultural Consultant
Carl Riva Dip Arb L6, MArborA
Carl is the founder and Principal Consultant of Urban Tree Management, with over 15 years of experience across all areas of the arboricultural profession — including as a climbing arborist, arboricultural team leader, tree surveyor, and consultant for local authorities, housing associations, and consultancies throughout the North West. Carl leads the company's operations, manages its longstanding portfolio of clients, and personally undertakes the full range of arboricultural surveys, reports, and specialist investigations the practice delivers.
Carl's specialist expertise spans BS5837 planning surveys and technical notes, arboricultural impact assessments and method statements, tree constraints plans, tree protection plans, large-scale hazard evaluation surveys, QTRA tree risk assessments, tree risk management strategies, and internal decay detection investigations using sonic tomography and Resistograph equipment. In October 2024 Carl attended an advanced international tree diagnostics seminar led by Frank Rinn — the world's leading authority on sonic tomography, static load testing, and resistograph technology — alongside John Harthill on fluid mechanics, Professor Lynne Boddy on fungal biology, Jill Butler on ancient and veteran trees, and Ted Green on tree preservation. This level of continuing professional development is rare in the profession and directly informs the quality and accuracy of every decay detection investigation Urban Tree Management carries out.
Experience
- 15 years in the arboricultural industry.
Specialist Areas
- BS 5837 surveys and preparing Technical Notes, Constraints & Opportunities reports, Impact Assessments & Method statements
- Site supervision works
- Tree Safety Inspections & Risk Management
- Large scale hazard evaluation assessments
- Internal Decay Detection Investigations
Qualifications
- Royal Forestry Society Certified Arborist
- Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture
- Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture
- Level 6 Diploma in Arboriculture
- Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association
- Lantra Professional Tree Inspection Certificate
- Licensed user of Quantified Tree Risk Assessment
- NPTC LOLER Inspector
- Enhanced (DBS) checked
- CSCS White Academically Qualified Person Card
Arboriculturist
Michael McCann RFS Cert Arb, PTI
Michael is an experienced and highly capable arboricultural professional with over 15 years in the industry, recently appointed as Tree and Woodland Manager at Haigh Hall in Wigan — one of Greater Manchester's most significant historic estates — where he is responsible for the care and strategic management of approximately 360 acres of historic woodland. His role at Haigh Hall encompasses woodland conservation, safety oversight, habitat enhancement, tree procurement and planting programmes, and long-term strategic management planning for an estate of regional arboricultural and ecological importance. This hands-on, large-scale woodland management experience at one of the North West's most significant arboricultural sites is a genuine differentiator that few consultants in the region can match.
Prior to Haigh Hall, Michael served as Arboricultural Team Leader at RHS Bridgewater — one of the most significant horticultural projects in the UK — where his responsibilities spanned tree management, safety, planting, and long-term stewardship across the estate. His career has also included commercial council contracts, domestic client work, and extensive experience in advanced diagnostic techniques including sonic tomography and Resistograph investigations. Michael has a particular interest in climbing assessments, tree health and safety surveys, woodland management, pest and disease monitoring, and the application of evidence-based diagnostic techniques to support proportionate, accurate tree management decisions.
Experience
- Over 15 years in the arboricultural industry
Specialist Areas
- Tree Health & Safety Surveys
- Woodland Management
- Climbing Assessments
- Tree Analytics and Advanced Diagnostics
- Tree Procurement & Planting
- Pest and Disease Monitoring
Qualifications
- Royal Forestry Society Certified Arborist
- Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture
- Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture (In Pogress)
- Lantra Professional Tree Inspection Certificate
- Enhanced (DBS) checked and are registered
- CSCS Card
Health & Safety
Urban Tree Management operates a robust health and safety management system across all survey and site-based activities. We provide written health and safety policies, site and task-specific risk assessments, and biosecurity policies for all project work. All site-based staff are Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checked and registered on the DBS online update service. We use the PeopleSafe lone worker app to ensure the safety of all staff undertaking lone working activities on site at all times.
Independent Arboricultural Consultants — Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire
Urban Tree Management provides independent, expert arboricultural consultancy for clients of all types across the North West and nationally — from pre-purchase reports for homeowners to BS5837 planning packages for developers, decay detection investigations for other consultancies, and cyclical risk management programmes for housing associations and local authorities.
Get in contact with our highly experienced and personable team of arboriculturists today, to discuss your requirements and to obtain your zero obligation quotation.