Arboricultural Method Statement for TPO Trees — Leigh Hospital

THE CHALLENGE:

A contractor undertaking building works at Leigh Hospital in Greater Manchester needed to carry out operations in close proximity to several mature trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders.

The works involved excavation for new drainage infrastructure and changes to ground levels in areas within or close to the root protection areas of the protected trees. Wigan Council required a full Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan to be approved before works could begin, and the contractor needed arboricultural advice on how the works could be sequenced and carried out in a way that protected the trees and satisfied the Council's requirements.

OUR ROLE:

Urban Tree Management assessed all TPO-protected trees affected by the proposed works, evaluated the likely root distribution within the works area, and advised the contractor on the most appropriate working methods for each operation — including the specification of root-friendly excavation techniques, the positioning and specification of tree protection fencing, and the sequencing of works to minimise the period of root zone disturbance.

A full Arboricultural Method Statement was produced setting out all protection measures and working methods in plain language for the site team, and a Tree Protection Plan was produced in AutoCAD for submission to Wigan Council.

THE OUTCOME:

Wigan Council approved the Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan, allowing the works to proceed.

The contractor received clear, practical guidance on how to carry out the drainage and groundworks safely in proximity to the protected trees — and the hospital trust received the documentation needed to demonstrate that the works had been carried out in full compliance with the Tree Preservation Order requirements and the approved arboricultural methodology.