Tree Risk Management Surveys in Greater Manchester & the North West
We work with clients of all sizes, from a single tree in a residential garden to private estates with tens of thousands of trees and public access. Our expert arboricultural consultants provide cost-effective tree risk management solutions that ensure legal compliance and follow industry best practices.
With extensive experience managing public and private sector estates—including schools, woodlands, rural estates, country parks, golf courses, business parks, and housing developments—we deliver strategies that prioritize safety, sustainability, and long-term tree health.
We operate throughout the Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside & Nationally for tree-related projects of all sizes.
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A Sensible Approach to Tree Risk Management
Landowners have a statutory duty of care to do all that is reasonably practical to ensure that people are not exposed to a risk to their health and safety. This duty can be fulfilled by having a system in place to control the risk from trees.
A tree risk management system comprises of four components:
- A policy that details how the landowner will approach the management of tree related risk
- A zoning plan to inform decision making for tree surveys
- A tree survey to assess the trees and determine the level of risk
- A mitigation plan to reduce any risk to as low as reasonably practicable
This approach is advocated by the Health and Safety Executive under the Plan Do Check Act methodology for effective tree risk management and follow relevant guidance from the National Tree Safety Groups (NTSG)
and
Lantra.
We don’t handle tree work contracting, so we just outline the work that meets your needs.
- When trees need attention, our detailed work specifications meet BS3998:2010 standards, are environmentally mindful, and focus on the minimum required to meet your duty of care.
- Since all pruning causes some harm, doing less is better for both the trees and your budget.
- We work with clients to plan priorities and re-inspection schedules, aiming for realistic goals rather than arbitrary deadlines—ensuring you’re never burdened with more work than you can handle or timelines you can’t meet.
Can you make sure my trees are safe?
- We shouldn’t think of trees as either safe or unsafe as all trees carry a degree of risk of failure.
- It’s important to remember that compared to many things we do in our lives, trees present a very small chance of harm.
- Recent work commissioned by the National Tree Safety Group (the NTSG) has benchmarked the average individual fatality risk from a falling tree to the UK public for the period 1997 – 2021 at one in 14 million per year. That’s somewhere between death by lightning and being bitten by a shark.
Who is responsible for tree safety?
- Landowners have a legal duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts (1957 & 1984) to manage tree risks on their property.
- Local authorities also have responsibilities for trees on public land and highways.
How often should trees be inspected?
The NTSG (National Tree Safety Group) advises a proportionate approach:
- High-use areas (e.g., near roads or footpaths): regular inspections (e.g., every 1-3 years).
- Low-use areas (e.g., woodland or private gardens): less frequent inspections, unless concerns arise.
Can I assess tree risks myself?
- To a degree. The guidance (and case law) suggests that while landowners should remain observant, they should understand the limits of their knowledge and know when to refer an inspection to a professional.
- Ultimately, few people will know their trees as well as their owners or site managers so informal inspections will always form a critical part of tree risk management.
Will pruning help make a tree safer?
- It can do if done correctly and for the right reasons (i.e., to take weight off a damaged union).
- Poor pruning, however, can increase risk by making failure more likely, so it’s best done by a qualified arborist.
Am I liable if a tree on my property causes damage?
- Potentially, yes. Under UK common law, tree owners have a duty of care to others and are responsible for preventing foreseeable harm.
- Regular inspections and maintenance can help demonstrate due diligence and reduce liability.
Will my insurance cover tree-related damage?
- Most UK home insurance policies cover damage caused by falling trees due to storms or unforeseen circumstances.
- However, insurers may not cover damage if the tree was known to be in poor condition and left unmanaged.
How much does a tree risk assessment cost?
- Costs vary depending on the number of trees, their location, and the level of assessment required.
- Using QTRA we can often rule out entire areas of trees from needing inspection due to usage of an area or the size of the trees so we often find that the final costs can be lower than other approaches.
How do I get a free no obligation quotation?
That’s simple!
Get in touch to discuss your tree risk management needs
By transferring the burden of responsibility to us, our clients enjoy peace of mind, knowing that tree safety on their property is being managed appropriately.