Tree Surveys & Canopy Cover Assessments for Ecological Consultants
Urban Tree Management is the arboricultural subcontractor of choice for ecological consultancies across the North West and nationally — providing BS5837 surveys, BNG-compatible tree and hedgerow baseline data, and canopy cover assessments built to the new draft BS5837 standard as part of your wider ecological planning packages.
We work as your arboricultural partner in the background — delivering high-quality outputs to your timescales without the need to maintain an in-house arboricultural resource.
The New Draft BS5837 & Canopy Cover — What It Means for Ecological Consultants
The new draft BS5837 proposes that canopy cover assessment becomes a standard requirement on all development sites — and local planning authorities across Greater Manchester and beyond are already requesting canopy cover data as part of BNG submissions ahead of the standard's publication. This is creating a growing demand that most ecological consultancies cannot meet in-house.
Urban Tree Management has developed its own validated canopy cover assessment model — built to the methodology set out in the new draft BS5837 and already in use on planning submissions across the North West. The model calculates existing canopy baseline, projects canopy growth at 10, 20, and 30 years for every retained tree, models canopy loss from removals, and projects new planting canopy — producing the no net loss analysis that LPAs are increasingly requiring as a condition of planning approval.
We can deliver the canopy cover assessment as part of the same site visit as the BS5837 survey — giving you a single, integrated arboricultural and canopy cover dataset that feeds directly into your biodiversity metric calculation and planning submission without the need for a separate return visit or a separate consultant.
BNG-Compatible Tree & Hedgerow Baseline Data
Since BNG became mandatory in February 2024 every ecological consultant working on a development site with trees needs arboricultural baseline data to run the biodiversity metric accurately. Urban Tree Management produces BNG-compatible tree and hedgerow baseline data as a standard part of every BS5837 survey — capturing the species, condition, connectivity, and canopy data your ecologists need from the tree survey at the same time as the arboricultural data, in a format that integrates directly with your metric calculation.
This single site visit approach saves time, reduces cost for your client, and eliminates the coordination overhead of managing separate arboricultural and ecological survey visits on the same site.
Our Services for Ecological Consultancies
- BS5837 tree surveys and full arboricultural planning packages
- BNG-compatible tree and hedgerow baseline surveys
- Canopy cover assessments — new draft BS5837 methodology
- Specialist decay detection — Arbotom sonic tomography and IML Resistograph
- Renewable energy development tree surveys — solar, wind, and infrastructure
- Veteran and ancient tree assessments
- Large-scale and multi-site survey programmes nationally
Why Choose Urban Tree Management
We are Level 6 qualified, MArborA, and completely independent from tree surgery contractors. Our canopy cover model is already delivering results on planning submissions across the North West — ahead of the new draft BS5837 becoming mandatory — giving ecological consultants who work with us a genuine competitive advantage on applications where LPAs are requesting canopy cover data. Our specialist decay detection capability — Arbotom sonic tomography, IML Resistograph, and ArWiLo wind load analysis — means we can handle the most technically demanding investigations on your survey programmes. Fast turnaround, clean outputs, and no fuss.
Arboricultural Subcontract for Ecological Consultancies — North West & Nationwide
If you are an ecological consultancy looking for a reliable arboricultural subcontractor who can deliver BS5837 surveys, BNG tree baseline data, and canopy cover assessments to the new draft BS5837 standard — get in contact today to discuss availability, turnaround times, and rates.
Get in contact with our highly experienced and personable team of arboriculturists today to discuss your requirements and obtain your zero obligation quotation.
