Category: Tree Maintenance

Alders are seldom described as a prominent ornamental tree. Usually they are considered landscape and forest trees, or as valuable nurse-trees for the establishment of other more demanding species.

This article is the first in a pair which details the progress of a five-year research project, part funded by the Arboricultural Association.

The Association is reminding arborists, landowners and their advisors that many of the fallen trees and branches resulting from the recent storms can simply be left where they lie, as they will encourage biodiversity

Hundreds of thousands of trees are set to be planted in communities across England as applications for the Local Authority Treescapes Fund and the Urban Tree Challenge Fund reopens.

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2022 we’re proud to share a few of the many amazing women who have shared their knowledge and passion with us over the past 2 years.

In 2016/17, the Petersfield i-Tree Eco survey was conducted to better understand the number and nature of trees in the Hampshire town and parish.

The Stonehouse Community Arboretum includes all of the trees on public and private land, in the urban and rural parts of Stonehouse.

The Society for the Environment are delighted to officially launch their campaign for World Environment Day 2021.

The bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata) originates from Japan and the Kuril Islands in eastern Russia.

Kenton Rogers and Keith Sacre, Treeconomics It is a widely recognised and an undisputed fact that local authorities across the UK own and are responsible for many of our urban trees. Studies like Trees in Towns 2 and various i-Tree Eco reports have highlighted that the trees owned and managed [...]

The Queen’s Green Canopy has launched which is an initiative to help mark the Queen’s 70th Jubilee

Have your say! It’s time to review the apprenticeship standards launched in 2017 to ensure they are up to date and can meet the needs of our industries. To ensure we have the right workforce for the future, the Trailblazer Group for the Arborist, Forest Operative and Landscape/Horticulture apprenticeships is conducting a review of these [...]

Tree planting has been higher than ever on the public and political agenda recently, with many commitments and policy drivers focusing on the subject over the last few months.

The Association was pleased to award Park Junior School in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, with the first AA School Membership in December 2020. The free programme aims to engage youngsters in learning about trees, to promote arboriculture as a career choice and to raise awareness of the Association. Technical Director John Parker [...]

Optimised techniques for arboreal activities In 2018 Fund4Trees, the Arboricultural Association, Tree Fund and Teufelberger announced funding for a project intending to map the body’s movements during tree climbing, utilising and comparing different techniques to analyse the pressure on both joints and muscles. The aim of the research, led by [...]

An Arborist is a person who works with trees – normally a tree surgeon or someone who carries out practical work, such as planting, pruning, training etc. Sometimes this term can be used to describe all individuals who work with trees grown for amenity purposes. To find out more about [...]

The science and practice of the cultivation, establishment and management of amenity trees for the benefit of society. Arboriculture refers to the care of trees grown or maintained for their amenity value – for the environmental, social and economic benefits that they bring – rather than for the value of [...]

For many years, gardeners and arborists alike would, as a matter of common tree maintenance, clear ivy from trees in order to remove the competition for light, water and nutrients, as well as the potential threat of the ivy totally smothering the tree. However, in the light of increasing knowledge [...]

A tree (arboricultural) consultant is someone who has gained recognised qualifications and expertise in the care and management of trees. Their role involves providing technical and professional tree care advice to a range of Clients. Including development design advice, tree risk management, management of tree populations, statutory protection assistance, property [...]

Climber Jake Radford preparing to carry out veteranisation treatments: 70% isopropanol and 10% bleach was used to sterilise bars, chains and side-cover interiors between treatments. Since my early days as an arb student at Cannington College in 2012 I have been fascinated by ancient and veteran trees. As many readers [...]

by Helen Davies Passionate about enhancing green infrastructure in our cities, I’ve spent the past three years undertaking a PhD at the University of Southampton looking at how to increase funding for urban trees. There is now a wealth of research showing how the right trees in the right places [...]

National Tree Week #ArbMatters The Arboricultural Association is proud to support National Tree Week again in 2020! Make your voice heard on National Tree Week 28th November – 6th December 2020 To celebrate National Tree Week, we’re highlighting the value of the Arboriculture industry to the UK over the next [...]

The Women in Arboriculture Group aims to support and champion females in the tree care industry while collaborating to encourage a culture change and greater diversity. The group welcomes views, ideas and constructive comments from anyone in the industry. Promoting Diversity Diversity has a vital role to play in raising [...]

Acute Oak Decline – ‌ Oak Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a disease affecting several thousand native oak trees in Britain. It is considered to have first occurred in Britain 30-35 years ago. It mainly affects pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petrea), however other species of oak [...]

The Arboricultural Association works alongside many leading industry bodies to help promote best practice throughout both our membership but further afield too. To that end we have helped produce a Biosecurity Policy to help prevent spread on pests and diseases in our tree stock. Biosecurity is the single most important [...]

Construction close to trees Trees are easily damaged by construction works, regardless of their scale. Digging a garden pond may cause damage to trees in the same way as building demolition and construction. It is important to ensure that trees are adequately assessed before ANY work takes place. This is [...]

Selecting the right tree for the right place Planting a tree in your garden is a decision requiring forethought and planning. Consideration must be given to the surrounding landscape and buildings, space available, soil type and location of the particular site. Careful thought will help to ensure that an appropriate [...]

The Arboricultural Association makes the archive of help and advice from the now defunct Tree Advice Trust accessible to all. Trees in Focus Code Title Date APN02 Compost from Woody Wastes 1996 APN04 Root Barriers and Building Subsidence 1997 APN05 Shaded by Trees? 1999 APN06 Trees and Shrubs for Noise [...]

Two highly anticipated upcoming fungi publications are now available for you to pre-order. Fungi and Trees: Their complex relationships (Pre-order) by Professor Lynne Boddy MBE £42 Pre-order Pre-order @ £42 £75 Pre-order both Pre-order both @ £75 The fascinating new book from Professor Lynne Boddy, one of the worlds’ leading [...]

Tree Pruning is part of a series of general information leaflets produced by the Arboricultural Association. The Association provides membership services, accreditation and support to 3,000 professional arborists in the UK and further afield. We strongly recommend that you use an accredited ARB Approved Contractor or AA Registered Consultant who [...]

Contractors listed in our directory listing have submitted their businesses and their tree work to the Arboricultural Association for assessment and have been found competent to provide arboricultural contracting services to clients. The Arboricultural Association’s assessment of Approved Contractors is not limited to their knowledge of trees and tree maintenance [...]

Services typically required of an arboricultural contractor are: Tree maintenance operations including pruning, and related works to relevant British Standards (see our Tree Work Terminology page) Tree planting operations and aftercare/establishment programmes Tree felling, including dismantling of dangerous trees or trees in confined spaces Advice and guidance on the above. In addition [...]

First, refer to the Arboricultural Association’s official guide to choosing your tree surgeon When making an appointment with an ARB Approved Contractor clients should advise the contractor whether advice on trees is required, or if a specification for works already exists against which the contractor’s quotation is sought Clients are [...]

Your local council is responsible for making Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). You should contact your local authority and speak to the tree officer or someone in the planning department who should determine whether the making of a TPO is appropriate. More detailed information on TPOs: www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas#Flowchart-1-Making-and-confirming-TPO

The following advice applies to England only and is for guidance purposes only. Some trees are protected by legislation, and it is essential that you establish the legal status of trees prior to carrying out works to them. Unauthorised work to protected trees could lead to prosecution, resulting in enforcement [...]

Tree roots typically grow close to the surface, and it is not uncommon for them to develop on the underside of hard surfaces such as driveways, which can lead to cracks developing through physical pressure. This damage is frequently superficial, and there is a range of options available which include: [...]

You may be able to depending on the importance of the tree, the nature of the building proposed and distance between the proposed building and the tree in question.

If the building work proposed requires planning consent, all trees which could potentially be affected by the development (including those off-site) should be assessed by an arboricultural consultant in accordance with British Standard BS5837 Trees in Relation to Construction – Recommendations, and details of this submitted to the Local Planning [...]

In spite of what you may read in newspapers or be told by insurance companies, there are no fixed minimum recommended distances that you should plant trees of certain species from buildings. When choosing a tree or trees to plant, you should give careful consideration to design, in particular how [...]

The are a wide range of services a professional arborist can offer you. Find out more

A guide to professional qualifications and post nominals.

How to identify a tree professional with all the things to look out for when choosing who to use

When you are thinking of having any tree work carried out, always consider how to select the right tree surgeon

Check out this amazing Infographic describing the benefits of urban trees