Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2016 | Page 74

Gardening

THE IMPORTANCE OF

tree inspections
When a tree falls, the consequences can be
devastating to anything or anyone involved

Fortunately, such occurrences where damage is
caused are extremely rare and not something we have
to worry about on a day to day basis. However, tree
owners still have a duty of care to take ‘reasonable care’
to ensure the safety of others and manage their trees
appropriately. There has been a series of legal cases
over the last decade or more that, together with new
national guidance, have gone some way to clarifying
what is ‘reasonable’ when it comes to ensuring that
trees do not cause harm. 
Allowing trees to go unmanaged potentially leaves
the tree owner open to legal action. Removing all trees
is too costly in terms of lost values and benefits, not to
mention financially. Deciding how to strike a balance
between these two extremes is necessary but not
always clear.
The level of care that is prudent and ‘reasonable’ may
vary in different circumstances. It might be reasonable
to expect a large national landowner with roadside
trees to have qualified and experienced personnel
employed specifically to undertake annual tree
inspections, just as it might be reasonable to expect
a typical homeowner to keep an eye out for anything
obviously dangerous, calling a tree surgeon to carry out
works when necessary on a tree in their back garden. 
Whatever the circumstances, it is clear that there
needs to be some level of inspection and a system of
management that needs to be defensible. 
In many cases we instinctively know when a tree
has become hazardous or unhealthy. However, as
arboricultural knowledge advances we can add science
to this instinct. With this we can identify those trees
with more subtle defects that pose an unacceptable
risk of causing harm as well as trees that might appear
dangerous but pose no significant risk. 
A homeowner might discover something abnormal,
such as fungi growing on their tree. An arboriculturist
should be able to identify the species of fungi
and using knowledge and experience be able to
evaluate the significance and provide management

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recommendations. A species of fungi known as
Inonotus hispidus can be a real cause for concern on
ash trees, whereas the very same species could be
managed on London plane trees. 
Another example of when specialist help might
be useful would be when changes occur to the
surroundings of the tree. Trees generally grow as
strong as they need to be. If they are sheltered in a
group they can put on additional height and spread
without the need to strengthen the trunk as much as
if they were individuals exposed to high winds. This
is not an issue but if the shelter surrounding the tree
is removed, when adjacent trees are removed for
example, then remedial works might be necessary to
mitigate the new conditions. 
Trees do not need regular management - they
evolved beautifully for many years before saws were
invented! But when people live in close proximity
to trees then the risks do need to be managed
appropriately. When trees are managed properly, then
people can enjoy their benefits and feel safe around
them too.
For more information call Ben Riches of Arb Advice
on 07544 079296, or visit www.arbadvice.co.uk.

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