Quick Summary
Official woodland figures and useful sources, with clear limits on what national statistics can tell you about a tree surgery quote.
National figures can describe woodland coverage or an industry. They cannot price a tree in your garden or tell you whether it is safe. A useful statistic needs a date, a source and a definition of what was measured.
Published woodland figures
Forest Research reported 3.29 million hectares of UK woodland at March 2025, covering 13.5% of the UK's land area. Its 2025 publication identifies the reporting period and links to the underlying data.
Woodland area is not a count of all garden, street and hedgerow trees. It should not be presented as the number of trees needing surgery, or as a measure of demand for a local contractor.
What a national price guide cannot include
A published average does not establish a price for your tree. Access, condition, surrounding buildings, the cutting method and disposal can differ substantially between jobs of a similar size. Check whether any comparison includes the stump, waste removal and tax.
The Capel cost guide explains the information needed for a quotation. This page does not present unverified company accounts, call volumes or job averages as evidence.
Use the source appropriate to the question
For an individual tree's condition, ask about an assessment or written report. National disease estimates cannot establish the condition of a particular ash or predict when it might fail. The Forestry Commission's ash guidance describes management considerations for tree owners.
For permissions, use the relevant local authority's records and government tree protection guidance. A national percentage of protected trees would not establish whether your tree is covered.
Ask for evidence about the proposed job
Before booking, ask for a written scope and price, relevant qualifications and current insurance details. Confirm the clearance included and any work left for a later stage.
Capel Tree Surgeons works from near Horsham across Sussex and Surrey. Send the location and photographs for an enquiry about a particular tree.
Check the source and scope
Use the source and reporting date when comparing figures. For your own property, request a quote based on the actual tree and access.
When To Pick Up The Phone
- When you want to understand what insured, qualified tree work actually involves
- When you are comparing quotes and trying to assess value
- When you have questions about ash dieback on your property
Need Advice On A Tree?
Practical help for Sussex and Surrey properties
If you are trying to work out whether a tree needs pruning, reduction, removal, or just sensible advice, Capel can look at the site and tell you what makes sense.
These guides explain general tree-care decisions. They cannot establish the condition or legal status of an individual tree. Read our editorial policy for our approach to sources and corrections.