Not Sure What Your Tree Actually Needs?
Most people can tell something isn't right. They just can't tell if it's a serious problem or a tree doing what trees do. Brad looks at it properly and gives you a straight answer. What needs doing, what can wait, what needs permission, and what you're worrying about for no reason.
Tree questions are usually simpler than they feel from the garden.
A tree can be enormous without being dangerous. It can have a dead branch without the whole thing being a write-off. It can be protected without being untouchable. The problem is that when you're standing underneath it after a storm looking up at something that wasn't there yesterday, none of that feels obvious.
Brad looks at the tree, the access, what's underneath it, and what the site needs. Then he tells you what he thinks, not what makes the longest job sheet.
A proper answer. Not a sales pitch dressed up as advice.
What Brad actually does on a survey.
He looks at the tree. He looks at what's around it. The house, the boundary, the neighbour's garden, what's underneath the canopy, what the roots are doing near the drive. He checks whether it's dead, declining, structurally compromised, or just looks a bit rough because it had a hard winter.
If the tree is protected, by a TPO or because it's in a conservation area, he'll tell you what that means in practice. Which councils are involved, what permissions are needed, what you can do without asking, and what needs proper notification before anyone goes up.
If the tree needs work, you get a quote. If it doesn't, you'll hear that too. The whole point is telling you what's actually going on, not booking in work for the sake of it.
Before you book a survey.
Do I need a tree survey for planning permission?
If there's a tree on the site or close enough to be affected by the build, most councils want a BS5837 survey before they'll process the application. It tells them what's there, what condition it's in, and what needs protecting once work starts. Skip it and the application usually just sits there until one turns up.
How much does a tree survey cost?
Depends how many trees there are, how spread out the site is, and what the report needs to cover. One tree ahead of a driveway is a different job to a five acre plot before a planning submission. Call and describe the site, Brad will give you a straight number rather than a vague range.
Is a tree survey a legal requirement?
Not as a blanket rule. It becomes one the moment a council asks for a BS5837 report with a planning application, or a lender wants proof a tree near the property isn't a risk. Outside those situations it's optional, just sensible if you're not sure what you're looking at.
How long is a tree survey valid for?
Most are treated as current for a year or two. Trees change, storms happen, and if the site's moved on since the survey (nearby works, root disturbance, a hard winter) it's worth getting it looked at again rather than leaning on an old report.