A Guide to Choosing Arboricultural Consultants and Surgeons

Two Different Jobs, Two Different Sets of Skills

It is easy to use "tree surgeon" and "arboricultural consultant" as if they were the same thing, but they describe quite different roles. A tree surgeon (often called an arborist or arboricultural contractor) carries out the physical work: pruning, crown lifting and reduction, dismantling, felling, stump grinding, hedge cutting and planting. A consultant surveys, diagnoses and advises. They will assess tree safety, identify decay or disease, advise on Tree Preservation Orders and planning matters, and produce written reports that stand up to scrutiny.

For a straightforward prune on a healthy garden tree, you need a competent contractor. For anything involving a leaning mature oak near a boundary, a planning application, a suspected case of ash dieback, or a tree that a neighbour claims is dangerous, you want a consultant first. A good consultant can also save you money by confirming that work is unnecessary — and many will suggest retention-friendly alternatives to felling.

Credentials Worth Checking Before You Appoint Anyone

Formal qualifications matter, and they are easy to verify. Membership of the Arboricultural Association is a useful starting point, and the Association's Approved Contractor scheme requires evidence of insurance, qualifications, health and safety practice and customer references. Consultants are often listed on the Association's Register of Consultants, or hold chartered status through the Institute of Chartered Foresters or professional membership of the Royal Forestry Society or the International Society of Arboriculture.

• Practical tickets: NPTC or Lantra Awards certificates such as CS30 and CS31 (chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting and felling small trees), CS38 (tree climbing and aerial rescue), CS39 (using a chainsaw from a rope and harness) and CS40 or CS41 for pruning and sectional felling.
• Consultancy qualifications: a level 4, 5 or 6 qualification in arboriculture, plus training in tree risk assessment methods such as QTRA or VALID.
• Specialist knowledge: bats roost in trees and are protected by law, so anyone working on a mature tree should know when to call in an ecologist.
• Continuous training: ask when they last attended a refresher course. The industry's guidance changes, and good professionals keep up with it.

Insurance: The Three Policies That Matter

Never rely on a verbal assurance. Ask for current certificates and check the dates and the sums insured.

• Employers' liability — a legal requirement for almost every business with staff, usually held at £10 million.
• Public liability — this covers damage to your property or injury to a third party. £5 million is a reasonable minimum for domestic work; larger operations should carry more.
• Professional indemnity — essential if you are commissioning a report or survey rather than manual work, because it covers advice that turns out to be wrong.

Also confirm that subcontracted climbers are covered under the same policy, and ask whether the firm works to a recognised industry standard such as BS 3998, the British Standard for tree work.

Getting Written Quotations You Can Compare

Obtain at least three written quotations, and make sure each one describes the same specification — otherwise you are comparing apples with pears. A proper quotation should set out the species and location of each tree, the exact work proposed, and whether the price includes:

• removal of arisings and timber from site, or leaving it for you;
• stump grinding and the depth of grinding;
• VAT, stated separately;
• site protection, such as ground mats or fencing around roots;
• any fees for applying for Tree Preservation Order consent or felling licences.

Be cautious about paying the full amount up front. A deposit for materials is normal; staged payments tied to completion are better. Ask for two recent local references and, if possible, look at similar work the firm has done on the same species.

The Legal Groundwork in England, Scotland and Wales

In England and Wales, felling more than five cubic metres of timber in a calendar quarter normally requires a felling licence from the Forestry Commission or Natural Resources Wales, though there are exemptions for certain trees and situations. Work on a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order requires written consent from the local planning authority, and trees in a conservation area need six weeks' notice. In Scotland the rules differ slightly, so check with Scottish Forestry.

A reputable consultant or contractor will handle this paperwork for you, or at least tell you precisely what is needed. If someone offers to "just crack on" without mentioning protections, treat that as a warning sign.

On the Day and Afterwards

Agree who will manage access, parking and any disruption to neighbours, and confirm start and finish dates in writing. Take photographs of your garden, boundary fences and any nearby structures before work begins. Once the job is finished, walk the site with the contractor, check the work against the specification, and ask for a written note of anything left outstanding.

Keep your reports, quotations and receipts together. If you ever sell the property, or need to demonstrate that a tree was managed responsibly, that paperwork is worth far more than a verbal promise ever could be.