SUMMARY

Draft British Standard 5837 Trees in Relation to Construction - Recommendations was released today for public consultation. Thirteen years on since the standard was last revised this document has the potential to protect tens of thousands of trees each year facing increasing pressure from nearby development.

Through member representation on the Revision Panel the Arboricultural Association has sought to help update, revise and enhance the protection afforded to trees by this document when it is correctly used by practitioners.

The British Standards Institute is inviting comment on the draft by 31st December 2004. Copies can be obtained free from this website or may be purchased from BSI Head Office, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL Tel +44(0)20 8996 9000.

The 1991 edition of BS 5837 was a huge leap forward when it arrived thirteen years ago, replacing the original 5837 published in 1980. Since then technology has moved on, development pressure has increased, planning law has been updated, the Guide has been tried and tested to its limits through planning appeals and through the courts and our knowledge and understanding of trees has developed.

Whilst the 1991 edition was, and still is, a world leader in giving guidance on trees and development it has been in need of revision and updating for some years. Significantly the new edition is branded 'Recommendations', a level up from the 1991 'Guide', so it has the potential to offer more robust advice. This is particularly useful as trees can have a significant effect on development potential - and they are often one of the largest, the most easily damaged, and most valued features on or adjacent to a development site.

Richard Nicholson, Senior Arboricultural Officer at the Borough of Poole is the chair of BSI committee B/213/2, the working group tasked with the review of the document. "The revisions to the BS are based on a mandate for change comprising all the comments received since the 1991 edition was published. Some changes reflect the examination that the document has received during the planning appeal process; others reflect industry best practice and issues such as the growing importance of veteran trees that have arisen since 1991", he says.

"A panel of professionals including builders, architects, landscape architects, structural engineers and arboriculturists has prepared this draft for public comment. It is important to comment where you have concerns or consider further clarification is needed, and to point out omissions. The panel has done an impressive job and I commend the document to you".

It is important to remember that the draft copy available from the Arboricultural Association's website or from BSI is just that - a draft. It must not be regarded or used as a British Standard. Equally it is important that practitioners review the document in its draft form as once the consultation period closes no further comments will be accepted and BSI will begin to firm up the final document. Publication of the finished work is expected to be in 2005.

Members of the Arboricultural Association and other organisations are also involved in the revision of British Standard 3998:1989, Recommendations for Tree Work. It is anticipated that the draft of the new 3998 will be available for public consultation around April/May 2005 and again will be posted on this website.