Directory of Tree Surgeons (Contractors)

Services typically required of an arboricultural contractor are:

• tree maintenance (pruning, bracing or fertilising operations) to a relevant British Standard (see Tree Work Terminology section pages 7-9).
• tree felling including dismantling of dangerous trees or trees in confined spaces.
• pest and disease identification and control.
• advice on the above.
• some contractors undertake tree planting and other landscape works.

These services are usually performed to an agreed specification which may come from:

• the contractor after discussion with the client, or
• a third party such as a consultant or local authority tree officer.

In either case it is prudent for clients to obtain a written specification for the work and to agree the specification and price prior to commissioning the contractor.

Some AA Approved Contractors may provide services not listed above, for example landscape maintenance, consultancy reports etc. Clients should note that only those services listed above are covered by the AA Approved Contractor Scheme.

Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors

Contractors listed in the following pages have submitted their businesses and their tree work to the Arboricultural Association for assessment and have been found competent to provide arboricultural contracting services to clients.

The Arboricultural Association's assessment of Approved Contractors is not limited to their knowledge of trees and tree maintenance but

• their understanding and practical application of current arboricultural practice.
• their compliance with legislative requirements of arboricultural contracting.
• their compliance with health and safety requirements of arboricultural contracting.
• their excellence of service to clients through efficient business management.

Each Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor is required to identify a principal or manager who is responsible to the Association for the company's standards. The standard required by the Association is very high and Approved Contractors are subject to reassessments at regular intervals to ensure that standards are maintained. The standards themselves are regularly reviewed to ensure that they reflect contemporary arboricultural research findings, legislative and health and safety requirements, business practices and customer expectations.

The Association requires that Approved Contractors within this directory must hold insurances to levels appropriate to liabilities that their work may generate, and in all cases Public Liability insurance to a minimum of £5,000,000 with a maximum excess of £250 in any one incident and Employers Liability insurance to an appropriate level commensurate with the size of the business. If Approved Contractors are providing written tree reports, they must also carry Professional Indemnity insurance to a minimum of £500,000 at all times. Inclusion of a contractor within this directory should not be regarded as proof of current insurance cover - before entering into any contractural agreement clients should satisfy themselves that appropriate insurance is in place by asking for evidence from the contractor and/or their broker.

Selecting an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor

1. When making an appointment with an Approved Contractor clients should advise the contractor whether advice on trees is required, or if a specification for works already exists against, which the contractor's quotation is sought.
2. Clients may wish to obtain more than one estimate or quotation for the purposes of comparison, but should remember that price is only one factor in selecting a service provider.
3. Estimates or quotations will normally be provided free of charge when quoting against a specification but a fee may be charged if advisory work is involved - clients are advised to be clear with the contractor from the outset.
4. When asking for an estimate or quotation indicate when you would like the work undertaken. The contractor will advise whether or not this is practical or possible.
5. Respond to estimates or quotations quickly - try to advise the contractor within 7-10 days whether or not you wish them to undertake the work and make clear the terms of acceptance.
   
   The directory lists Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors by region but some will operate throughout the UK and even abroad.
   
   In the unlikely event that clients are not satisfied with services from an Approved Contractor a complaints procedure may be followed.
   
   Whist the Arboricultural Association makes every effort to ascertain the competence of Approved Contractors it cannot accept liability in respect of any persons or companies named in this directory. The Arboricultural Association cannot be held responsible for the advice or actions of any persons or companies named in this directory.