Find a professional

People able to care for your trees are generally either consultants (tree advisors or arboriculturists) or contractors (tree surgeons or arborists).

Consultants (click to go to directory) provide specialist opinion on tree health, safety, preservation, trees and buildings, planning and other law... Read More >

Contractors (click to go to directory), often known as "tree surgeons", provide specialist tree planting, pruning and felling services; some may also advise on maintenance requirements and pest and disease control... Read More >

Consultant or contractor?  The following analogy may help you decide if you need an arboricultural consultant or contractor: think of the consultant as a building surveyor, structural engineer or architect and the contractor as the site manager with skilled bricklayers and carpenters.

Be safe, be sure

There is no shortage of people and companies offering tree work services, but how do you choose between them? The Health and Safety Executive says,

“…clients engaging contractors to undertake tree work need to carefully check they have the necessary skill and competence. Tree work is hazardous; to be done safely it requires properly trained and experienced people… Arboricultural trade associations can supply details of approved contractors and information to help you choose a competent tree work contractor…”

It is equally important that advice given in respect to trees is correct and from reliable professionals.

People and companies in this directory have satisfied the Arboricultural Association that they are competent to provide the consultancy and contractor services as described.

Beware

This is not a set-up but a real-life situation captured on camera. So what's wrong?

You could be at risk if you employ a tree surgeon or tree advisor who works like this.

Spot the difference

Choose carefully

By choosing tree specialists from this Directory you have the security of knowing that each person or company had passed the Arboricultural Association's rigorous and industry recognised standards of safety and tree care. All home/landowners have a responsibility* to engage competent people to work on their property.

If you choose to use a contractor not listed in the directory the following checklist can help you establish the contractor's competence.

*Common law duty of care responsibilities and sometimes liabilities under the Occupiers' Liability Acts of 1957 & 1984

Mainly for the Trade:

The 2011 ARB Approved Contractor scheme now provides more possibilities for more contractors than ever before. Assessment criteria and fees vary according to business size – making the new “small business” category suitable for any tree work business of 2–5 people.

The Standards are broken down into four broad headings or modules, as follows:

Module 1: Site safety (on site operations – inc. rigging competence)
Module 2: Finished work (pruning, planting, arb knowledge)
Module 3: Office support (customer care, insurance, licences)
Module 4: Health and Safety (regulatory compliance and training).

For full details of the new 2011 scheme click here.