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Tree surveys and reports

A tree survey tells you what condition your trees are in and what, if anything, needs doing. Some are needed for planning applications or house sales.

Large bracket fungus growing at the base of a tree trunk, a common sign of internal decay
Photo: Howard Walsh on Unsplash

Firms that do tree surveys & reports, by town

Services are as each firm describes them on its own website. 24/7 firms are listed first; the order isn't a ranking.

Types of tree survey

Tree condition and safety survey
An inspection of a tree's health and structure, with recommendations. Useful for large trees near houses, schools, roads or public paths, and for trees affected by ash dieback or fungi.
BS5837 survey (planning)
Required by most councils when a planning application affects trees. It records the trees on or near the site, grades them by quality (categories A, B, C and U), and sets out root protection areas. It's often followed by an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) and an Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) setting out how trees will be protected during building work.
Mortgage and insurance tree reports
Lenders and insurers sometimes ask for a report when a surveyor flags a tree close to a property. The report assesses the risk to the building, for example from subsidence on clay soils, and recommends any work.
Subsidence investigations
Where cracking is suspected to be tree-related, an arborist can assess which trees are likely to be involved, usually alongside a structural engineer and the insurer.

Who can do them

Formal reports for planning, lenders or insurers should be written by a qualified arboricultural consultant, for example someone with a recognised arboricultural qualification at Level 4 or above, or a Registered Consultant of the Arboricultural Association. Not every tree surgery firm offers this. We list firms that say they offer surveys but don't check individual qualifications, so ask who will write the report, what they hold, and whether they carry professional indemnity insurance.

Questions

Do I need a tree survey for a planning application?

If there are trees on or next to the site that could be affected, most councils will ask for a BS5837 survey. Check your council's validation checklist.

My mortgage lender wants a tree report. Who do I ask?

An arboricultural consultant, or a tree surgery firm that offers surveys and has a qualified arborist to write the report. Send them the surveyor's comments so they know what the lender is worried about.

What are BS5837 tree categories?

Surveyed trees are graded A (high quality), B (moderate), C (low) or U (unsuitable for retention, usually because they are dead or dangerous). The grades guide which trees a development should keep.

How long does a tree survey take?

Timescales vary by firm and workload, so ask when you request a quote. Larger site surveys depend on the number of trees and the planning timetable, so book early.

How to choose a tree surgeon

  • Insurance: ask to see a public liability certificate (the Arboricultural Association recommends at least £5m), and employers' liability, which is a legal requirement if they have staff.
  • Qualifications: chainsaw and climbing work should be done by people holding NPTC (City & Guilds) or Lantra certificates. Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor status is a stronger check.
  • A written quote: it should say exactly what will be cut, whether the stump is ground out, and whether waste and logs are taken away.
  • Standards: ask whether the work will follow BS 3998, the British Standard for tree work.
  • Protected trees: a good firm will check for a TPO or conservation area and can make the application. See our TPO guide.

Listings show what each firm says it offers. We don't check insurance or qualifications, so ask for proof before you hire. How we list firms.