Empire Tree & Garden Services
Tree Inspection Report
Client: Menheniot Parish Council (Chairman – Mr. J Tucker)
Site Location: Merrymeet communal area
Author: Kevin Johnson MBE
Empire Tree & Garden Services Lower Treneath Liskeard Cornwall PL14 5AD
1 Introduction
.1.0 Terms of Reference:
.1.1 A request was received from Mr. J Tucker Chairman Menheniot Parish council to conduct a site survey and professional tree inspection report for 10 trees within, and adjacent to, the Merrymeet communal area to satisfy the council’s responsibility for due diligence to the health & safety of users of the communal area and the adjacent highway iaw the Occupiers Liability Act 1984.
2 Qualification
2.1CV at Annex A
2.1This report has been produced in line with the guidance and qualification LANTRA Professional Tree Inspector dated 23 March 2011.
2.3This is a ‘formal inspection’ as defined by the National Tree Safety Group.
3Limitations and Use of the Report
.3.1 The survey and assessment of the trees listed was undertaken using the guidance of the National Tree Safety Group– Common Sense Risk Management of Trees and drawing upon reference data from British Standard 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – RecommendationsandBritish Standard 3998:2010 Tree work - Recommendations.
.3.2Basic hand tools such as sounding hammer and binoculars were used during the survey. Tree dimensions were recorded using a diameter tape and laser range finder. Climbing inspections were not undertaken.
3.3This inspection was conducted from ground level.
.3.4No detailed soil samples were taken. The information in this report covers only the trees that are detailed in the survey and is an assessment of their condition on that day (29 April 2014.)
.3.5The statements, findings and recommendations in the report do not take into account any effects of extreme climate weather instances, vandalism, changes in the natural and built environment around the trees(s) after the date of this report or any subsequent damage whether physical, chemical or otherwise.
.3.6Empire Tree and Garden Services cannot accept any liability in connection with the above factors, nor where recommended tree management is not carried out in accordance with British Standard 3998:2010.
.3.7The contents of this report are for the exclusive use of Menheniot Parish council.
.4Site Description
.4.1 The site is within the boundary of Menheniot Parish at Merrymeet grid reference SX 27788 66052.
.4.2 There are 10 trees within the scope of this report. Three within the communal area and 7 on the hedge to the South boundary.
4.3 It is understood that the communal area was made available by means of a donation of the land and the award of grant funding to establish the recreation facilities. Exact timings of installation are not known although it is understood that the landscaping and installation work was conducted within the past 2 years. No plans or details of the contractors involved have been made available. The provision, at the planning stage, of an arboricultural assessment would have identified any suitability issues for this area in relation to its use as a communal area and specified the necessary control measures to safeguard trees during the project roll-out and construction phase. It is evident from the landscaping work that has been implemented that appropriate knowledge, care and attention to safeguarding the trees was not taken.
.4.4 It could be axiomatically anticipated that the trees upon the boundary hedge had achieved a self-optimised rooting anchorage system with compensating growth to allow for the elevated position. This could be expected to provide adequate anchorage under normal conditions. The impact of landscaping and removal of +/- 400mm of top soil from the immediate area to the North of the boundary hedge has destroyed up to 50% of the noted trees root systems. This has reduced the root system beyond the minimum necessary to sustain and support the tree as stated in British Standard 5837:2012.
5Tree Inspection Report
5.1 At Annex B
6Recommendations
6.1 Detailed recommendations for each tree are contained in Annex B
6.2 Executive summary of recommendations:
Dead wood and damaged branches within the crown of trees should be removed to prevent risk of injury to users of the communal area and highway.
Tree 4 & 6 should be felled without undue delay.
Low hanging branches (< 5.2m above highway) should be removed to allow free passage on the highway.
Tree 7 should be subject to further examination after bud burst to establish vitality.
The impact of landscaping has significantly degraded the safety and viability of trees 1-7. Height and weight reductions to ameliorate the loss of anchorage might present a short term risk reduction but introducing significant wounds into what are already stressed trees (due to root damage) may prove beyond the trees capability to recover thus exacerbating the problem.
Extract from BS 3998:10:
“Where roots have been exposed or severed by removal of soil (i.e. by lowering the ground level), the tree should be assessed for stability. If the tree is found to be unstable, then appropriate action should be taken, e.g. pruning, propping, guying or (if other measures prove impracticable) felling.”
Should it be decided that retention is the preferred option then it would be essential to engage the services of a specialist stress-testing operator and subsequently implementsuitable propping or guying as necessary depending upon the results of stress testing. Confirmation of whether the communal area is a ‘designated open space’ as defined by the Commons Act 1899 will determine if a Forestry Commission felling license is required.
Crown raise of trees 8-10 to remedy poor previous pruning cuts and elevate canopy above play equipment.
A periodic inspection routine should be implemented.
Kevin Johnson MBE
Empire Tree & Garden Services
Annex A K Johnson MBE CV
Annex B Tree Inspection Report dated 29 April 2014
Annex C Site map (scan document separate attachment)
Annex DList of resource references
Annex EPhotographic record(separate storage media)
1
Empire Tree & Garden Services
Kevin Johnson MBE DoB 31 August 1966
Having joined the Royal Navy in 1982 direct from Matthew Arnold School in Oxford, Kevin undertook duties ashore and onboard ship, and on exchange duties with the Royal Air Force, Royal Marines and the Army, as a supply chain (logistics) specialist providing world wide logistics support to military operations.
Following graduation from Britannia Royal Naval College DARTMOUTH and the Royal Navy Supply SchoolKevin was promoted to commissioned rank and appointed to the Clyde submarine base on the staff of The Captain First Submarine Squadron. During this very rewarding appointment the first of the UK submarine fleet (HMS SPLENDID) was fitted with the TLAM weapon system (cruise missile) and deployed in support of the UK maritime contribution to the Balkans campaign. Intimately involved in the planning, execution and recovery of weapons, equipment and personnel, Kevin was Invested to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2000 New Year Honours list in recognition of his outstanding contribution.
Subsequent appointments included Royal Naval Air Station CULDROSE which provided opportunity to gain valuable experience in contractor logistics support to the EH101 Merlin aircraft through the acceptance and initial sea trial phase; HMS CAMPBELTOWN as the Deputy Logistics Officer during a busy program which included Baltic, Middle East and North Atlantic deployment / operations and the Royal Navy Logistics School as the Course Officer delivering training for Initial Logistics Officers’ Course (Maritime.) Graduation (Summer 03) from the Advanced Logistics Support Course (Royal Logistics Corps) at Deepcut training camp, and on location in Hungary, was demanding yet immensely broadening and rewarding. An operational appointment followed to the Iraqi Coastal Defence Assistance Support Team (ICDF AST) Aug 04 as Head of the Logistics department and lead mentor / trainer to the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force and Base Support Unit.
Subsequent appointments included MoD Abbeywood and the Warship Support Agency and Ship Design Authority. This allowed some time to recover and re-skill in Logistics infrastructure design with a strong focus towards Catering Services and galley design including the attainment of an Advanced Diploma in food hygiene and management. Professional Command appointments followed in HMS ST ALBANS and HMS CUMBERLAND as the head of the Logistics department which included the complex and demanding role of preparing ST ALBANS to leave operational fleet service for refit and, conversely, regenerate CUMBERLAND from refit ready to complete Operational Sea Training and re-enter Fleet time. This provided valuable experience as the following appointment was to the staff of the Flag Officer Sea Training responsible for the effective training and preparation of Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and foreign naval warships for operations around the globe. An operational deployment to Afghanistan in Jan 10 as the Deputy Chief of Staff Camp BASTION was followed by the final appointment in the Naval Core Training Stream as the Resource and Plans coordinator and budget manager for HMS RALEIGH where, having been selected for voluntary redundancy the opportunity arose to develop a new career path in arboriculture.
Established in 2010, Empire Tree & Garden Services provides a one-stop-shop for the complete arboricultural solution. Delivering tree survey, hazard analysis and risk management plans, planning advice including arboricultural impact and method statements for private and commercial developments, legal guidance for dispute resolution for tree related issues, private and commercial arboricultural solutions (specialising in aerial access pruning and reductions for hazardous trees) right through to stump grinding and removal, woodland management, traditional hedging and stonewalling. With the ability to survey, analyse, submit supplementary planning documents, execute the tree task and provide on-going assessment and risk management, a genuinely comprehensive service is available to meet all arboricultural situations.
Married to Lauren, they live on the edge of Bodmin moor with baby Clara and 2 German Sheperd dogs in a house that requires ongoing renovation and extension which takes a great deal of time, money and determination.
Arboricultural Competences
Brief description / Technical Qualification / Awarding bodyMaintain and safely operate a chainsaw
Cut and stack timber lengths / CS30.1
CS30.2 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Fell and process small trees / CS31 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Fell medium trees
(380-760mm) / CS32 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Sever Individually Wind-blown Trees / CS 34 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Tree climbing and aerial rescue / CS38 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Use of a chainsaw from a rope & harness / CS39 / City & Guilds NPTC (April 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Professional Tree Inspector / Professional Tree Inspector / LANTRA (March 2011)
Cornwall council &
The Tree Council UK
Tree Warden / Professional Tree Inspector /
Traditional hedge laying / Traditional hedge laying / Lynher Training (October 2011)
Establish, maintain and manage apple trees / Establishing & Managing an orchard / Lynher Training (December 2011)
Maintain and safely operate brushcutters/trimmers (strimmers) / Brushcuters and Trimmers – Maintenance and operation / LANTRA (February 2012)
Maintain and safely operate Woodchippers / Woodchippers / LANTRA (February 2012)
First Aid at work / Level 2 First Aid / Health & Safety Executive (February 2012)
Refresher training due 2015
Woodland management / Woodland management / Lynher Training (March 2012)
Use of mechanically powered winches in tree work / Use of mechanically powered winches in tree work / Lynher Training (March 2012)
Pruning trees according to the British Standard 3998:2010 / CS 40 / City & Guilds NPTC (March 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Dismantling trees according to the British Standard 3998:2010 / CS 41 / City & Guilds NPTC (March 2012)
Refresher training due 2017
Use of mobile elevated platforms (cherry-pickers) in arboriculture / MEWP (boom trailed) / LANTRA (April 2012)
Bat awareness for tree workers / Bat awareness for tree workers / Lynher Training (April 2012)
Maintenance and safe use of pedestrian and ride-on mowers / Maintenance and safe use of pedestrian and ride-on mowers / Lynher Training (April 2012)
Qualified to teach/instruct adults / Teaching in the lifelong learning sector / Edexcel BTEC Level 4
(April 2012)
Establish and maintain signing, lighting and guarding for street works / 002 / CABWI (May 2012)
Supervise the signing, lighting and guarding of street works / 010 / CABWI (May 2012)
Certificate of Advanced Chainsaw Operator for pruning and sectional felling / NPTC Level 2 Certificate / City & Guilds NPTC (July 2012)
Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and
Timber (Arboriculture) / NVQ Level 3 diploma / NVQ / National Qualifications Framework
Instructor / Assessor for chainsaw & related operations / Instructor
Assessor / Highways & construction training association
1
Empire Tree & Garden Services Tree Inspection –
Merrymeet Communal Area29 April 2014
Tree Number on Plan / Species / Height(m) / Spread
(m) / Age
Class
Note 1 / Condition / Recommendations / Informed by risk rating
Work Priority / Inspection Frequency
1 / Oak
(Quercus robur) / 22 / N 6
E 7
S 6.5
W 5 / Mature / Sited centrally atop a Cornish hedge running E W 1.5m above ground level.
To the N is a public access play area. To the S is a broad verge (+/- 4M) bordering the highway.
Structural and feed roots have been removed as a consequence of landscaping through 180° on the N face of the Cornish hedge. British Standard 5837:2012 para 3.7 defines the Root Protection Area as “…the minimum area around a tree deemed to contain sufficient roots and rooting volume to maintain the tree’s viability, and where the protection of the roots and soil structure is treated as a priority...”
The stem diameter at chest height was measured at .95m which BS5837:2012 Annex D states has a requirement for the radius of a nominal circle centred on the tree at 11.4m as a root protection area and a total RPA of 408m2 – see Annex C for diagrammatic representation.
Barbed wire is embedded in the base of the stem.
A bird box which will be subject to the regulations contained within the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 - Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs( is sited at 2.5m height and an anchor point at 2m height.
There is a damaged limb at 2.5m.
At 4.5m the major limb to the S displays reactive growth and a cavity which will require a climbing inspection to establish the extent of decay.
There was no visible exudation or fungal fruiting bodies.
There is moderate dead ivy (severed at the stem.)
The crown is congested and interlinked with tree 2 and 10.
There is moderate and major deadwood throughout the crown – see note 2
Bud burst, early leaf formation, size and density are uniform throughout the crown. / Intermediate action –
Remove deadwood within the crown above public access play area.
Climbing inspection
Ultimate action -
Sited in an elevated position atop the bank, with public access play area and 50% root formation removed to the N and highway to the S, the target areas for potential failure require particular consideration regarding risk.
It is inevitable that the tree’s demise has been accelerated as a consequence of the landscaping work. According to BS5837:2012, the viability of this tree has been removed.
The recommendation, based upon BS5837:2012, the mechanical influences that have been inflicted upon the tree and the risk to target areas for failure are that it be removed.
Should this course of action not be adopted, stress testing the tree is essential to establish safety and the rate at which the tree declines must be closely monitored to detect any early sign of decay fungi at the root or within the stem. / 3
3
3
See
note 3 / Annual
Annual
Bi-annual
(2 per year)
Note 1 Age Class
Defined by the expected natural life span of this species. It should be noted that SW UK environmental and climatic conditions (gulf-stream influence and ample rainfall generally favour proactive / rapid growth in comparison to more Northerly and inshore locations)
Indicative life span of a tree under ‘normal’ growing conditions
0-5%of expected life span / 5-20% of expected life span / 20-100% of expected life span / 100% +
of expected life span
Young / Semi-mature / Mature / Over mature
Note 2 Scale for deadwood
Indicative scale for identification of deadwoodMinor deadwood / Diameter up to (<) 25 mm
Moderate deadwood / Diameter 25-50mm
Major deadwood / Diameter greater than (>) 50mm
Notes for Inspecting officer / key observation criteria:
exudation / fruiting bodies / occluded or partial wound wood development / cavity development / potential wildlife habitat / cavity formation / epicormic growth / coalescence of decay
co-dominant leader / target area defined by frequency of use and probability of failure /
Note 3 Work Priority
Priority 1Immediate action required to avoid potentially fatal failure event / consequence
Action - Immediate / Priority 2
High probability of failure event
Significant injury / legal culpability
Action – within 72hrs / Priority 3
Medium probability of failure event
Possible injury / legal culpability
Action – within 1 month / Priority 4
Low probability of failure event
Unlikely injury / legal culpability
Action – within 6 months / Priority 5
Routine inspection as detailed by competent tree inspection operative
Tree Number on Plan / Species / Height
(m) / Spread
(m) / Age
Class
Note 1 / Condition / Recommendations / Informed by risk rating
Work Priority / Inspection Frequency
2 / Beech
(Fagus sylvatica) / 24 / N 5
E 9
S 10
W 4 / Mature / Sited predominantly on the S face atop a Cornish hedge running E W 1.5m above ground level.
To the N is a public access play area. To the S is a broad verge (+/- 4M) bordering the highway. Surface roots are visible in the verge to the S and there is evidence of historic mechanical impact damage (likely mower.) No sign of heave.
Structural and feed roots have been removed as a consequence of landscaping through 180° on the N face of the Cornish hedge. British Standard 5837:2012 para 3.7 defines the Root Protection Area as “…the minimum area around a tree deemed to contain sufficient roots and rooting volume to maintain the tree’s viability, and where the protection of the roots and soil structure is treated as a priority...”