Consultancy

Bamford Tree Management has a committed and qualified team of staff. We offer a comprehensive consultancy service specific to both Arboriculture and Forestry. Tree management and trees in the environment is our central area of expertise. We can undertake tree surveys in accordance with a wide variety of specification, from; tree decay and hazard management to bird surveys and habitat impact assessment. Our team is highly qualified in arboriculture, urban forestry, woodland management and ecology.

Our expertise can provide our clients with management plans, reports and surveys. Our consultancy service extends to both commercial and residential clients. We work closely with planning authorities and construction industries providing tree protection plans, site reports and guidance for situations relating to British Standards practice. Primarily; BS 5837:2005 ‘Trees in Relation to Construction’ and in accordance with BS 3998:2010 ‘Tree work – Recommendations’ 

Arboriculture

We can provide tree surveys to help with the basic management of trees. Our surveys cover single trees, specimen and veteran, or wooded amenity areas. By carrying out a survey tree health can be determined and recommendations can be presented to the client. Our surveys can be tailored to our clients specific needs and can be characterised in the following categories;

Tree health and risk assessments – Caring for our trees and their safe management is paramount. We are able to carry out hazard and safety assessments from the ground and if necessary more detailed aerial inspections. We base our Visual Tree Assessments and tree inspections on industry standard laid out by the Arboricultural Association and British Standards. The reports we produce give a clear evaluation and provide information on tree value, decay, failure analysis and risk. Recommendations for mitigating any hazards can then be presented to the client.

Tree survey and inspection programmes – A long-term approach to tree management is a service we offer to clients that are concerned with the health, safety and continuing maintenance of their trees. A service that is both efficient and financially beneficial. Bamford Tree Management offers a tree survey and inspection programme that can be carried out annually or bi-annually. A long-term inspection regime is ideal for areas with amenity trees and woodlands, such as property management organisations, retirement homes and office gardens.

Our tree survey and inspection programmes are completely site specific. All trees are tagged, numbered, mapped and catagorised according to species, structural/ physiological condition and remaining contribution. Preliminary management recommendations are stated and a re inspection period can be determined with your convenience in mind.

Amenity woodlands and urban forestry - Woodland neighboring or within urban areas is an important part of any community. Many areas though can be left derelict, undermanaged and present a hazard to the public. Bamford Tree Management can offer a complete management plan and work regime to increase an areas potential for the benefit and enjoyment of its users and habitat diversity.

Amenity urban woodlands can be greatly improved by increasing access, maintaining paths, planting trees, erecting signage, removing hazards and improving wildlife by coppicing and locating nesting boxes. We can also advise and carry out other aspects of management including: identification of protected species, opportunities for timber production and salable products, grant aid application and courses for local users such as tree identification of bushcraft.
Bamford Tree Management have expert advice and management for your green spaces. Whether you are a private owner or local authority, we are always here to help.

Forestry

Understanding the value of your woodland is vital to the management of its habitat and commercial potential. Woodlands are a critical part of our rural landscape. We can help you enhance the potential of your woodland and give straightforward advice and planning on all aspects of management from effective production and sale of timber to increasing wildlife and habitat diversity.

Felling Licence Applications - To help sustain and protect Britain’s woodland cover, a felling license is required to fell growing trees greater than the legal volumetric amount.  In any calendar quarter (1 Jan to 31 March, 1 April to 30 June, 1 July to 30 September and 1 October to 31 December), you may fell up to 5 cubic metres on your property without a licence as long as no more than two cubic metres are sold.

It is an offence to fell trees without an approved license from the Forestry Commission. If a license is not in place or if the wrong trees are felled, anyone persons involved maybe prosecuted. In certain circumstances other permissions may needed to be sought. This includes trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders or trees within a conservation area.

A felling licence may include several other conditions including: the restocking of new trees and the retention, protection of licensed mitigation of European Protected Species and legal obligations contained in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Bamford Tree Management can give advice, complete and submit felling licence applications for all woodland, urban or semi urban situations. We can provide this as a part service to a complete woodland management plan or as a standalone submission. We can provide additional advice, timber volume calculation and market selection. Felling can be completed by us as part as our commercial forestry service.

Perquisite to management - Prior to woodland management planning it is important to ascertain the woodland type, its structure and overall aspect in the landscape. The South east of Englandis the second most wooded county containingthe UK’s largest cover of ancient woodland. The ancient woodlands of Sussex harbor some of the most complex ecological communities of flora, insects, fungi and mammals. Many archeological remnants and cultural features exist amongst the coppice of hazel, hornbeam, ash, and chestnut. Sadly though, a percentage of our woodlands are undermanaged, derelict or over shadowed by early 20th century conifer. Bamford Tree Management promotes sustainable woodland management and strives to contribute to the restoration of our valuable landscape. We are more than welcome to undertake a perquisite visit to your woodland for either a walk and discussion at your convenience or compile a more substantial inventory in the form of a short report with aims to a management plan under Forestry Commission Guidence.

Woodland management plans and grant aid - The management of any woodland is a strategic process that when implemented correctly can contribute to its conservation, habitat improvement and add value to many wood products. Woodland management is and should be a long-term commitment. East Sussex has the largest area of ancient woodland cover in the UK. Our ancient woodlands are complex ecosystems that can be easily damaged from incorrect management practice.

A management plan is not just a standalone document, it is a practical, flexible tool created by or with guidance from a woodland manager. It lays out a scheme of work over a 20-year period, including mechanisms to record beneficial changes. Without this it is difficult to keep track of work records and intentions that follow the impact of woodland management.

To help with the management of your woodland, grant aid is available from the Forestry Commission under the English Woodland Grant Scheme (eWGS). Forestry Commission grants come under various different headings and can help with many activites such as; woodland improvement, woodland creation, management planning, access improvement, fencing, pest control and wood fuel. Grant aid is vital in the start and progression to sustainable management; the application process must include an agreed 20-year management plan of works that follows Forestry Commission guidelines. Objectives of an agreed work programme are dependent on the nature of the woodland. In the case of Ancient – semi natural woodland there must be coherent information regarding the woodland habitat and the impact of the proposed management activities. There must be a definitive aim to serve the needs of the woodland owner and the improvement of the nature of the woodland.

Bamford Tree Management has an excellent portfolio of woodland management planning and operations. We have good working relations with the Forestry Commission and several specialist woodland staff that are employed to help you progress in the future sustainability of your woodland. Please contact us if you require any information regarding management planning, grant application or a perquisite site visit.

LOLER - Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

Regulations enforced by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. This legality requires that a competent person regularly examine lifting equipment. This must be achieved every 6 months for climbing items and 12 months for rigging items.

Bamford Tree Management are qualified in LOLER inspection and have 30 plus combined years of commercial experience. We give our clients a complete new systems set up in a user friendly spreadsheet format to make interim inspections easier to record and to keep track of new equipment purchases. We offer sensible advice on selection, use and maintenance of climbing and rigging equipment, saving you both time and money. If you would like to arange or discuss an equiptment inspection please email or call us on 07910100148. For HSE information please download the PDF - Simple guide to LOLER Regulations 1998