Disposing of waste wood in an environmentally friendly way is more important than ever. Let us take care of it for you.
If you’re having work done on your trees or hedges, you’ll be amazed at how much waste wood is created. The UK currently produces around 5 million tonnes of waste wood every year, two-thirds of which is low quality offcuts that can’t be effectively re-used.
Getting rid of this waste in an environmentally responsible way is vital to help combat climate change, though it can be time consuming and expensive. If you don’t want to risk contributing to the growing landfill problem, you’ll need to hire a professional to dispose of your waste responsibly.
At Climbers Way Tree Care, not only will we clear up all waste wood produced from work we conduct, we’ll also make sure the wood is used in the most environmentally friendly way possible. In this guide we’ll help you understand more about what we do with your waste wood. Want to know more? Get in touch and we’ll talk you through our environmental commitments.
What can be done with different types of waste wood?
First let’s talk through the types of waste wood that are created from different tree and hedge works. Collectively these are referred to as arisings.
Brushwood refers to small branches and other smaller pieces of debris created by tree surgery. This can come from either trees or hedges. For instance, when we undertake crown thinning or crown reductions, we would expect a large quantity of brushwood to be created.
Timber refers to larger pieces of wood, such as wood created by tree felling, or from removing larger branches of a tree. Removing an entire tree naturally creates a huge quantity of timber.
Many people don’t realise that you can’t put arisings into your normal garden waste bin. If you were to undertake tree or hedge work yourself, you would either need to dispose of the offcuts yourself by taking them to the tip, or arrange for a specialist wood recycling company to take it away. In either of these situations there is no guarantee that the wood will be disposed of responsibly. Whilst good quality wood can be reused in various ways, most arisings are too low-quality and could even be sent to landfill.
Whatever the job, and whatever arisings are created from the work, our tree surgeons will always keep your garden or site clear of debris, and dispose of all brushwood and timber responsibly at the end of the job. We know that environmentally-friendly business practices are more important than ever, and we’re committed to doing our bit to help combat climate change.
Both brushwood and timber can be used to create wood chippings. We process brushwood into wood chippings on site, before transporting them away for onward use. We remove timber whole, taking it away to another site to convert it to wood chippings.
What do tree surgeons do with wood chippings?
Wood chippings can be very useful. They can be used for paths, animal bedding, or even composted down into mulch which can help your garden. However, there is a growing industry in converting wood chippings into biomass to use in power generation. According to the Wood Recyclers Association, 3.1 million tonnes of waste wood is used in this way, creating enough energy to supply one million UK households.
Timber requires special equipment to effectively convert it into wood chippings. However, once chipped, it burns at a higher temperature than brushwood, making it even more effective as a fuel source for power generation. Brushwood is easier to handle and can be chipped on site, after which it can be transported directly to a biomass processing plant.
At Climbers Way Tree Care we have the equipment and expertise to deal with and transport your waste wood. We have chippers which will deal with brushwood on site, giving us wood chippings we can take to the biomass processing plant. With timber, we’ll transport the wood to a separate site to have it chipped with specialist equipment, after which it’s taken to the biomass processing plant.
We are committed to ensuring that all waste wood is disposed of responsibly. Get in touch today to find out how we’ll complete your job in an environmentally friendly way.
What’s the difference between an arborist and a tree surgeon?
If your trees or hedges need some care and attention, using a professional is the only way to be certain of getting the best results, with no stress. But you might be wondering what the difference is between tree surgeons and arborists, and which one you should use for your garden.
The terms tree surgeon and arborist (or arboriculturalist) are often used interchangeably, but they are subtly different professions. A very simple way of describing the difference is that tree surgeons know where to cut a tree, whereas arborists know why. Arborists study trees at a biological level and know how to keep them safe and healthy. Good, qualified tree surgeons will still have extensive knowledge of how to treat trees, but tend to focus more on the specific work required.
The level of qualification is an important difference between arborists and tree surgeons. Tree surgery is complex and dangerous work, and as such all tree surgeons should be qualified, as all of our tree surgeons are. However, for someone to be called an arborist means that they must have qualifications in arboriculture, and could even be educated up to masters degree level. Watch out for those who misuse these job titles – always check the level of qualification your tree surgeon or arborist holds to be sure that you’re receiving a truly professional service.
When do you need a tree surgeon?
Qualified tree surgeons will be able to help you with any tree or hedge work required in your garden. They should be fully trained and qualified to undertake work safely, regardless of the height and location of the work required. They will be experienced in all aspects of tree work, such as crown reduction or thinning, crown raising, tree removal, and stump removal. They will have the right equipment and know how to use it safely.
When do you need an arborist?
Qualified arborists can help you fully understand the health of a tree and what works are required to keep it healthy, or bring a damaged tree back to full health. They will be able to fully assess trees and hedges, and even the soil they’re planted in, and recommend work to be undertaken.
Using a fully qualified arborist is also very important if you’re undertaking any commercial work. Some planning regulations will require that an arborist is used to assess trees in the vicinity of building or demolition works.
The real secret? You need both!
In reality, for any successful tree work to be undertaken, you need both arborists and tree surgeons working together. Arborists will understand the health of the tree and what work should be undertaken to maximise the health of the tree long-term. Tree surgeons will bring their deep expertise of conducting tree works to ensure that work on the tree is carried out safely and effectively. This combination of skills means that your garden will look great, and your trees and hedges will be healthy and happy for years to come.
At Climbers Way Tree Care, we have fully qualified arborists AND tree surgeons on our team. We think this is essential to give you the best possible service, and total peace of mind. We have decades of experience undertaking a huge range of tree works, backed up with qualifications and professional memberships, giving you total confidence in our abilities.
Have a look at our services page to see the range of work we offer, then get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote, to find out what we can do for your garden.
There are many reasons you might want to fell a tree on your property. Perhaps the tree is dying or diseased, or just in the way and causing a nuisance. Before you conduct any work on trees on your property, and certainly before you cut one down, you should be sure that you have all necessary permissions. If you don’t, you could be opening yourself up to serious fines and penalties. At Climbers Way Tree Care, our experienced tree surgeons can provide expert advice and guidance, or even take care of these permissions on your behalf, free of charge.
In this guide we’ll help you understand the various ways a tree can be legally protected, and the potential consequences of not obtaining the right permissions.
Things You Should Consider Before Cutting Down a Tree on Your Property
There are three key things to bear in mind before you undertake any work on a tree on your property: Do you own the tree; is the tree protected; and do you need any additional permissions? Some of these issues are complex, and if you get them wrong you could face significant fines.
Do you own the tree?
This probably seems like an obvious place to start, but is not always as straightforward as it seems. If the tree is on your property and not otherwise protected, then you have the right to conduct any required work, including felling it. However, things get more complicated if the tree straddles a border with a neighbouring property. In this instance, ownership depends on where the tree was originally planted. If your neighbour owns the tree, then you will need their permission before felling it. If you rent your home, you would need permission from your landlord before undertaking any work.
Is the tree covered by any protections?
Before undertaking any work on a tree on your property, you should check if it is legally protected. There are two main ways a tree can be protected: Tree Protection Orders (TPOs), and Conservation Areas. Check out our previous article on tree protections to understand more about how to deal with these. If you were to undertake work on a protected tree without necessary Council permissions, you could face a substantial fine. Our tree surgeons are used to working with Councils to obtain these permissions, and would be happy to take care of these permissions on your behalf.
Do you need any other permissions?
It’s not only TPOs and Conservation Areas you need to think about. Depending on where you live, and where your tree is, you might need additional permissions. If the tree is on non-residential property, such as in woodlands, you will likely need a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. These are complex licences, and permission is based on the volume of the timber to be cut, and the variety of tree. Our tree surgeons are experienced in both residential and commercial tree felling, so will be able to assess the job and help you understand the licences that might be required.
If you are in a new-build home, you might find that trees on your property are covered by conditions in the original planning permission. You can check your plans and any conditions supplied to you when you purchased your home to check what permissions you might need.
What Are the Consequences if You Don’t Get the Right Permissions?
If you fail to get the right permissions to cut down a tree in your garden, you could face significant fines or other penalties. If you cut down a tree which is covered by a Tree Protection Order, for example, you could face a fine of up to £20,000 and be forced to plant a tree in its place.
If you were to cut down a tree which is not owned by you, you could be sued for damage to property by the person who owns the tree. Not to mention the significant damage that could be done to the relationship with your neighbour.
If you cut down trees in woodland without the required felling licences, you could be fined £2,500 or more. You could also be left responsible for planting and maintaining new trees in the same area. These restocking orders can require you to maintain the trees for up to ten years.
How We Can Help Take the Stress Away
Our tree surgeons have a huge amount of experience dealing with protected trees. We have a detailed knowledge of the various permissions required to undertake work on trees in both residential and commercial locations. We will even take care of requesting necessary permissions from the Council for you, free of charge, before undertaking any work.
Safety is always our primary concern, so damage to property is highly unlikely. However, our tree surgeons are also all fully insured in the event that there is any damage to property caused by our tree works.
Our tree surgeons take all of the stress out of tree work. You can be confident that all legal permissions, safety measures, and insurance are taken care of.
Get in touch today to talk through your plans, and we’d be happy to provide a free, no-obligation quote.
What Do Tree Surgeons Do?
You may be wondering exactly what a tree surgeon does when they take on a job. Or perhaps you’re looking for some tree or hedge work and aren’t sure what you can expect, or what to ask for. Our qualified tree surgeons cover all aspects of a job, including safety, insurance, permissions, and of course the work itself, which will be completed to the highest standards.
This guide will help you understand the range of roles and responsibilities our tree surgeons undertake for every job. Want to know more? Just get in touch and we’d be happy to tell you about our work.
There is a lot more to tree surgery than chopping branches and felling trees. Tree surgery is a complex, and potentially dangerous task. That’s why all of our tree surgeons are fully qualified and insured for every job. Tree surgeons take all of the stress out of tree work by taking care of safety and legal requirements, and will always give you the very best results.
Quality, Professional Work
One of the main benefits of using a professional tree surgeon is that you’re guaranteed the best results. Between them, our team members have decades of experience completing jobs of all sizes, so you can be confident that your job will be finished to our very high standards. From the moment you contact us to discuss your needs, you’ll receive expert advice and friendly, professional customer service.
Whether you’re looking for hedge trimming, crown reduction, or tree felling and stump grinding, our tree surgeons have the tools and experience to give you a perfect finish every time. This also means protecting the trees themselves; our qualified arborists understand how to conduct the work in a way that ensures that no damage is done to the overall health of the tree.
Throughout the job our tree surgeons work quickly, safely and with complete professionalism. We take care of all tidying of the site and removal of any cut timber and brushwood, leaving you with nothing to do but enjoy your garden!
Keep You on the Right Side of the Law
There are a number of areas where, if you’re not careful, you could quickly get on the wrong side of the law if you don’t hire a professional tree surgeon. When you’re undertaking any work on trees and hedges on your land, there is a potential for damage to property, injury to yourself and others, or even a chance you could be breaking the law.
When undertaking work on trees and hedges, you are liable for the work undertaken and any resultant damage or injuries. Our tree surgeons are all fully insured against personal injury and damage to property. This takes all of the stress out of the job for you, and protects against potentially expensive litigation.
We are also experts at dealing with councils and local authorities regarding protected trees. We take care of all permissions needed, free of charge, before undertaking any work. Again this could help you avoid significant fines if you were to inadvertently damage a protected tree.
Prioritise the Safety of Everyone on Site
Safety is always our top priority, so we start every job with a full assessment of the site. This gives us a chance to decide what safety measures will be needed, and also start to plan how we’ll obtain the best results from the work. We hear too many sad stories of people hurting themselves and others by trying to take on too much themselves, so we believe that it’s important that the dangers of this profession are well understood.
Is Tree Surgery Dangerous?
According to the UK Government Health and Safety Executive, in the past ten years nearly 1400 tree surgeons and arborists have been injured whilst conducting tree work, with 24 sadly losing their lives. That is why they insist that tree surgery “is highly skilled work and those carrying out the work must be fully trained and be competent to carry out the job”. But how dangerous is tree surgery, and why?
All tree surgery work is dangerous, both for the individuals carrying out the work, and those in the vicinity of the work being carried out. Injuries can occur to individuals up in trees, and those on the ground as a result of falling trees and branches. It is especially dangerous to conduct tree work alone, which is why our tree surgeons always work in a team when the work requires it. They use all necessary safety equipment to minimise any risks to themselves and others.
Tree surgery is also dangerous due to the damage that can be caused to property. Falling branches and trees can cause substantial damage to homes, fences and other garden items. Our tree surgeons are experts at controlling trees and branches as they are removed, to ensure that they fall safely and away from any property.
Head over to our video page to see some examples of how our team uses the right equipment to ensure everyone’s safety.
If you’re in any doubt about whether to use a professional tree surgeon for your job, just get in touch for a free, no obligation quote, and we’d happily talk you through our work.
Tree Surgery Terms – A Glossary
You may know that your trees need some attention, but might have no idea what needs doing or what to ask for… Rest assured that in your first consultation with us our expert tree surgeons will talk you through exactly what needs doing and what it all means in plain English. But if you want the confidence of understanding the key terminology before you speak to us, have a read through our guide below! If you’re still not sure, just get in touch and we will happily answer any questions you may have.
Adaptive Growth
This is where a tree increases growth in one area to compensate for forces acting against it. This is sometimes also known as reactive growth or reaction wood.
Arboriculture
Arboriculture is the science of understanding how trees grow and respond to their environment. Through this understanding, Arborists (often called ‘tree surgeons’) are trained to effectively care for and manage trees. This is usually referred to as ‘tree surgery’.
Arisings
Arisings refer to the debris caused by tree works, such as twigs and branches. You may also hear this referred to as branchwood, brushwood or brash.
Bracing
Bracing is where cable or rod ‘braces’ are installed to hold branches in place to protect the tree from damage related to weather or the weight of the foliage.
Branch Bark Ridge and Collar
This is the fork in the tree, where the main branches attach to the trunk. It is often a darker, thicker part of the branch.
Buttress Roots
Buttress roots are the large, wide roots you’ll see at the base of a tree trunk.
Callus
If a tree is properly pruned or otherwise ‘wounded’, it should develop callus tissue over the wound to protect it from disease. Woundwood then grows behind the callus to allow normal wood to continue forming.
Cavity
A cavity is a hole in a tree trunk, usually caused by decay as a result of damage or improper pruning.
Co-dominant Stems
This is where two stems of about the same size will grow from the same spot on the trunk and compete with each other. Often these stems are weaker and more likely to fail.
Compartmentalisation of Decay
Compartmentalisation of Decay in Trees (CODIT) is the natural process in which a tree will create a boundary around a wounded or decaying area, to protect the rest of the tree.
Conservation Area
A conservation area is an area a council is seeking to protect for architectural or historic reasons. Removing or carrying out work on trees in these areas will require special permission from the relevant Local Planning Authority (LPA). If you live in a conservation area, we will undertake all LPA applications on your behalf, free of charge, before starting any work.
Coppicing
A favoured woodland management technique, coppicing involves chopping certain species of trees down to the stump, which enables fresh growth which can be harvested.
Cordwood
Cordwood is a collection of timber which has been cut and sorted by size. The name comes from the cords that would have held the wood pile together.
Coronet Cut
A coronet cut is a specific form of pruning, designed to mimic natural branch tearing. This technique is mostly used in woodland settings.
Crown
The crown is the collection of branches and leaves that make up the tree’s foliage. Sometimes this is also referred to as the canopy.
Crown Clean
Crown cleaning is where we remove dead or dying branches from the crown, as well as removing any other unwanted or dangerous branches.
Crown Lifting
Crown lifting, also known as crown raising, is where we remove the lower branches of the tree, raising the bottom of the crown up to a uniform level (described in metres Above Ground Level – AGL). This can improve the light levels and views for the rest of the garden.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction is a common process where we carefully prune the crown to reduce its size. This process is useful for reshaping misshapen trees, or reducing obstructions caused by a tree without removing it.
Crown Thinning
Crown thinning is where we remove smaller branches within the crown to reduce weight and improve light flow through the tree. It can also protect trees from high winds due to improved air flow through the crown.
Deadwood
Deadwood refers to dead branches or stems that remain attached to the tree. This is a normal occurrence but can lead to some safety concerns. We can help you identify when it is a problem and remove these branches if necessary.
Deciduous
Deciduous trees are trees which shed all of their leaves over Autumn in preparation for the winter months. This is in contrast to Evergreen trees which retain their leaves all year round.
Decline
Decline refers to the progressive deterioration of a tree’s health, which you might spot in discolouring of the leaves or other symptoms. Our experts can help you manage this decline by treating any underlying causes.
Dieback
Dieback is where the twigs and branches of a tree begin to die, often in response to poor conditions, physical injury or disease.
Dormant
Dormancy is like hibernation for trees; over the winter a tree might lose its leaves and look generally bare over winter months.
Drop Crotching
Drop crotching is a form of thinning, where we selectively prune branches back to a natural fork in the branch.
Epicormic Growth
This is new growth that emerges from buds in the trunk or main branches of the tree. These buds normally lie dormant unless provoked to grow in response to damage.
Felling
Felling is the process of removing a tree by cutting it at the base and carefully directing the tree to fall in a specific area.
Fertilising
Fertilising, as with many other plants, is the process of feeding the roots of a tree to encourage growth. If when we have examined a tree’s decline we identify a nutrient deficiency, fertilising may be one treatment we suggest.
Formative Pruning
Formative pruning is where a tree’s branches are pruned early in its development, to encourage the desired shape.
Fungal Fruiting Bodies
Fungal fruiting bodies will essentially look like mushrooms growing out of a part of your tree. These bodies tend to feed on dead or decaying wood and can therefore indicate the presence of other tree health issues.
Habit
A habit is the natural shape of a tree.
Hazard Beam
A hazard beam is a main tree branch which is curving upwards, leading to high internal pressures which can cause a hazard beam crack which runs up the middle of the branch.
Height Reduction
Height reduction is where upper branches are cut back until the tree reaches a desired overall height.
Leader
The leader is the dominant upright stem at the centre of a tree, which is usually the main trunk.
Lion Tailing
This is a poor pruning technique, where shoots along a branch are removed except for the foliage at the end of the branch. This can cause unnatural stress to be placed on the branch, potentially leading to the branch failing.
Lopping and Topping
Lopping and topping generally refers to the heavy-handed or poorly executed removal of tree branches. Unlike careful pruning, this process shows little regard for tree health and is therefore not to be recommended!
LPA
LPA stands for the Local Planning Authority, the part of the council you will have to obtain permission from to conduct work on a tree protected by a TPO (see below) or Conservation Area.
MEWP
MEWP stands for Mobile Elevated Work Platform, sometimes also referred to as a ‘cherry picker’. It is a platform sometimes used if climbing the tree is not safe or suitable.
Painting or Sealing
Painting or sealing refers to the process of artificially sealing a tree wound with a special paint or sealant. This process is not recommended as it can interfere with the tree’s natural wound healing.
Pollard
Pollarding is where a tree is pruned to a set height, usually to ensure that it does not outgrow its plot or obstruct views.
Pruning
Pruning is the term typically used to refer to cutting away unwanted or damaged parts of a tree or plant.
Retrenchment Pruning
Retrenchment is a natural process where higher branches of a tree begin to die back, stimulating new growth lower down. This natural process can be emulated with careful pruning of the tips of upper branches to encourage lower growth.
Root Pruning
Root pruning refers to cutting back tree roots, usually to allow for nearby construction works. Improper root pruning can damage a tree, so we can provide expert advice on the best approach.
Sail Area
This is the area of a tree that is affected by the wind.
Scaffold Branches
These are the main collection of branches in a crown that support the structure of the tree.
Section Felling
This is the process in which we remove a tree in sections, if it is not possible to fell the whole tree at once. The pieces either free-fall to the ground if there is space to do this safely, or if not they are rigged up and carefully lowered to the ground.
Stem
The stem is another name for the trunk of a tree.
Stump
This is the part of the tree which will be left after felling. Our arborists are trained in stump removal (or ‘grinding’) and have special equipment to undertake this work.
TPO
TPO stands for Tree Preservation Order, which prevents any work being undertaken on a particular tree without permission from the Local Planning Authority (LPA). If your tree is protected by a TPO, we will undertake all LPA applications on your behalf, free of charge, before starting any work.
Veteran Tree
A veteran tree is one which, due to its size or age, is considered of exceptional cultural or natural value.
Vitality
Vitality is the health of the tree, measured through a range of properties including leaf health and new growth.
Whorl
A whorl is a collection of branches that all emerge from the same level on a stem.
Windblown
Windblown refers to a tree which has blown over in the wind.
Woodchip
This is where we process the branches and other material removed from a tree through a chipper, cutting this material into very small pieces. Woodchip can be used in a number of ways, including for paths and biomass.
If you’re still not sure, just get in touch and we will happily answer any questions you may have.
