Tree inspection process
Pages in Tree inspection process
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Guiding principles and legal obligations
- 3. Duty of care
- 4. Hazard and risk
- 5. Tree inspections
- 6. Identification of hazards and intervention/response times
- 7. Assessment of risk
- 8. You are here: Frequency and method of inspection
- 9. Competent persons and keeping records
- 10. Fallen timber and stumps
- 11. Storms and aftermath inspections
- 12. Map of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council managed land
- 13. Requests from residents for non-safety tree related works
- 14. Notifications regarding works to borough owned trees
- 15. Tree felling and planting
- 16. Appendices
8. Frequency and method of inspection
The frequency and method of inspection is inextricably linked to the level of risk associated with the site. The designated risk zones described above will therefore be reflected by both these elements of the tree safety inspections. This approach will allow the tree safety inspection process to be applied more effectively.
Table 2: Tree inspection frequency matrix
| Risk zone | Method of inspection | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Low risk | No formal inspection but casual observation and awareness of the general condition of the tree during walk by surveys. | No formal inspection required. 5-year site visits (This is to be determined by the location along with the absence of a target.) |
| Medium risk | Routine | Every three years |
| High risk | Careful searches for clear defects especially in the crown and around the base of the tree. | 18 months |
| Potentially medium to high-risk retained veteran trees in high-risk areas | Thorough inspection of trees showing significant defects, monitoring the rate of decline. | Bi-annual and after significant storms if required |
This approach to targeting the tree safety inspections based on perceived risk ensures that the limited resources necessary to achieve this process are ensured and remedial works are prioritized more effectively. In many cases it will be found that trees that initially give cause for concern can be retained without undue risk for many years.