The treescape around us is ever changing. We are currently living in an era heavily influenced by the Victorians with regards to the trees, many of the largest and most impressive trees that we see around us today would have been planted 100+ years ago. With this in mind it’s essential that we continue to manage the treescape in a way that will enable future generations to experience trees as we are currently.

Removing trees is a part of tree management that cannot be avoided. We can however replant, maintain and improve the treescape that surrounds us with a little care and foresight. This report looks at the current tree stock, land use, history and surroundings and gives recommendations for the ongoing management of them. Recommendations are given on managing declining trees, mitigating any future issues and planting trees as direct replacements for those lost. A strategy plan is then created giving all the details and timescales required to manage the trees.

A management and strategy plan is a great extension to the tree condition report, especially for larger land owners.

What’s the process?

The process starts in much the same way as the tree condition reports, by collecting data and assessing the trees for any remedial work that may help maintain the current tree stock. This report then goes on to look at the treescape with a wider view with the aim of maintaining and improving the environmental and amenity value it gives. As this report will vary dependant on the location below are some examples of what may be included…

• Suggest areas which may be ideal for new planting projects, providing all the information required to carry out this work.

• Highlight any trees which are significant in their location and once lost will have a large impact on the the area. New trees can then be planted to compensate for this well in advance.

• Highlight any hedgerows which could be improved as both a boundary as well as increasing possible habitat in the area by laying the hedge.

• Where trees are of all the same age, it may be suggested that younger trees are planted amongst the current trees to increase the age diversity, where required some larger trees may also be removed to facilitate this (removing trees is an essential part of tree management, as well as planting).

• The species diversity of the tree stock shall be taken into account and where required a combination of felling and replanting may be suggested to increase the diversity. As now proven by dutch elm disease and ash dieback having a large range of species diversity is essential to maintaining a healthy tree stock.

The information collected shall then be produced into a report. As there may be a lot of information and suggestions within the report, it will be given in a easy to follow layout giving priorities and timescales for the work to be carried out. In most cases it is likely that the work will be given in 5 year plans. The final report will aim to give all the information needed to implement the management plan.