Tree Risk Assessments
What is a Tree Risk Assessment?
A Tree Risk Assessment is a formal, detailed inspection carried out to evaluate the health, structural integrity, and overall safety of trees on your property. It is designed to identify potential hazards before they result in property damage or personal injury.
Under UK law, property owners and land managers have a clear duty of care to ensure that their trees do not pose an unacceptable risk to the public or adjacent properties. Our expert assessments help you meet this legal obligation while proactively managing your tree stock in a sensible, proportionate manner.
Meeting Your Duty of Care
Whether you manage a large rural estate, a busy school campus, or simply have large mature trees in your private garden, understanding the condition of your trees is vital. Ignoring tree health can lead to sudden branch failure or complete tree collapse during adverse weather.
Our assessments provide you with a documented, defensible strategy. We follow the industry-leading guidelines set out by the National Tree Safety Group (NTSG) to ensure that our advice is always reasonable, proportionate, and legally sound.
What is Included in Our Risk Assessments?
We pride ourselves on delivering clear, jargon-free reports that allow you to easily prioritise any necessary tree works. A standard Tree Risk Assessment involves:
- Detailed Visual Inspection A thorough ground-level assessment by a qualified arboriculturist to look for signs of decay, disease, fungal fruiting bodies, and structural weaknesses.
- Risk Categorisation We evaluate the likelihood of failure alongside the potential impact on targets (such as footpaths, roads, or buildings) to assign a clear, colour-coded risk rating to each tree.
- Sensible Mitigation Advice We do not favour felling unless absolutely necessary. We often recommend proportionate measures such as crown reduction, deadwood removal, or cable bracing to retain the tree safely.
- Comprehensive Written Report A formal document detailing all findings, complete with a clear schedule of works, timeframes for completion, and recommendations for future inspection intervals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions regarding Tree Risk Assessments.
What is the difference between a Risk Assessment and a Condition Survey?
The terms are often used interchangeably. However, a formal Tree Risk Assessment places a much heavier focus on identifying the specific "targets" around the tree (like busy roads or playgrounds) to calculate the actual statistical risk of harm, rather than just noting the general health of the tree.
How often should my trees be assessed?
This entirely depends on the location and condition of the tree. A mature tree overhanging a primary school playground may require an annual inspection, whereas a tree in a quiet woodland edge might only need reviewing every three to five years. Our report will provide a tailored re-inspection timeline.
What happens if a tree is deemed hazardous?
If we identify an imminent hazard, we will notify you immediately before the final report is even published. We will provide clear, proportionate recommendations to mitigate the risk quickly, which might involve urgent pruning or, as a last resort, felling.
Do you use a recognised methodology?
Yes. Our consultants apply industry-standard visual tree assessment (VTA) techniques and strictly adhere to the reasonable and proportionate principles set out by the National Tree Safety Group (NTSG).
Let's discuss your project
Contact Canopy IQ today for intelligent tree solutions and expert arboricultural advice across Kent, East London, South East London, and beyond.
Whether you need a Tree Risk Assessment to ensure safety on your site, or expert advice on managing your trees, our experienced team is here to help.