Arboricultural Assessment to BS5837:2012
It is established practice to undertake arboricultural surveys within areas proposed for development to assess the quality of trees present. BS5837:2012 ‘Trees in Relation to Design, Development and Construction’
Trees will need to be assessed based on guidance set out within the British Standard BS 5837:2012 ‘Trees in Relation to Design, Development and Construction’. This standard provides recommendations and guidance on the principles to be applied to achieve successful integration of development with trees, shrubs, and hedgerows.
Following an inspection, trees on any site will be divided into categories based on the cascade chart for tree quality assessment and placed within one of four categories. These are classed as A, B, C or U (Section 4 of BS 5837). This gives an indication as to the tree’s importance in relation to the site, the local landscape and, also, the value and quality of the existing trees on site.
This information will be detailed within a professional report in which the following information is clearly provided:
• Site location, grid reference and an aerial photograph.
• Assessment of conservation area or tree preservation order status.
• Description of the individual or groups of trees with photographs.
• Plans sowing tree categories and the extend of calculated root protection areas.
• Recommendations for tree retention, tree protection measures and other mitigation.
