Tree Surveys in London

A tree survey is a professional assessment of trees carried out by a qualified arborist, producing a written report you can act on. The survey you need depends on why you need it, whether that is planning permission, safety and duty of care, an arboricultural survey for a development, a decay investigation, or protected tree advice. GraftinGardeners' tree surveyors have assessed London's trees for over 15 years, and every report draws on that experience and an in-depth knowledge of tree biology, structure, pests and disease. Our advice is always impartial and made in the best interests of the tree. Where work is needed, we recommend the least invasive remedy first, from monitoring to remedial pruning, with removal only ever advised as a last resort.

Need a fully insured tree survey? Call 0208 123 7653 for free advice on which survey you need, or request a fixed-price quote. Inspections usually arranged within days.

Which Tree Survey Do I Need?

For a planning application, extension or development, you need a BS5837 tree survey. Local planning authorities require these for any application where trees stand on or near the site. Our BS5837 surveys, Arboricultural Impact Assessments and landscape plans are prepared to satisfy London borough planning standards, from £460.

For safety, insurance, duty of care or peace of mind, you need a tree safety report, also called a tree safety report. These assess a tree's health and structure, evaluate risk to people and property, and document that you are meeting your legal duty of care, from £260. The same inspection format covers pre-purchase tree reports for house buyers and mortgage lenders.

Not sure which applies to you? Give us a quick call on the number above and describe your situation; we will tell you in two minutes which survey you need, with no obligation. You can also download an example report from either service page to see exactly what you will receive.

What Every Tree Survey Records

Whatever the survey type, our reports record each tree's species, size and age; its health, including decay, disease and pest damage; its structural condition; and clear, prioritised recommendations. Where a tree is protected, we identify Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Area restrictions and can handle the council application for any recommended works.

Our Tree Survey Process

Every survey starts on foot, with a slow walk around the tree. Our surveyors have been doing this for 15 years and still follow the same routine, because it catches things. First, the tree in its setting, then in close. Is the root plate lifting, or is the ground around it compacted? Any wounds, cavities or fungal fruiting bodies on the base and stems? How do the branch unions look higher up? The crown often has the final say. Sparse foliage, dieback at the tips or dead buds tend to be the earliest signs of a tree under stress. A visual assessment has its limits, though, and we are upfront about that. Where we suspect decay we cannot see, we will recommend more extensive testing, such as a PiCUS tomograph or resistograph reading, which shows how far the decay actually extends so no decision about the tree rests on guesswork. Each tree gets written up individually, with recommendations, timescales and a date for the next inspection, so your records stay continuous.

The Landowner's Duty of Care

Own land with trees on it? Then legally, those trees are your responsibility. The Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984 require you to make sure they do not endanger people or property, and the courts take this seriously. In Witley Parish Council v Cavanagh, a council was held liable after a falling tree seriously injured a bus driver, largely because its inspection regime was not up to scratch. Most properties should have their trees professionally inspected at least every 36 months. Schools, commercial premises, and other busy sites need annual inspections, and any tree should be checked promptly after a major storm. If something does go wrong one day, a documented survey trail is the best protection you can have.

Other Types of Tree Survey and Report We Provide

Beyond planning and safety surveys, our surveyors prepare several further types of tree survey and report:

• Pre-purchase tree surveys, assessing tree failure and subsidence risk before you buy a property, often required by mortgage lenders.
• Subsidence tree surveys, identifying which trees are implicated where subsidence has occurred and recommending how to reduce future risk.
• Full and focused inventory tree surveys, covering every tree on a site or only those requiring work, for landowners meeting their Occupiers' Liability obligations economically.
• Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA), producing a numerical risk figure for those responsible for large tree stocks.
• Climbed and aerial tree inspections, where defects cannot be fully assessed from the ground.
• Expert witness and litigation reports, prepared to a standard suitable for courts where trees have caused damage or injury.

Specialist Decay Detection and Structural Investigations

Where a standard visual assessment finds signs of internal decay or instability, we investigate further with a decay detection survey using specialist equipment. PiCUS sonic tomography maps decay inside a trunk without harming the tree, resistograph microdrilling measures the extent of rot, and tree motion sensors provide long-term monitoring of movement in high winds. Findings feed into the survey report so decisions about retention or removal are based on solid evidence.

Ecology and Habitat Surveys

Trees are rarely the only ecological consideration on a development site. Councils often want habitat information too, and finding this out late is a classic way planning applications get delayed. We carry out preliminary habitat surveys and protected species checks, from bat scoping and activity surveys to nesting bird checks and breeding bird surveys. Timing matters here, because much of this fieldwork can only be done in the right season for the species involved, so the earlier it is booked, the better. While on site, we also look for invasive plants like Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed. These need proper management, and it is an offence to plant them or allow them to spread.

We can advise on tree pests and diseases too, from fungal infections to Oak Processionary Moth, and provide soil decompaction using an air spade where compacted ground is suffocating a tree's roots.

Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas

Many London trees are protected. Working on a tree with a TPO without consent can mean a fine of up to £20,000, and Conservation Areas require six weeks' written notice to the council. Our surveyors check protection status as part of every survey, advise what is permitted, and prepare and submit applications on your behalf. Learn more about tree conservation areas.

Why Choose GraftinGardeners for Tree Surveys in London?

Unlike standalone consultancies, we survey the tree and can then do the work, with one NPTC-qualified, £10m-insured team from inspection to completion and over 1,000 genuine five-star reviews across Checkatrade, Trustpilot, Google and Which? Trusted Traders. As strong believers in tree conservation and preservation, we never recommend unnecessary work. Our reputation rests on reports that stand up to scrutiny, not on the jobs they generate. Every survey is quoted as a fixed written price, and we cover every London borough. Read more in our environmental statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tree survey?

A tree survey is a professional assessment of one or more trees by a qualified arborist, recording each tree's species, size, health and structural condition, and producing a written report with recommendations. The two most common types are BS5837 surveys for planning applications and tree condition surveys for safety and duty of care.

Who can carry out a tree survey in London?

Tree surveys should be carried out by an experienced, qualified arborist. GraftinGardeners' surveyors are NPTC qualified with over 15 years' experience assessing London's trees, and every report is backed by a company insured to £10 million.

Do you cover my area of London?

Yes. We carry out tree surveys across every London borough, from multiple yards positioned around the capital, along with parts of Surrey. Inspections can usually be arranged within days.

Book a tree survey today: call 0208 123 7653 or request a free quote.