Stay well back and keep others away

A fallen tree can still be under tension. Branches may be resting on fences, sheds or other trees and can shift without warning. Even if it looks stable, it may not be. Keep children and pets away. Do not touch or move anything until a professional has assessed it.

Avoid cutting or sawing it yourself
Cutting a storm damaged tree is very different from routine pruning. Hidden pressure points can cause sudden movement. Chainsaws in these situations require advanced training. A simple cut can cause the trunk to roll, split or spring back. Leave all cutting to trained arborists.

When it becomes an emergency
If the tree has fallen on a house, across a road, blocked the only access to your property or is resting on live power lines, treat it as an emergency. Move to a safe area and call for help immediately. If power lines are involved, contact the electricity provider before anything else. Do not go near the tree until you are told it is safe.

What we need to provide a fast quote

A few clear pieces of information allow the team to respond quickly. Your location, what the tree has fallen on, whether access is restricted and any photographs you can take from a safe distance. Photos are especially useful because they help us understand the angle of the fall, the size of the tree and whether specialist equipment is needed. Native Forest has worked on many similar jobs and can usually judge the safest approach from a small set of images.

How a professional handles it
Storm damaged removals can be complex. The tree may need to be sectioned from top to bottom using ropes or cranes. Sometimes the safest method involves lifting the tree off structures rather than cutting it where it lies. Native Forest specialises in hazardous and inaccessible removals, which means the team is trained for awkward angles, tight spaces, unstable ground and trees that are resting under unpredictable pressure. Every job is assessed with safety as the priority.

Fully insured and properly equipped
You should always check that the company you call is insured and qualified for this type of work. Native Forest carries full insurance and uses advanced equipment designed for safe lifting, rigging and sectional dismantling. This protects your property and ensures the work is completed without unnecessary risk.

If you need help now
If a tree has fallen in your garden and you are unsure what to do, the safest option is to ask for advice before touching anything. Send photos from a safe distance and we can guide you on the next steps or attend quickly if the situation requires it.

The post Storm Damaged Trees, What To Do and Who To Call appeared first on Native Forest Limited.

The offending tree (Norway Spruce) had indeed moved. Infact the only thing that had stopped it from completely falling over was the barn it was teetering on and the mass of ivy that encased all three trees. 

Is Ivy harmful to trees?

There is much discussion regarding whether or not Ivy is harmful to trees, with many people arguing its importance for conservation and habitat. The additional weight is of course a factor, and the dense nature of its growth also restricts wind flowing through the tree, thus making it more likely to fail in adverse weather conditions. Regardless of ones position on Ivy, one thing for sure is that it prevents any meaningful way of carrying out routine safety inspections, often obscuring defects in the stem of trees.

Aside from the obvious Barn In the way, we had an oil tank at the base and the septic tank just to the left. Getting a crane was not an option either, access was too limited on the track down into the farm, so it would have to be pieced out by hand. Never mind, we like a challenge and after spending a while looking at it, I was confident that we could get it done safely without anything being destroyed In the process!

Trees safely rigged down

Before we started the client had decided she wanted all three of the spruce out, fearing for the barn’s future safety. The weather was on our side this day, so we worked stripping the Ivy off the three Spruce trees first. Once we could see what we were doing, we employed various rigging techniques to safely control the descent of limbs and rounds over the various hazards. As expected, the job was challenging, but one of the most enjoyable we have had the pleasure of doing in recent months.

After a brief discussion about wood burners and firewood, I convinced the client to keep the wood and use it as a source of heating next year. Much to my own demise, as I had been eyeing up the wood all day for my stove at home. A bad reputation plagues softwood for firewood in this country, and much of the reasoning behind the reputation is unfounded. We’re scheduled to go back next month with our mobile firewood processor to ensure the client has seasoned firewood ready for winter next year.

Feel free to contact us if you’re looking for a Qualified Tree Surgeon in Guildford.

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