We are based in Reading and we mainly cover the Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire areas, but if you are based further afield please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Our team of experienced tree surgeons can undertake all aspects of tree work, including:
Crown Raising/Lifting
Crown lifting involves removing the lowest portions of the crown (usually consisting of a few of the lower limbs in their entirety) in order to give more height and clearance underneath the tree. It also increases the amount of light that can reach the ground beneath the tree and improve visibility and sight lines under the canopy.
Crown Reduction
A full crown reduction results in the tree retaining essentially the same shape, only smaller in all dimensions so the height and spread of the tree is reduced. This can be done to specific portions or sides of the tree as well, for example if a neighbouring tree is overhanging your property.
Pollarding
Pollarding is the operation performed to a young tree to remove all but the main skeletal branches, or sometimes even to reduce it to just a straight pole. In response, the tree produces extensive small shoots that can then be routinely pruned back to the pollard knuckle, every two to five years. This is particularly useful for trees such as willows (Salix) as they have a habit of falling apart if left to their own devices!
Coppicing
Traditionally, this is a management technique for hazel among other species, and is used in order to produce large numbers of thin straight stems. It involves essentially cutting the stump, or stumps, to slightly above ground level and allowing them to regrow. Like pollarding, this is a cyclical management technique.
Removing deadwood
Deadwood is usually a normal part of a tree’s ageing process as the tree tries to optimise its shape by ‘shedding’ branches that are not producing more energy than they consume. Depending on the species, deadwood can remain firmly attached to the tree for many years and provide very high ecological value. However, a dead branch is at an increased risk of falling from the tree and poses a hazard to people and property underneath.
Monolithing
Monolithing involves removing the crown and a portion of the main stem of the (usually dead or set to be removed) tree to leave a single standing pole. This pole – or monolith – can then slowly decompose over many years, providing valuable habitat for numerous invertebrates and birds, e.g. woodpeckers.
Veteranising
Veteranising encourages the formation of habitat that would normally only be observed in very old or ancient trees. It is to the benefit of wildlife, however it is highly detrimental to the tree.
Felling
Removing a tree by cutting it from ground level, causing it to fall in a specific direction. It can also involve numerous aids, including ropes, pulley systems, wedges, machines etc.
Stump grinding
Once a tree has been removed, a stump is usually left just above ground level, which many people find unsightly or impractical. If the stump needs to be removed, a machine called a stump grinder can be used to break down the stump and facilitate its removal.
Rigging
Rigging is a technique used to control the speed and direction of descent of sections of a tree that are being removed. It involves the use of various ropes and pulleys to gently lower pieces and it can be used in contexts where obstacles such as greenhouses are present.
Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
If your tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or if you live in a Conservation Area, an application has to be submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority before any work can be undertaken. We can take the hassle out of this process and prepare and submit the application on your behalf.
