Tree Advice

Tree Works
Working on trees can be hazardous. Chainsaws can be extremely dangerous unless used by trained operators using appropriate safety equipment. Members of the public are strongly advised not to use chainsaws without proper training. Even cutting branches using a handsaw can be hazardous unless carried out with care.

It is advisable to hire a professional arborist. An arborist can determine what type of pruning is necessary to improve the health, appearance, and safety of your trees. A professional arborist can provide the services of a trained crew, with all of the required safety equipment and liability insurance.

There are a variety of things to consider when selecting an arborist:

• Membership in professional organizations such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or the Arboricultural Association
• Certification through the ISA Certified Arborist programme
• Proof of insurance
• A list of references

Futher information is available on the Arboricultural Association website.

National Tree Week
National Tree Week is the Tree Council's festival to mark the start of the tree planting season, and a nationwide celebration of trees and woods. National Tree Planting Year 1973 (with its slogan of "Plant a Tree in 73") led to the founding of the The Tree Council to bring together organisations working for trees. It ran the first National Tree Week in 1975. Now, up to a million trees are planted each year as a result of this winter festival.

Tree planting is a simple operation, but many schemes end in failure due to poor plant handling and aftercare. Guidelines on the choice of plant stock, ground preparation, timing of planting, plant handling, planting methods, use of stakes and ties and application of mulches are available on request from the Tree Council.

View further information on the Tree Council or National Tree Week on the Tree Council's website.

Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS) has been initiated by the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as an inclusive measure under the English Rural Development Plan (ERDP).

The FWPS aims to enhance the environment through the planting of farm woodlands, thereby improving the landscape, providing new habitats and increasing biodiversity. It supports the creation of farm woodland by encouraging farmers to convert productive agricultural land to woodlands through annual payments to compensate for agricultural income forgone. Payments are made for 10 years (for mainly conifer woodlands) or 15 years (for mainly broadleaved woodlands).

Defra has has published further information on a FWPS webpage.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan
The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is the UK's initiative to maintain and enhance biodiversity. Organisations from across all sectors are committed to achieving the Plan's conservation goals over the next 20 years and beyond.

The Biodiversity Steering Group report, published in 1995, provided the blueprint for implementing BAP. It laid down the process for the targeting of endangered species and habitats, the formation of the action plans and the choice of lead partner and lead agency roles to co-ordinate the implementation of each plan.

The BAP has in place 28 Broad Habitat Statements of natural, semi-natural and urban habitats detailing the current issues affecting them and policies to address them.

The Broad Habitat Statements for trees and woodlands are divided into 'broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland' and 'coniferous woodland' and Priority Habitat Action Plans:

Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland

Lowland beech and yew woodland
Lowland wood-pasture and parkland
Upland mixed ashwoods
Upland oakwood
Wet woodland

Coniferous woodland

Native pine woodland

More information and further reading on Woodland habitats is available on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan website.

English Woodland Grant Scheme
The Forestry Commission operates the scheme under the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). The purpose of the scheme is to develop the co-ordinated delivery of public benefits from England's woodlands. The grant scheme has a regional basis and regional funding.
The objectives of EWGS are:

• to sustain and increase the public benefits derived from existing woodlands in England
• to invest in the creation of new woodlands in England of a size, type and location that most effectively deliver public benefit.

The Forestry Commission provides further information on Grants under the EWGS.