What is an Arborist?
The range of names used within our industry can lead, understandably, to confusion as our own tree surgeon derby team know. And when you’re seeking a quote for tree work you may well wonder whether you need an arborist, tree surgeon or arboriculturist. However far from these leading to ever more complex definitions and plenty of different companies and job roles, the truth of the matter is that they are often all used interchangeably by people who seek tree services.
An industry that results in interchangeably titles
Tree surgeons and arborists are generally the most commonly used terms for customers who are seeking tree work services. That said those who work within the industry may generally regard an arborist to hold more knowledge and expertise than a tree surgeon, who may lack understanding of tree conditions, diseases and techniques, but have experience of on the ground of tree work.
Arboriculturists are, however, somewhat different and may generally be referred to for tree work that requires some form of academic input. He may be a tree surveyor, and he may write reports, analyse samples and identify tree diseases.
A few other terms for tree surgeons
As well as tree surgeon, arborist and arboriculturist we’re also often referred to by a few others names, such as:
- Forester
- Wood cutter
- Lumberjack
All in all it’s simply key to remember that most good tree surgery companies will be able to handle your project be it big or small with the necessary staff and expertise to undertake the project safely. This may or may not require specialist advice from an arboriculturist or other industry expert.
Tree surgery… More than a matter of chopping trees down
The issue with tree surgery is that many may underestimate the range of activities and tasks that it includes: from surveying trees to completing complex reports. Even where there may be a seemingly simple tree to take down, the setting in which the tree is located may demand the experienced skills of an arborist who knows how to set up complicated rigs and pulleys, as well as appreciating the logistics of moving the log through an urban area.
And it is this complexity that leads to many clients buying cheap and finding that the services that they’ve purchased result in everything from poor work right through to outright dangerous trees.
Top tips for choosing a tree surgeon
- Check over company references and online testimonials
Online case studies, past project galleries and testimonials are a good way of gaining an idea into how a company works and how happy their clients are. You may, however, want to verify these by asking the company whether you can speak directly with the happy clients. Or alternatively you could check out the company’s online reputation as the number of client review websites that serve up such results continues to grow.
- Gather a good number of quotes
Seeking more than one quote is a good way of verifying the price range that you are looking at. However you should never be tempted to base your decision upon price alone, as a singular low price amongst higher ones generally indicates that that particular company are inexperienced, uninsured, ill-equipped or all of the above.
- Ask about official accreditations
Asking about official accreditations is a sure-fire way to highlight whether a company may merely be a cowboy outfit, or are officially recognised as a quality tree surgery company.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Asking plenty of questions of the tree surgery company is essential if you’re to make the right choice, so don’t be afraid of asking plenty!
- Check whether the company is insured
Using a company that is insured is essential if you’re to avoid the nightmare potential situation of being sued should the property of others be damaged in the process of work being undertaken or, much worse still, if someone is injured.
The company in question should hold, at minimum, £2 million public liability insurance or, if within a high-risk area, £5 million.
Key questions to ask your tree surgeon“
“Will I need to seek planning permission?”
Any good tree surgeon will know whether you need planning permission for your work, so be sure to ask them and then verify their answer with the local authority.
“Is my tree subject to a TPO (Tree Preservation Order)?”
Tree Preservation Orders can be applied to any tree and is a way of the local authority protecting trees within certain areas. These orders mean that any trees to which they apply cannot be felled without their being dangerous, or some other local authority approved reason for doing so.
It’s vitally important that you’re certain of the status of your trees before having work undertaken as the fines for not doing can be significant and will apply to both tree surgeon as well as the tree owner.
“Do you work to the nationally recognised standard?”
The answer to this question should be yes, and that they work to the nationally required British Standard 3998.
Duty of care: Legal requirements
Whilst there are no legal requirement for defining who can and can’t call themselves a tree surgeon, there are plenty of laws, rules and regulations that tree surgeons must adhere to. Conversely however there is also legislation that affects the property owner, and defines their duty of care towards those around them (which is officially defined by the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 / 1984); to this end the checking of adequate liability insurance of the company you choose is not only advisable, but moreover a legal requirement.
Canopy Tree Services: The experienced, insured and trusted experts
For commercial and private clients, and for jobs that range from the smallest to the largest we have a specialised tree surgeon Derby team.
Why Us?
You may have frequently received leaflets from tree surgeons that land upon your doormat, and you may even have the odd tree surgeon knock on your door offering ‘cut price’ tree surgery services. However in a safety focused industry such as ours it can be difficult to know who amongst these are genuine, insured and experienced and, unfortunately, there are far too many who are none of the above.
When you choose Canopy Tree Services you choose experience, you choose a company that is fully insured and you choose a team that are fully trained and extensively experienced.
We adhere to our industry’s leading schemes
In a world that may be full of self-proclaimed tree surgeons it pays to know what to look for and how you can verify a company’s expertise. As such we are proud to be part of the following industry leading schemes:
We are an Agricultural Association approved contractor.
We are Trust Mark approved.
We are a Health and Safety Assessment Scheme Accredited Contractor.
Heard enough? Let’s talk about your project
If you’re ready to speak with our friendly team then contact them today. We have offices based in Derby, Nottingham and Loughborough, contactable on the numbers below, or via our contact page.
Derby: 01332 875 869
Nottingham: 0115 832 0247
Loughborough: 01509 590 095
We have plenty of happy clients…
But don’t just take our word for it
We think that the mark of quality of a company is told best from the words of their happy clients, which is why we have a dedicated page filled with comments from past clients.
“Excellent service for a great price. Will definitely use your service again when I need it”.
- Liz Johnson
“The price was competitive, the work was carried out to a high standard, they tidied up and the workmen were very courteous and polite”.
- John Putt
“As I always get a top service, they are always the first one I contact”.
- Stuey Hubbard
Read more quotes about our clients’ experiences on our testimonial page
Our Quotes: Free from obligation and charge, but equipped with plenty of helpful advice
We never pressurise our clients and we only ever provide quotations upon a completely free basis. We do however provide helpful advice that may be relevant to your project, such as whether a tree is dangerous, or whether your trees may be subject to a TPO (a Tree Preservation Order).
Get in touch with the team and arrange your Quote
Our services
Our tree surgery services cover both commercial and private properties and our team can provide the following specific tree services:
- General tree Surgery
- Stump grinding
- Tree surveys and reports
- Tree felling and removal
- Hedge cutting services
- Planting
- Emergency tree survey
- Firewood and woodchip
Just need some advice?
If you’re weighing up a potential tree problem, think that you may be faced with a diseased tree or have any other question, query or concern then our team are on hand to help.
They can provide you with over the phone practical advice and guidance and can provide you with a brief idea of what you may be dealing with.
Contact your local office on one of the following numbers for a no obligation chat:
