Did you know that on average there are six deaths each year in the UK caused by falling trees or branches?
It’s a very small number if you consider that there are 60 million people across the nation:
To put this in perspective, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightening or winning the lottery than you have of being killed by a tree.
The Health and Safety Executive consider the risks from trees as broadly acceptable, however, if you have trees in your garden you are responsible for making sure that they are safe.
The National Tree Safety Group has prepared a downloadable leaflet giving guidance on how to manage trees.
What you need to do or consider as a householder
- you don’t need a written tree safety “policy“ but you should have a management plan either written down or implicitly understood.
- Walk round your garden once a year in late summer/autumn. If your trees look sound and healthy with no obvious defects, that’s all you need to do, job done.
- a tree or branch with no leaves on it in summer is probably dead. If it is large, or at height, it may be dangerous for you to remove it, so call a competent tree surgeon.
- If your tree has what looks like a mushroom growing on it, check the Arboricultural Information Exchange website to see what kind of fungus it is, and what its presence means; or call a competent tree surgeon.
- Cracks in the branches, trunk or ground may need checking as well.
- Most non-experts can identify trees rocking on roots, dead limbs, a dead tree or daylight shining through limb or fork opening.
Finding a tree surgeon
The best way to find a competent tree surgeon or consultant is:
- by word-of-mouth recommendation.
- approval by a trade, practitioner or professional association.
- certification by the college they attended.
- always ask to see public liability insurance certificate.
- don’t simply take the cheapest.
Download: Managing trees for safety
Source: Landscape Juice – Tree Safety and Your Responsibilities
