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Can Tree Roots Affect Development?

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In short – yes, tree roots can affect development.

How do tree roots affect development?

Tree roots affect development by causing disturbance in the soil, which can cause the soil to become structurally unsound. Any building work or development which takes place within the influence of a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree or can lead to the development being structurally unsound.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments

How can I check for tree roots prior to development?

The influence of the tree’s roots can be calculated as part of a tree survey. This is done by examining the height of the tree and the crown spread which can then be used to calculate a Root Protection Area. The examination will show where the roots are most prevalent, and most likely to cause damage to buildings.

Veteran or ancient trees may have a larger than expected Root Protection Area, given their increased age and the increased complexity of their root systems.

What’s a tree survey?

Tree Surveys are a specialised survey that assess the size, age, health and life expectancy of a tree that has a diameter of over 75mm. They then provide recommendations on the further treatment of the tree and whether it should be retained or removed from a site. As part of our tree surveys, ProHort will map the Root Protection Area of any tree, as well as providing a recommendation for protective fencing. Do you have ancient trees, on your property? We can also identify them in your survey report. If we are surveying a group of trees, we will show the root protection zone and fencing in the clearest possible way, to ensure that you have the best plans possible in order to go ahead.

When looking to proceed with any development work, it is crucial that you ensure no roots lie under the proposed site. The safety of the site, and safety of your team depend on it.

Find out more about tree surveys here.

 

Tree Roots Affect Development

Contact Us:

Do you require a tree survey showing the root protection area? Then contact us today on 01782 479 479 or email [email protected].

The Do’s and Don’ts of Trimming with a TPO

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A TPO (Tree Preservation Order) is an order made by your local council or planning authority to protect specific trees, groups of trees or areas of woodland. The trees or areas are assessed on individual merit, so there are no set or defined criteria for assessing the trees. Here are The Do’s and Don’ts of Trimming with a TPO…

If you suspect your tree has a TPO, please do contact your council ahead of any work taking place on the tree.

 

A Tree With A TPO

If you do have a tree or a garden that is subject to a TPO, then you are unable to cut down the tree. Topping the tree (the removal of a large amount of growth from the top of the tree), lopping the tree (the removal of a large amount of growth from the side of the tree) or uprooting the tree. Every effort must be made by the landowner to ensure that the tree remains healthy and well looked after.

Especial care should be taken of any trees that are growing in hedgerows. These trees may appear to be part of the hedge, but should not be excessively trimmed, lopped or topped.

 

The tree, however, can be trimmed, if it is for the purpose of keeping the tree healthy or the trimming will have no impact on growth. For example, if a small branch was obscuring a window, you would be able to trim this back. Likewise, if a branch of the tree became diseased, you would be able to remove this branch. This is because doing so will ensure the tree’s health and public safety.

 

Still Unsure?

If you have any doubts about tree work taking place on TPO trees. We recommend that you contact an arboricultural specialist or tree surgeon, to complete a tree survey. This survey can then be submitted to your local planning authority. Once received the local authority will advise if any work on the tree has been authorised.

Click for further information on arboricultural impact assessments.

 

Contact Us Today!

To find out more about how ProHort can help you, get in touch with us by calling 01782 479 479 or email us at [email protected].

What is Ground Heave and How Can I Remedy it?

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Have you wondered what is ground heave? Ground Heave can have a long-term effect on any building work taking place, make sure you know how to remedy it.

What is Ground Heave?

Ground heave is the upward movement of soils which can occur at any stage of the building or development process. Ground heave is usually associated with clay soil which swells when wet. This then rises upwards – the effect is almost exactly the opposite of subsidence. Despite the actual ‘heave’ often being relatively small (less than 150mm), this can have a long-term effect on any building work taking place.

How do you know it is there?

Signs of ground heave can include vertical cracking to brickwork and windows (if the cracking is diagonal, this may be subsidence). It may also be evident through door frames warping so they are ‘not square’ and paths and patios lifting from their originally laid level.

What causes Ground Heave?

Ground heave is most commonly caused by the removal of established trees. As the roots die away and no longer draw water from the soil, the soil retains more water and will swell when wet. A soil analysis (to analyse the consistency of soil) or a tree survey (to identify the root protection areas of any established trees) can stop the problem developing before it begins.

Other causes of ground heave include soil being removed during excavation, a change in the level of the water table or broken drains. Nearby building works impacting ground drainage, extreme weather conditions or trapped water in the soil freezing and causing the soil to expand can also cause ground heave.

How can Ground Heave be Stopped?

As mentioned above, potential issues with ground heave can often be identified via a soil analysis or tree survey (including an arboricultural method statement if extensive building work is taking place). To stop ground heave, the root cause first needs to be identified and remedied. Once this has been done, depending on the severity of the heave, foundation work will need to take place – reaching down to sub soils that have not been affected by the heave. This can often be costly, as well as causing delays to projects. Advice should only be taken in consultation with a surveyor, who can fully assess the site in question.

 

Contact Us Today!

Here at ProHort, we offer Soil Analysis and Tree Surveys. If you are having issues with Ground Heave, visit our services page to find out what we can do to help. For more information, give us a call on 01782 479 479 or get in touch.

What is a Landscape Strategy?

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A landscape strategy is one of many technical documents that ProHort can produce to aid you throughout your planning application and subsequent development. It includes a detailed plan of the site, often specifying the hard and soft landscaping elements that will be included in the project. You may get multiple plans; typically one that covers the planting elements (and will identify where individual trees and plants are to be placed) and another that may highlight the areas of hard landscaping. The plans will also identify any existing features on the site that will be retained.

 

Landscape StrategyA clear landscape strategy will incorporate aspects of the property’s history and the surrounding area to ensure that your design seamlessly blends into the environment. You may also get additional details of the type, size and colour of the plants incorporated into the strategy, or specifications regarding compensating for any loss of biodiversity.

They can also be tailored to meet your requirements – if you have a particular plant, style of paving or additional touch that you would like incorporated then your landscape architect should be able to arrange this. Please be aware that a landscape strategy will exclude pricing of items, as it is purely a strategic document.

 

Please get in touch if you would like more information about our landscape strategy documents

Technical Documents and Planning Permission

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At various stages throughout your development, you may be asked to supply landscape based technical documentation to your local planning office. This may either be in support of an application (i.e., not required, but it provides the council with valuable information to make an informed decision) or mandatory. Find out more about Technical Documents and Planning Permission here…

So, what is the best practice you can follow to ensure the council get exactly what they require from you?

Firstly, we would always recommend that you check with your planning officer exactly what it is that they require. Some technical documents can be similar in nature, but you will find that there are many small differences that mean that one type of report is suitable, whereas another isn’t. For example, a Stage 1 tree survey will just report on the health of the trees on site, whereas a Stage 2 tree survey will consider potential development issues. Both reports have different purposes at different stages throughout a project, so you will need to ensure that you are not wasting time and money on the wrong document.

Secondly, where possible please consider liaising with both your planning officer and your landscape architect at the same time, ensuring they receive correspondence from each other. Often documents may contain the required information, but this can be hard to find, or not as clear as the council require it. If the council can liaise directly with your landscape architect, then the information can be identified as early and easily as possible.

Contact Us To Find Out More About Technical Documents and Planning Permission

Being mindful of these two steps will help your planning application to proceed seamlessly, providing all the parties with the information they need. Every council is different, so please do ensure you are meeting your specific council’s requirements. If you have any questions about the reports that you need, feel free to contact us for further assistance!

Why not stay up to date with our Facebook Page!

 

Other Articles You Might Like:

https://prohort.co.uk/planning-services/

https://prohort.co.uk/biodiversity-and-planning-permission-update/

Understanding Landscaping Plans & Planning Applications

For more articles like this, click here.

How Often Should I Have My Trees Surveyed?

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Do I Need My Trees Surveyed?

ProHort recommends that you have your trees surveyed at least once every two years. Most insurers and governing bodies recommend that trees are surveyed ‘regularly’ but often fail to provide more exact guidance. Claims can be made against a property on behalf of any individual.

There have been several occasions where organisations have been liable. One example of this is an incident in Birmingham where a 92-year-old woman was killed by a 60ft tree. An investigation took place and it was found that the tree had not been surveyed for over two years. Therefore, there was no relevant documentation on the overall health of the tree. This led to a fine of £150,000 being brought against the proprietor along with the possibility of civil proceedings against the landowner by the family of the deceased.

Similarly, in 2012, a woman who visited Kew Gardens was killed by a falling tree branch. However, Kew Gardens were not found to be liable. They were protected because the tree in question had been inspected 12 months before the incident. Due to the recent tree survey and completed tree risk assessment, the jury found “no identifiable cause of branch failure from this tree that caused this tragic accident.” This shows how important it is to get your trees surveyed regularly!

Surveying Damaged Trees:

We also recommend that any damaged trees are surveyed as and when you notice the damage. Most commonly, damage is caused by storms or freak weather but may also be caused by animals or insects.

Finally, we advise that a tree survey is conducted before any construction or landscaping work is carried out on your site, to see whether the proposed work may affect your trees. A survey may also need to be carried out after the work, if you suspect any trees may have been affected during the project.

 

Contact Us Today

If any of the above applies to you, find out more about our tree surveys on our services page, or contact us to arrange a survey!

 

Reference – https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/16/woman-killed-falling-branch-kew-gardens-coroners-court-accidental-death

Native Newts In The UK

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Native Newts in the UK are typically found in ponds and their surrounding boggy areas. They’re most commonly discovered in the spring and summer- will you be on the look out for them this season? Here’s what to seek for:

 

  • Great Crested Newt

This specific species is protected by law in the UK. This means you cannot own or sell them and cannot disturb them or their habitat. Great crested newts have a rough, dark brown appearance with bright orange blotches on their underside. Males of this species have crests along their back with a white tip whereas females have a yellow tip.

 

  • Smooth Newt

A smooth newt is also a protected species but is the most commonly found newt in the UK. Typically, smooth newts are brown in colour and can grow to a length of 10cm. Both sexes of this newt have orange under belly’s and possess small black spots.

 

  • Palmate Newt

The final native newt in the UK is the Palmate newt which are most frequently found in shallow ponds on acid-rich soils. The appearance of this species is immensely similar to that of the smooth newt; however, the most identifiable difference is that the spots on the Palmate do not continue under their throat. Instead, this feature comprises of either a plain pink or a yellow colour.

 

Contact Us Today:

If you are looking to apply for planning and are unsure if you are situated in a protected area, then you may require an ecological survey! In this case, get in contact with us today where we can discuss all of your options.

If your proposed development includes ponds or is near aquatic habitats, Great Crested Newt (GCN) surveys may be a requirement. We offer eDNA (environmental DNA) testing, a non-invasive and efficient method to detect the presence of GCNs in a waterbody. This test is often required as part of planning applications to comply with local authority and Natural England guidelines. The eDNA sampling season typically runs from mid-April to the end of June—so don’t delay if you think you might need one!

To find out more about how ProHort can help you, get in touch with us by calling 01782 479 479 or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively you can message us on Facebook.

Best Flowers to Plant this Spring?

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Bring on Spring! Now that the colder and duller days of winter have surpassed and the time for warmer and brighter days has arrived, it is time to start planting. Spring is perfect time of year to bring your garden to life. Keep on reading to find out more about the best flowers to plant this Spring.

Listed below are some of the best flowers to plant in Spring:

  1. Primroses – Planting primroses will get your garden looking fantastic during the Spring as they are an early Spring bloom. Primroses appreciate the spring sun, but they don’t thrive in heat that is above 27c, so spring is the perfect time to get planting these beautiful flowers.
  2. Bleeding hearts – These Unique flowers bloom in the early Spring. Bleeding hearts grow very quickly, they are easy to care for and they love the shade.
  3. Tulips – Tulips can bloom anywhere from early to late Spring. When planting these stunning flowers, it is best to loosen the soil after digging the area about a foot deep.
  4. Sweet Peas – Spring is the perfect time for sweet peas to bloom. Planting sweet peas in well-draining soil will help them to grow at a quicker rate.
  5. Hellebores – Hellebores bloom in early spring and will last until around the end of May. Soil that is rich with organic matter will help your hellebores to grow at their best potential.
  6. Iris reticulata – Iris reticulata bloom at the start of the Spring season. These flowers thrive when in full sunshine.
  7. Sanguinaria Canadensis – Sanguinaria Canadensis grows best in nutritious, moist soil. This beautiful flower blooms early Spring and doesn’t bloom for very long so don’t miss out.
  8. Pansies – Spring is the perfect time to plant pansies as they like a cool climate. Pansies need regular watering to keep the soil moist and from drying out.
  9. Hydrangea – Most hydrangea bloom during early spring. This flower loves full sun exposure and needs to be watered around three times a week. Deeply watering them will encourage root growth.
  10. Forget me nots – Forget me nots bloom in spring and can last as long as three months. For the best growth, they need to be planted in rich and well-drained soil.

For advise on planting plans this Spring, contact us today!

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Related Articles:

https://prohort.co.uk/spring-plant-protection/

https://prohort.co.uk/neighbour-been-killing-your-plants/

What Soil Is Best For Your Garden?

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What Soil is Best for My Garden?

Knowing the health and pH of your soil is vital to achieve successful planting schemes. You can contact a horticultural and arboricultural specialist like ourselves for a soil test today.

Below is our step-by-step guide to maintaining the best soil for your garden:

 

STEP 1: Determine which soil test you require?

  • Agricultural or Horticultural Soil Tests.

In an agricultural or horticultural setting, a soil test is used to estimate the concentration of the nutrients in the ground. The composition and characteristics of the soil (such as its pH) and the fertility of the soil – which is the expected potential for growth.

  • Construction Related Soil Tests.

A soil test can be used on a construction site to determine whether the soil can accommodate the construction project being undertaken.

  • Waste Removal Soil Tests

Before waste soil can be taken to a landfill site, a number of tests must be carried out. These include the Waste Classification test, which identifies whether the soil is hazardous or non-hazardous. Following the completion of the Waste Classification test, the Waste Acceptance Criteria test must also be completed.

STEP 2: Perform a Soil Test

Here at ProHort, we can provide a range of soil tests that analyse the organic compounds found within the soil. These include:

  • Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl, Benzene and Xylene (BTEX.)
  • Soil Pathogens & PCN’s.
  • Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Pesticides & Herbicides.
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs.)
  • Volatile & Semi Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs.)
  • Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH including CWG.)

STEP 3: Determine which nutrients your soil needs

Soil requires a major source of nutrients.Once your soil test has been complete and you have received your report, you will be able to identify which nutrients your soil needs. Three of the most important nutrients for soil are Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Potassium. A healthy soil will have all the essential and balanced nutrients to support healthy tree growth.

Contact us to book in for your soil test today!

What Is An LVIA and When Do I Need One?

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Firstly, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA) can be essential for effective planning decisions. Additionally, identifying the effects that new developments have on views and on the landscape itself. Some developments can have effects on visual aspects – but none on landscape character or vice versa. Furthermore, for large developments through the Environmental Impact Assessment. An LVIA will usually be requested. In summary, this will then form part of a larger document. Containing reports from other professionals such as ecologists, hydrologists, and heritage consultants.

Find Out More

What Is An LVIA?

Firstly, any development which is likely to have a significant character, or visual impact on an existing landscape should undergo an LVIA. Therefore the LVIA considers the potential effects of the development upon:

 

  • Individual landscape features and elements
  • Landscape character
  • Visual amenity and the people who view the landscape

Overall, the main objectives of the LVIA are as follows:

  •      Firstly describe and evaluate the current landscape/character of the site and its surroundings. Additionally, Identify any notable landscape features within the site.
  •      Determine the sensitivity of the landscape to the type of development proposed.
  •      Identify and describe any changes arising from the project relating to landscape and visual issues. This is defined as the magnitude of change.
  •      Identify and describe any mitigation measures that have been included.
  •      Likewise identify and assess any cumulative landscape and visual effects.
  •      Assess the significance of residual landscape and visual effects.
 

      Additionally, the landscape quality refers to the physical state of the landscape. Focusing on the extent to which certain elements affect individual areas and the landscape condition. To explain, landscape quality is based upon the following criteria:

        1. Highest Quality – Areas comprising a clear composition of valued landscape components
       in robust form and health, free of disruptive visual detractors and with a strong sense of place.

        2. Very Attractive – Areas primarily of valued landscape components combined in an aesthetically pleasing composition and lacking prominent disruptive               visual detractors.

        3. Good Landscape – Areas primarily of valued landscape components combined in an aesthetically pleasing composition with low levels of disruptive visual         detractors.

        4. Ordinary Landscape Areas ‐ Containing some features of visual value but lacking coherent and aesthetically pleasing composition.

        5. Poor Landscape ‐ Areas lacking valued landscape components or comprising degraded features and lacking any aesthetically pleasing composition.

 

When Do I Need An LVIA?

Furthermore, you will need an LVIA to help design the proposed change and assess it’s effects. The assessment is used to ensure that negative landscapes are avoided, reduced or offset.

For example, the proposed change might be a:

  • New road
  • Housing
  • Wind farm or wind turbines
  • Solar farms
  • Mineral extraction
  • Plan for forest felling and restocking

LVIA examines two independent but related aspects:

  •       Landscape effects
  •       Visual effects

Ultimately if you require these studies as part of your planning application, the local planning authority will inform you of this at the pre-application stage. Alternatively, for more information contact us today!

 

How We Can Help

ProHort has extensive experience of undertaking Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments. Through LVIAs, we work with our clients to address landscape and visual impact issues at an early stage. Equally, this ensures that proposals work within the local landscape, address any constraints and are acceptable visually. A project which works with the character of the area is more likely to be acceptable to local planning authorities.

Our landscape architects can advise on appropriate design and mitigation measures. This often leads to appearances at public inquiries to present detailed evidence on development proposals.

Here at ProHort we also carry out Landscape Character Assessments (LCA) at a Local Authority level. Landscape Character Assessments identify the unique qualities and features of an area which contribute to local distinctiveness. Our LCAs are used in Local Plans, Transport Strategies and Supplementary Planning Guidance to improve the design quality of new development.

 

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