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.
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].
Going Organic? Get A Soil Test
Looking to make the change to organic farming or to improve your veggie garden? A soil test can give you the information to improve your soil. Are you going organic? Get a soil test…
Organic Farming
If you are farming organic crops, soil testing can be an essential part of the process.
The standards that organic farmers are held to are much stricter than the standards for traditional farmers. They strongly emphasise the protection of wildlife and environment, not allowing herbicides or strong pesticides. Therefore, natural methods are required to ensure crops grow healthily and are resistant to pests or disease. One of these natural methods is to develop good soil.
Organic farmers can develop healthy soil by taking numerous steps. These can include the rotation of crops, using clover and other legumes to fix nitrogen and introducing compost or manure into the soil.
Healthy Soil
Nutrient management planning relies heavily on soil testing to identify the best way to utilise manure in the soil and to create rotational plans. The Institute of Organic Training and Advice recommend that soil analysis is completed regularly. This helps to identify trends in the nutrients available in the soil at different times of the year. This information can then be fed back into the nutrient management plan. Regular soil tests can also be used for nutrient monitoring, ensuring that there is no nutrient overload from the additional manure or compost.
Making The Change
If you are in the process of switching over to organic farming, soil tests can also be used to assess baseline data. This can help decisions based around what fertiliser type to use. Identifying which crops will grow well and why other crops may not grow. When undertaking the organic certification process, a soil test may also be required before you can apply micronutrients or other fertilisers.
Soil testing and analysis is key to enabling organic farmers to get the very best from their plants. ProHort Ltd offer soil testing and analysis services to identify nutrient levels in soil. Find out more on our Soil Analysis service page.
Going green? Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments or LVIA’s, as well as showing you the impact on developments from a social and economic point of view. Can also highlight a range of environmental factors and be used in a range of environmental projects.
Environmental Developments & LVIAs
LVIA’s are synonymous with wind turbine and solar panel developments – they have often been used to display the placement of these developments, as a superior way of presenting the visual impact to the public. Historically, many members of the public have been opposed to these developments based on the negative impact that they can have on a particular view or outlook. An LVIA can create an accurate representation of how an environmental project can look – for many people, their fears may not be as bad as they suspected, and they can make their judgement based on an accurate visual assessment.
Environmental Impacts
In addition, an LVIA can highlight potential damage to an environment. Statistically, road developments are ‘the single most destructive element’ as they can potentially cause animals to lose access to water or nesting areas. If access to water is lost, many animal colonies can start to die out and may be driven away from the area. Many birds nest in specific trees or specific parts of a forest year on year; an accurate LVIA can help plot the exact route that a road will take. These areas can then be double-checked for any nests or any signs of any other colonies of animals.
Finally, an LVIA may be a requirement ahead of any work taking place. An LVIA is a low-impact option, which can highlight any problems ahead of the work commencing. Should a project change, that can cause additional damage to the environment. For example, if one route for a road is chosen, but is then found to be unsuitable, and construction has started, there may already be damage to habitats.
All of these environmental factors can make an LVIA a low-impact, ‘green’ option, moving forward in the future of developments.
Have you found yourself asking, what soil test do I need? Soil tests are utilised in many ways, and there are a variety of different types of soil test available depending on what you need one for. Soil tests are predominantly used within three different contexts – for agricultural or horticultural works, on a construction site or in the case of waste removal.
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.
A soil test will also identify whether there are any nutrient deficiencies or any contaminants in the soil. Such as lead, arsenic, barium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc.
By identifying these factors, the soil test results can be used to calculate the amount and type of fertiliser used on an agricultural site. As well as to help identify which crops would thrive in a particular garden.
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. In this case, the density, strength, sand content, compaction, and organic content. Any contamination will be identified to assess how these factors may impact on the construction project. Results from the soil tests may also be used for reports that would support the development’s planning application.
There are two different approaches to soil tests on a construction site – in situ tests, which are conducted on the site itself, and laboratory tests. The in situ tests can be used to gather information on the properties and classification of the soil. Including the grain size, tip and shear resistance analysis, shear strengths and groundwater pressure. Alternatively, a laboratory test can examine the soil shrinkage, the soils suitability as a subgrade for a road, its hydraulic conductivity and the level of water content. The soils response to vertically applied pressure can also be tested, which is key when building foundations or basement rooms.
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. A Waste Acceptance Criteria test determines whether the waste can be sent to a landfill that accepts inert waste, non-hazardous waste or whether it must go to a hazardous landfill site. You can find out more information about a Waste Acceptance Criteria test in our dedicated article.
Soil tests are incredibly useful in all sorts of contexts and can help to keep development projects running smoothly and ensure that gardens thrive.
ProHort Ltd provide a range of soil tests, depending upon your requirements. Why not find out more on our Soil Tests and Analysis page.
Organic Farming
LVIA’s are synonymous with wind turbine and solar panel developments – they have often been used to display the placement of these developments, as a superior way of presenting the visual impact to the public. Historically, many members of the public have been opposed to these developments based on the negative impact that they can have on a particular view or outlook. An LVIA can create an accurate representation of how an environmental project can look – for many people, their fears may not be as bad as they suspected, and they can make their judgement based on an accurate visual assessment.
areas. If access to water is lost, many animal colonies can start to die out and may be driven away from the area. Many birds nest in specific trees or specific parts of a forest year on year; an accurate LVIA can help plot the exact route that a road will take. These areas can then be double-checked for any nests or any signs of any other colonies of animals.
