Arboricultural Impact Assessment vs. Arboricultural Method Statement
Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIAs) and a Arboricultural Method Statement (AMSs) are both documents that you may be required to provide at various stages during your building project. Both have slightly different functions, so read on to see which one you may require.
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
This document is often produced during the early stages of a project. Also, this discusses the planned works and the impact that they could have on the trees. This document is often submitted along with a tree survey before an exact working methodology has been formulated. The council, or any other bodies, are allowed to make an informed decision as to what is required. An AIA may also contain a draft AMS.
Arboricultural Method Statement
This document is a site-specific, project-specific method statement which details the exact measures that any contractors should follow whilst completing construction work on site. It is often issued as work is about to commence and will be issued to a foreman or site manager as is applicable. This document is normally requested by your contractor a couple of weeks before the work begins. AMS documents can be relatively generic, but if you have any protected trees, site specific requirements, or if you were using particular methods of construction then you may need to produce this document.
Which one do I need?
It depends which stage your project is in – if you are in the planning stages, we would recommend an AIA. This would identify any site issues which may lead to you commissioning a more detailed AMS as a result of the AIA. If your work is about to commence, and you are concerned about the health or status of a particular tree, then you may need to investigate an Arboricultural Method Statement.
Brackets (or bracket fungi) are fungi which appear on trees throughout spring, summer and autumn.
The dangers of fungal brackets:
The fungal bracket will have grown into the heartwood of the tree, which can cause severe weakening of the tree. If the tree has grown weak, it may topple at any time (and not necessarily just when the fungi is present).
How to identify fungal brackets:
The main identifier of bracket fungi is the large bracket body which will appear on the outside of the tree – these can be up to 60cm in diameter. By the time the bracket appears, there will usually have been significant decay inside the tree. A secondary identifier is falling branches, which shows that the heartwood has weakened. However, please be aware that many different factors may also cause the branches of a tree to fall.
What can be done about Bracket Fungi?
Unfortunately, once you have identified bracket fungi, there is often very little that can be done to save the tree. Chemical treatments will also have minimal impact. Bracket fungi enters the heartwood via any open wound or tear in the tree’s trunk – due to this, infestations of the fungi can spread quickly. Ash, beech and prunus trees are especially susceptible.
What to do if you think you have fungal brackets:
If you suspect that your tree has bracket fungi, we recommend that a tree survey is completed as soon as possible. This can help identify any weakness in the tree as well as ascertain whether the fungi present is bracket fungi or another fungi entirely. Regular tree surveys can also identify any wounds on trees, meaning that any susceptible trees are removed before the fungi can take hold.
Prohort Ltd provides comprehensive tree surveys to the BS5837-2012. Find out more about our tree survey service in our Services page.
What Does a Soil Test Tell You?
You may have had a soil test to identify what you need to do to make your plants thrive. Alternatively, you may have had one as a requirement of a planning application. Whatever your reason, the resulting report can be complicated and confusing. So, what does a soil test tell you?
Basically, a soil test measures the health and the fertility of the soil. To do this, it measures the pH level of the soil and the nutrients.
What does the pH of the soil tell you?
The pH of the soil indicates its acidity. Using this, you can identify whether you need to increase or decrease the soil’s acidity in accordance with the type of plants you want to plant. Usually, plants like middle ranged acidity – somewhere between 6.0 to 7.0. Alternatively, some plants like the acidity to be a bit higher.
Depending upon the plants you are planting and the existing acidity of the soil, you can take different actions. To increase the acidity of the soil you can add lime, or to decrease the soil you can add sulphur. Your soil test results will make recommendations to help you to decide which action is best to take.
What do the nutrient levels tell you?
The three most important nutrients for plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Whereas nitrogen is very difficult to measure by soil testing, there are other approaches that can be taken. A soil test will identify how much organic matter is present in your soil. Organic matter contains nitrogen and is, therefore, considered to have the potential to release nitrogen into the soil. Soil tests will incorporate the level of organic matter present in the soil into their score against nitrogen.
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants growth, helping photosynthesis and improving the plants overall vigor. Having a phosphorus deficiency will result in the plant experiencing stunted growth. Once a phosphorus deficiency has taken hold, the plants can become a dark blue-green colour or purple colour. At this point it will be difficult to save the plant. To increase phosphorus levels within your soil you can scatter bone meal into your soil.
Similar to phosphorus, potassium also helps with photosynthesis but is associated with the movement of water and nutrients within the plant. A potassium deficiency can result in brown scorching and curling of leaves, as well as stunted growth. Instead of applying bone meal in this case, kelp meal will help with potassium deficiency.
In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, a soil test will also test for calcium and magnesium. Both of these are also important nutrients for a plant and not having enough of these nutrients can be detrimental to the growth of a plant. Again, lime can be used to increase the calcium levels in your soil and dolomitic limestone will help increase the levels of magnesium.
Finally, a soil test will also test for lead in your soil, indicating whether it is potentially harmful. You may find that older homes (the type that have lead paint) or old factory sites are more likely to have high lead levels in the soil. There have been a range of theories regarding the treatment of lead within soil, the most recent of which is to treat the soil with phosphate, organic matter and limestone.
Contact Us Today
ProHort Ltd provide a comprehensive soil test and analysis service, whether it is for farmland or construction works. Check out our soil test service page for more information.
Commonly Found Diseases in Trees
Trees contribute significantly to the aesthetics and value of the surrounding landscape. They can also contribute positively to the lifestyles of those who live nearby. Unfortunately, there is a wide range of diseases and pests that can negatively impact the quality of trees. This can result in trees dying or being taken down either due to ill health or to prevent the spread of disease. Find out more about diseases in trees:
Four common diseases in trees that can be found in UK include:
Ash Dieback
Ash Dieback is expected to kill approximately 80% of all Ash trees within the UK. Quickly killing young trees or trees that have been coppiced, it is caused by a fungus named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (H. fraxineus). Older trees are more resistant to the fungus and can resist it for prolonged periods of time. However, they can then succumb if attacked by an additional pest.
Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease is spread between Elm trees by Elm Bark Beetles. Resulting from two related fungi – Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and Ophiostoma ulmi – the disease has already caused a significant amount of damage to the elm population. Fortunately, when an Elm tree dies some of the roots may survive. From these roots, several new elms can sprout resulting in the health growth of multiple new trees.
Oak Processionary Moth
The Oak Processionary moth is a species of moth whose caterpillars’ nest on Oak trees. These caterpillars make their way down the tree, stripping it of leaves. This leaves it vulnerable to further disease and drought. The Oak Processionary moth caterpillars also have small hairs covering their body, which can cause rashes, eye irritation and breathing difficulties. It is therefore recommended that, if you find an Oak Processionary moth nest, you leave the nest alone.
Phytophthora Lateralis
Phytophthora lateralis is an aggressive water mould. Mostly affecting Lawson cypress trees, it has also been known to attack several other types of tree. It can be found throughout the UK, predominantly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Spreading through the trees roots when they come in to contact with spores in the water or soil, it is rare for a Lawson cypress tree to recover from Phytophthora lateralis. ProHort offer testing for Phytophthora, for more information click here.
ProHort’s arboricultural team can provide you with detailed tree surveys, identifying any potential diseases that may be impacting the tree. Our tree surveys will identify the life expectancy of each tree and recommend any required treatment or removal. You can find out more about our Tree Surveying services here.
This document is often produced during the early stages of a project. Also, this discusses the planned works and the impact that they could have on the trees. This document is often submitted along with a tree survey before an exact working methodology has been formulated. The council, or any other bodies, are allowed to make an informed decision as to what is required. An AIA may also contain a draft AMS.
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants growth, helping photosynthesis and improving the plants overall vigor. Having a phosphorus deficiency will result in the plant experiencing stunted growth. Once a phosphorus deficiency has taken hold, the plants can become a dark blue-green colour or purple colour. At this point it will be difficult to save the plant. To increase phosphorus levels within your soil you can scatter bone meal into your soil.
Trees contribute significantly to the aesthetics and value of the surrounding landscape. They can also contribute positively to the lifestyles of those who live nearby. Unfortunately, there is a wide range of diseases and pests that can negatively impact the quality of trees. This can result in trees dying or being taken down either due to ill health or to prevent the spread of disease. Find out more about diseases in trees: