Most people are aware that trees benefit their surrounding landscape, but do you know just how positive and extensive their contribution is? Not only do trees bring a host of environmental benefits, they also enhance the local economy and can improve public health. Find out more about the benefits of trees below.
The Environmental Benefits of Trees.
Through the taking in of carbon and subsequent release of oxygen, trees reduce the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere and can benefit climate change. Trees also contribute towards the reduction of pollution, trapping up to 1.5 kilos of dust and pollutants per year in the canopy. The shade that the canopy provides, and the evaporative cooling from a tree, can then reduce the overall temperature of the area below.
It doesn’t stop there! Did you know that trees can also improve water quality, acting as a filter for rainwater by slowing it down and allowing sediment to settle before it falls to the ground? The tree roots help to prevent soil erosion and can reduce the risk of flooding by up to 20% by slowing down the flow of rainwater into existing water bodies.
The Economic and Health Benefits of Trees
Surprisingly, there are many ways in which trees can contribute to the economy and to public health. It is reported that houses that have trees nearby will sell at a faster rate and be worth up to 15% more than those without. This can increase up to 25% more when the whole street is lined with trees. Similarly, if there are trees near your business, it has been found that people will shop for longer and spend more time browsing.
Socially, trees can have a calming effect on people and staff members of businesses. With trees on the premises report a higher level of productivity and lower absenteeism. The inclusion of trees in the landscape can encourage healthy lifestyles. Tempting the public to spend more time outside as well as having some medicinal properties – such as Birch bark which has antiseptic properties. Finally, there has also been evidence linking the presence of trees to the reduction of asthma rates in young children.
Trees are a precious commodity, providing a range of different benefits to society and the environment, that we should not take for granted. ProHort can provide several tree related services, including Tree Surveys and Arboricultural Impact Assessments, which are perfect for keeping your trees safe if you are looking to develop. Why not check out more information?
Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report
What is it and why do you need one?
What is a Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report?
Have you been asked to find a Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report, but have no idea what one is?
A Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report is specifically required for cases that have gone to court. The P35 provides the opinion of an expert witness on an area of their expertise.
But what is an Expert Witness?
An expert witness is somebody that has specialist knowledge within a particular field or industry. This is evidenced through their qualifications and experience, that must be detailed as part of the report.
Why do I need a Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report?
Part 35 reports have been part of the Civil Procedure Rules since December 2014 and regulates the use of expert evidence in court. Expert witness reports must, therefore, meet strict criteria. This ensures that they are in line with the Part 35 rules and must all be in writing. If the court instructs the parties involved in a case to obtain an expert witness report, their report must always be up to date and impartial. (It is important to note that an expert has a duty to assist the court, as opposed to any party that has instructed them).
The report must also contain a statement from the expert confirming their understanding of their duty to the court and confirmation that the report produced complies with all guidelines.
What are my options when obtaining a Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report?
There are also multiple options for obtaining a Part 35 Expert Witness Report for a dispute, including both parties using the same expert to produce one report. The benefit of this is that the cost of instructing the expert witness can be split between the two parties. Alternatively, if the parties cannot agree on one expert between them, then a separate expert may be instructed for each party.
Following the completion of the report, further questions can be submitted to the expert. However, again, these questions need to meet certain criteria to be used as court evidence, ensuring that they are of a proportionate length, asked only once and sent within 28 days of the report being distributed. The questions can also only be written to clarify points from the original report, unless permitted by the court.
Are P35 Reports important?
A Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Report can be the key to winning or defending your case in court.
ProHort provides a range of Part 35 Compliant Expert Witness Reports. For cases regarding Japanese knotweed, landscaping disputes, planning permission and arboriculture.
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].
The Benefits of Soil Health
What Are The Benefits of Healthy Soil?
Find out more about soil health here:
Soil consists of a range of different elements, including water, air, and rock. The inorganic materials within are what is utilised to classify the type of the soil – whether it is sandy, silty or clay. In addition to the inorganic materials, organic matter can also be found within soil. This acts as a binder, retains water, and allows air and water to move through it. However, the aspects that contribute most significantly to the health of soil are the living organisms within it. These organisms thrive off the organic matter and convert it into vitamins, nutrients and disease suppressing compounds.
Global Benefits
Healthy soil has a wide range of environmental and medicinal benefits. This contributes directly to human health, productivity of crop, water resources and the security of food. Which has resulted in many experts stating that the biodiversity of soil should be considered as globally important and especially fundamental to the UK’s farms.
The more commonly known environmental benefit of healthy soil is the increase in plant and crop health. When plants can find essential nutrients in the soil they will thrive, and their ability to do so can be enhanced by the soil. The organisms within the soil create movement which enables the roots to explore easily and to find the nutrients that the plants need. The organic matter within the soil also contributes by decomposing and releasing more nutrients into the soil. The resulting increase of growth can then have a knock-on effect on weeds, which struggle to establish themselves within a thriving crop.
Environmental Benefits
Healthy soil is also attributed to the regulation of greenhouse gasses and the climate. Soil has been confirmed as the second largest carbon pool on Earth. The healthier that the soil is, the more carbon it will store. As well as storing carbon, healthy soil contributes to the prevention of flooding by storing water. This allows it to drain away from the surface and purifying the water by absorbing any viruses and bacteria present. Particular types of pollutant can be cleaned or diluted through the application of soil, which decomposes any organic pollutants and converts them into nontoxic elements. This process can be improved through the introduction of earthworms. However, it does take a long time and will not work when heavy metals are present.
Medical Benefits
Last but most certainly not least, soil has also been utilised for medical purposes. Through the identification and observation of different fungi and bacteria within the soil, scientists have and continue to develop new medicines. One of the most notable medicines produced as a result of healthy soil was Penicillin. After the discovery of fungus growing in soil which was inhibiting the growth of staphylococcus bacteria.
The quality or health of your soil is vitally important for the growth of plants in your garden or crops. ProHort Ltd provides a range of soil tests and analysis to help you identify what nutrients and vitamins are present in your soil. Soil analysis can also advise on how you can improve your soil to encourage healthy growth. Why not get in touch to find out more?
What Is WAC Testing?
WAC Testing – What is it?
When dealing with soil and waste material, one term that can often come up is WAC testing. But what exactly is WAC testing and why do you need to do it?
Waste Acceptance Criteria Testing (WAC)
WAC testing is a mandatory test. That is used to identify whether the soil or material that is being tested will be accepted by a specific type of landfill site. – inert, non-hazardous, or hazardous. The WAC test includes both solid and leachate testing and provides information about how the soil will behave once it has been deposited in the landfill. This can include the level of contamination that could potentially leach into the surrounding landscape and water. As well as how organic the material is by testing for some key contaminants.
Although a WAC test will specify whether the soil that has been sampled would be accepted by a landfill, it cannot be used to classify the waste itself. The classification of the soil must be completed before the WAC test takes place. Which can be achieved by completing an Initial Waste Classification test.
Different Types of Tests
There are three different types of WAC test that can be completed – inert, hazardous and stable non-reactive hazardous. Alternatively, a full suite WAC test can be performed, including the testing for all three different types of WAC test.
The type of WAC test you will require depends upon the initial classification of the soil. If the soil is classified as non-hazardous, this can then be submitted for an inert WAC test. If the soil passes the inert WAC test requirements, then it can be disposed of in an inert landfill. Alternatively, if it fails the inert WAC test then it will not be accepted at an inert landfill and must be disposed of in a non-hazardous landfill instead.
In a similar manner, if the soil is initially classified as hazardous it should pass a hazardous WAC test in order to be disposed of in a hazardous landfill. If the soil fails the requirements of the hazardous WAC test. Then it will not be able to be disposed of in any landfill and must receive the appropriate treatment and further WAC tests to ensure that it falls within hazardous WAC test leachate limits.
Contact Us
Find out more about our soil testing & analysis or get in touch to talk to one of our client managers. Our professional and experienced team will be happy to assist you in any way.
Soil consists of a range of different elements, including water, air, and rock. The inorganic materials within are what is utilised to classify the type of the soil – whether it is sandy, silty or clay. In addition to the inorganic materials, organic matter can also be found within soil. This acts as a binder, retains water, and allows air and water to move through it. However, the aspects that contribute most significantly to the health of soil are the living organisms within it. These organisms thrive off the organic matter and convert it into vitamins, nutrients and disease suppressing compounds.
