You have the BS5837 tree survey back. It tells you which trees to keep and which ones need to go. It does not explain the next steps on site.
Every developer and landowner hits this point. The consultant has done their job. Now the contractor has to do theirs. Here is what that looks like in practice.
What the four categories mean for your build
The survey sorts every tree on your site into one of four categories. Each one triggers a different action.
- Category U — Remove
- Trees that must come out. Dead, dangerous, or in the way of the approved building footprint. These removals happen before construction begins. We are usually the first crew on site.
- Category A — Retain and protect
- High value trees that must be kept. We put up fencing and root protection zone barriers around them. Plant cannot go near them. This protection stays in place for the duration of the build.
- Category B — Retain where possible
- Good quality trees worth keeping. They might need pruning or crown reduction to clear space, but they come down only if they conflict with the final layout.
- Category C — Low priority
- Low value trees. They do not need to stay. If they are blocking an access route or a foundation, we remove them. Often the first to go when space is tight.
The survey dictates the plan. It will tell you exactly which trees fall into each group. Our job is to carry out that plan safely and efficiently.
A realistic programme for a commercial site
Timelines vary. A small domestic plot with a few trees can be a one-day job. A larger commercial site with a mix of protected and low-value trees takes longer.
For a typical two-acre site, the work might run like this:
Days 1-2: We install tree protection. This means fencing off root protection zones for any retained Category A and B trees. We set up the site and confirm access.
Days 2-4: Category U removals. We take down dead, dangerous, and development-conflicting trees. Sectional dismantling with ropes and rigging is common here.
Days 4-6: Category C removals. We clear the low-value trees blocking the build area.
Days 6-7: Work on retained Category B trees. This includes pruning, crown reductions, and removing deadwood.
Days 7-8: Waste removal. We chip timber on site, remove logs, and leave it tidy for the groundworks crew.
This is a guide. Every site is different.
What causes delays
Several practical factors affect how long the work takes.
Access is the biggest one. Can we get a tracked chipper and a MEWP through the gate? If not, we have to haul waste by hand or with smaller kit. This adds time and cost. We always visit the site to price the job because drawings do not show you access constraints.
Trees close to buildings require care. A tree three metres from a wall cannot be felled in one piece. It needs to be taken down in sections, roped piece by piece. This is slower and more methodical.
Protected trees add a front-end step. Before we touch anything near a Category A tree, we need method statements and approved protection measures in place. This adds a day or two at the start but prevents a planning officer from halting the entire project later.
Ground conditions matter. Wet clay in winter is tough going. Dry summer ground is faster. We plan for the weather, but winter sites always run behind schedule.
Ecology pauses are non-negotiable. Nesting birds mean no work between March and August in occupied trees. A bat roost requires a licensed surveyor to clear the site. If your report flags either, the programme has to shift.
The equipment you will see
The kit depends on the job. A small garden removal might need a chainsaw, a chipper, and two of us.
A commercial clearance brings more. Tracked chippers for rough ground. MEWPs for high canopy work. Winches and rigging for dismantling near structures. A stump grinder for every tree that comes out.
We bring what the job needs. You do not have to arrange any of it, but knowing what is coming helps you plan around it.
How we work from your survey
Most developers get the survey from an arboricultural consultant. Then they get quotes from tree surgeons for the work. That means two companies, two site visits, and two sets of invoices to track.
We work directly from your survey report. You send it to us. We visit the site. We price and programme the specific removals, pruning, and clearance the report calls for. One company handles it from there.
We do not write the survey. The consultant does that. We execute the physical work it recommends. Tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, and site clearance.
What we need to quote the job
When you are ready, send us the full BS5837 report, including the tree schedule and site plan. If there are Tree Preservation Orders or Conservation Area constraints, include that documentation.
We also need site access details. Tell us about gate sizes, weight limits, overhead cables, and neighbouring buildings. Finally, give us your construction programme. We need to know when the groundworks crew arrives so we can schedule our work first.
We will visit the site within a few days and provide a fixed quote. The price we quote is the price you pay.
See also: Site clearance for construction — the practical sequence after the survey work is done. And what site managers need to know about commercial tree surgery.
Common questions
- What do the four BS5837 tree categories mean?
- Category U trees must be removed — they are dead, dangerous, or in the building footprint. Category A trees are high value and must be protected with fencing and root protection zones. Category B trees are good quality and worth keeping where possible, though they may need pruning. Category C trees are low value and can be removed if they block access or foundations.
- How long does BS5837 tree work take on site?
- For a typical two-acre site, expect 7-8 working days. Days 1-2 cover tree protection installation. Days 2-4 cover Category U removals. Days 4-6 cover Category C removals. Days 6-7 cover retained Category B tree work. Days 7-8 cover waste removal and site tidy.
- What causes delays after a BS5837 survey?
- The main factors are site access (can machinery reach the trees?), protected trees needing method statements, ecology constraints like nesting birds or bats, and ground conditions — wet winter ground is slower than dry summer ground.
- Do I need a consultant and a tree surgeon separately?
- Yes. An arboricultural consultant writes the BS5837 survey. We are the contractor who carries out the physical work: tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, and site clearance. You send us the survey and we quote and execute the work it recommends.
- What do you need to quote BS5837 tree work?
- The full BS5837 report including the tree schedule and site plan. Any TPO or Conservation Area documentation. Site access details — gate sizes, weight limits, overhead cables, neighbouring buildings. And your construction programme so we can schedule our work before the groundworks crew arrives.
Got a site that needs tree work?
We visit the site. We give you a fixed quote. No hidden costs. What we quote, you pay.