Case Study · Tree Removal
Dead Tree Removal on an MoD Site
22 October 2026
Location: Ministry of Defence site, North East England
Tree Removal
Dead wood does not bend and it does not warn you. That changes every decision on the job.
A dead tree on a site where nothing is simple. Controlled access, a site induction, a permit before anyone picks up a saw, and a tree that had stopped behaving like a living tree some time ago.
Deadwood removes the margin for error. There is no hinge wood to hold a direction, branches snap instead of bending, and a limb that looks sound can fail while the climber is still tied into it.
The tree came out in sections. The site went back to the state we found it in, minus the tree.
- Tree
- 1 dead deciduous tree
- Setting
- Secure site, controlled access
- Method
- Sectional dismantle, no free fell
- Paperwork
- RAMS, permits, insurance, certification
- Clearance
- Arisings chipped, stump cut low, area swept
Our Process
Pre-qualify. Insurance, certification and RAMS submitted and approved before a date is booked.
Induct. Site induction, escorted access, permit to work issued against the method statement.
Prepare. Exclusion zone set, rescue plan briefed, kit inspected and logged, tie-in points selected on sound timber.
Dismantle. Crown and stem removed in controlled sections, nothing free felled, nothing dropped unroped over the work area.
Hand back. Chip and timber removed with waste transfer notes, stump cut low, area swept and signed off.
Dead tree removal on secure and commercial sites across the North East. If a tree on your site has stopped producing leaves or is dropping limbs, send the site details and we will work to your permit and induction system.
Why a dead tree is a different job
A living tree gives you warning. It bends, it creaks, it holds a hinge when you cut it. Dead timber does none of that. The wood is dry, the fibres have lost their elasticity, and failure happens fast and without sound.
That changes every decision on the job. A limb that would be roped and lowered on a living tree might be taken in smaller pieces or pulled clear with a higher tie-in point. A stem that could be felled into an open area might be taken down in sections instead, because a dead stem can shatter on impact.
The other change is where the climber puts their weight. Dead anchors are not trusted. Ties go into live trees nearby, or into the stem below the section being worked, and they get checked at every move.
Getting cleared to work on a secure site
On an MoD site the paperwork comes first and it is not a formality. Site induction, a method statement and risk assessment that match the site’s own format, insurance certificates, and proof of competence for everyone who will be on the tree.
We carry £10 million public liability, NPTC and LANTRA qualifications for the climbing, chainsaw and aerial work, and Constructionline Gold. Those documents go in before the visit, not on the morning.
On the day, a permit to work is issued against the method statement and the area is handed over. Tools get checked. The saws, ropes, harness and rigging kit are inspected and logged, and anything that fails the check does not go up the tree.
- Site induction and escorted access
- RAMS in the site’s own format, signed off before mobilisation
- Public liability, employers liability and certification on file
- Permit to work against the method statement
- Tool, rope and harness inspection logged on the day
Taking a dead tree apart without felling it
The tree was dismantled from the top. Small pieces, controlled lowers, and no shock loading on dead timber. Ropes were set so that a piece was held before the final cut released it, rather than being allowed to run and snatch.
The exclusion zone is bigger on a dead tree than a live one, because the failure radius is bigger. On a secure site that zone also has to be enforced, which means barriers, a banksman and a route that keeps site traffic out of the work area.
Every cut is planned so the climber is not underneath the piece being removed. On deadwood that rule is not a preference.
Aerial rescue: the plan before the climb
Aerial rescue is the part of the job nobody wants to use and everybody has to have ready. On this site it was set before the first cut: who goes up, what kit they take, how the casualty is reached and lowered, and where the ambulance would be met at the gate.
Two competent climbers on site, a rescue kit at the base of the tree, first aid trained staff, and a named person to make the call and meet the emergency services. No lone working on aerial work, on any site.
The rescue plan has to match the tree as well as the site. A dead tree in a confined area is not rescued the same way as a live tree with a clear drop zone underneath.
Waste, records and handing the site back
Arisings were chipped on site and removed. Waste transfer notes were issued for the chip and timber that left, which is a legal requirement for commercial waste and something site managers ask for.
The stump was cut low, the area was swept and blown down, and the site was signed back in the same condition it was handed over. On secure sites we also do not publish photographs that identify the location. The images on this page show the tree and the ground, not the site.
Questions we get asked about this work
What RAMS do you provide for a secure site?
A site specific risk assessment and method statement, written to the site’s own format where one is required, plus insurance certificates and proof of competence for each operative. These go in before mobilisation so the permit can be issued on the day.
Can you work to a permit to work system?
Yes. We work to permit to work, hot work and access control systems on MoD, NHS, education and utilities sites. Induction, escort and sign in and out are built into the mobilisation rather than added on.
How quickly can a dangerous dead tree be dealt with?
If a dead tree is over a road, a footpath or a building and there is evidence of movement or recent failure, it should be treated as urgent and kept clear of until it is made safe. Send photos and the site contact and we will prioritise it around the permit process.