This article explains what is involved in keeping trees maintained near highways and footpaths. It also highlights what to do if you see a tree that could cause damage to a member of the public.
How do HRG maintain trees near highways and footpaths?
HRG are often notified of trees that need maintaining through the council, a land management company or a private land owner. The team will visit the site and assess the risk level to the public, prioritising a job if it is deemed unsafe.
The job may require removing dead, damaged, or diseased parts of the tree, limb removal or as a last resort – felling. This will be assessed at the initial site visit and the appropriate teams dispatched to resolve the issue.
Jobs near busy highways or footpaths often give little space to work, which can make things tricky! To keep our staff safe, we use in-house or third-party traffic management. If it’s safer to do so, we will also use machinery such as MEWPs to work on the tree.
Once the work has been completed, communicating ongoing maintenance with the landowner is key to preventing future safety issues. Read one of our recent blogs where we explain the importance of proactive tree maintenance.
What to do if you notice a tree that looks unsafe
If you notice a tree by a highway or footpath that could cause a safety issue, the first thing to do is to find out who owns the land it’s on.
As a general rule, land directly next to a highway will be owned either by the local authority or National Highways. You can find contact details for your local authority by searching ‘report a tree problem in the local area’ on Google. To report an issue to National Highways, email info@highwaysengland.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000.
If a tree is overhanging a property onto a road or footpath, contact the owner to let them know that you think the tree may be a cause for concern. This can be carried out safely by sending them a polite letter.
It could be that the tree is on land owned by a private management company, such as on a new build estate. If you think this might be the case, contact the housing developer to find out which management company to report the issue to.
Lastly, post on the nearest community Facebook group letting people know about the potential safety hazard and that the issue has been raised with the relevant parties. This will prevent any accidents from occurring until the tree has been managed properly.
Contact HRG Tree Surgeons for advice
If you’re worried about a tree on your property that’s overspilling onto a highway or footpath, don’t hesitate to contact HRG Tree Surgeons. Our team of experts can provide effective tree management services to keep everyone safe. Contact one of the team today who will be happy to help.
If you need advice or a quote for tree works on your property, contact the HRG team today. We will arrange an appointment with an experienced surveyor who will attend your site to ensure that you are given a fair, accurate and reliable quote for the work that needs to be completed.
