What Is a Tree Survey and When Do You Need One?

Whether you’re a landowner, managing a school estate, or simply have roadside trees on your property, understanding the condition and safety of your trees is essential, not just for their long-term health, but for your legal responsibilities too. This guide explains what a tree survey is, when it’s useful, and how N J Pacey can help, particularly with specialist services like tree safety surveys and decay detection.

What Exactly Is a Tree Survey?

A tree survey is a professional assessment carried out by a qualified arboriculturalist to record detailed information about trees on or near a site. It documents the species, size, age, condition, and location of each tree and often includes recommendations for tree management, preservation, or removal.

This kind of survey is especially important when trees might affect future building or development work, or when trees themselves are legally protected.

What Does a Tree Survey Include?

While the format can vary slightly depending on the purpose of the survey, most reports include:

• A site plan showing the location of each tree
• Tree species, height, trunk diameter, and crown spread
• Tree age and life expectancy
• Structural and physiological condition
• Management recommendations (e.g., pruning, removal, retention)
• Risk assessment or impact on nearby structures or developments

So if you’re wondering, what does a tree survey look like? It’s a detailed document backed by expert inspection and professional judgement.

When Are Tree Surveys Legally Required?

As a landowner or manager, you have a legal responsibility to ensure your trees don’t pose a foreseeable risk to people or property. Our Tree Safety Surveys are designed specifically to help you fulfil this Duty of Care.

These surveys involve a detailed visual inspection and professional risk assessment of each tree, identifying any signs of structural weakness, disease, or instability. You’ll receive clear guidance on next steps—whether that’s pruning, monitoring, or, in some cases, removal.

We regularly carry out safety surveys for estates, farms, local councils, and public institutions across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and surrounding areas.

Benefits of a Professional Tree Consultant

Hiring a qualified arboriculturalist regarding tree consultancy ensures your project complies with local planning regulations while benefiting from expert, unbiased advice backed by years of practical experience.

Our knowledge helps protect your investment by identifying potential risks early and avoiding costly delays.

With accurate categorisation and full advice on legal compliance, we can provide actionable guidance on which trees should be retained, removed, or carefully managed, so you can move forward confidently.

This level of professional insight is especially valuable when working near protected or veteran trees, where mistakes can be both expensive and legally complex.

Tree Survey With N J Pacey: What to Expect

At N J Pacey Landscaping, we make the process clear, fast, and stress-free. Here’s what you can expect when you contact us about tree surveying:

Whether you need a tree safety survey, a resistograph reading, or guidance on local authority requirements, our approach is practical and professional:

• Initial consultation to understand your needs
• Site visit by a qualified arboricultural consultant
• Clear, jargon-free report outlining risks and recommendations
• Support with council submissions, where needed

We’ve worked with local authorities, schools and housing developers in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and beyond. So whether you’re part of a school, hospital, or just own a large amount of land, we can carry out tree safety surveys that will keep you compliant with any duty of care obligations you may have.