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Original poster

To get a tree surgeon in?

25 replies

SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 12:54

Two big trees in my garden need attention. I've booked him for the week after the BH.

He's one man working alone, will let himself in by the side gate and I'll pay him electronically once he's done.

The trees are on the boundaries with neighbours but we all have largish gardens so no need to be close.

There'll be noise, but that would be the case whenever we had the work done.

I can't see an issue with it, but I don't want to be on the FB group!

OP posts:
ArthurMrdr2 · 28/04/2020 12:57

Can you wait till Autumn?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 28/04/2020 12:58

Sounds absolutely fine to me. I need to get someone in to do my garden as I put my back out strimming the lawn the other week so was wondering the same thing!

The only other thing is to make sure he checks there are no live nests left in the trees; it's illegal for him to do any work if so during nesting season.

Ifailed · 28/04/2020 12:58

have you checked whether there's a tree-preservation order on them, or whether you live in a conversation area?

Ifailed · 28/04/2020 12:59

conservation !!

1555CC · 28/04/2020 12:59

I wanted to be a tree surgeon, but I couldn't stand the sight of sap.

Original poster
SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 13:01

There's nothing to stop the trees and these are still in bud, no leaves much yet, no nests which is why I want to do it now.

OP posts:
Original poster
SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 13:01

Stop the work....

OP posts:
Emeeno1 · 28/04/2020 13:01

It's great you are giving them the work. They are allowed to keep working as it is outside and adhere to the social distancing rules.

I have three tree surgeons in my extended family and people like you are giving them hope they can make it through this without losing their businesses.

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/04/2020 13:02

he checks there are no live nests left in the trees nests in use or being built.

As long as he's not contravening the Wildlife Act by disturbing nesting birds, and the trees aren't in a Conservation Area, and don't have a TPO, and you are social distancing as described, no reason why he shouldn't come and it's helping another person to manage financially through the crisis. Leave the gate open for him, or clean it so he doesn't have to touch it.

Original poster
SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 13:04

There are no nests! The trees are still almost bare, you can clearly see there are no old or new nests.

OP posts:
derxa · 28/04/2020 13:08

I've just had tree surgeons fell three trees and get rid of stumps. But they were a pair of robbing bastards. I feel a right fool. Make sure you get proper quotes

Original poster
SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 13:20

Yes, tree surgery is unfortunately famous for it. We use this company where I work, so I know they are properly insured and registered for tax etc because we insist on it. I knew roughly what I expected the quote to be and it was within £10.

There are probably people who would have quoted cheaper but I'm happy to pay a fair price for a fair day's work

OP posts:
Yawnfest · 28/04/2020 13:27

Can you pop a courtesy note through neighbours door giving them a heads up about the work. Might keep them onside and stop the curtain twitching.

CaramelEmporium · 28/04/2020 13:34

Personally I’m of the outdoor work / keep businesses afloat school of thought. We had a leak fixed on our extension by a company - work done by the 2 brothers that flat share. No contact, no supplies needing to be bought. Our leak is fixed and they have had some income. I don’t see the issue.

Original poster
SunnyStroll · 28/04/2020 13:36

Yes,I'll speak to the immediate neighbours, they'll be fine, it's "the community" I was concerned about Grin

OP posts:
twilightcafe · 28/04/2020 13:38

It's fine. The surgeon will be outside, so social distancing won't be a problem.

5foot5 · 28/04/2020 13:47

We had a tree down at the weekend - been meaning to do it for ages.

Two man job and they had it down within a couple of hours. The root is apparently too large to remove so they had drilled in to it and filled it with some sort of acid so it dies off.

The one in charge said this is the best time of year to remove them - something to do with where the sap was.

Pricey mind but it was a firm that our neighbours have used before so we knew they were reliable.

BogRollBOGOF · 28/04/2020 14:13

The job needs doing.
It can be done safely.
No problem. Smile

Stuff the "community". One day they'll need jobs doing and they'll need the viable businesses to survive long enough to do them.

QuantamBaby · 28/04/2020 14:20

I would get the work done - it is within guidelines and we need to try and help small businesses to keep going through this crisis.

ElsieMc · 28/04/2020 14:28

Just a word of warning. It is nesting season and you need to be sure there are no birds nesting in the tree. The TS's we use, always check and will not do works if there are. Between March to late August/September you cannot disturb nesting birds (Wildlife and Countryside Act).

I sound like a proper jobsworth, but it's only because this has affected me. My neighbours seem to think that nesting pigeons pack up their suitcases on the 31st August and leave but even in October they had to leave part of the hedge was had cut in situ. Hopefully all is well and your worker will have checked.

widefitwife · 28/04/2020 14:29

Sounds like there will be adequate social distancing, so go for it.

I'm having my bottom patio touched up by a local builder. When I told my neighbours one of them commented that it did Sound like essential work (in a jokey way) And although admittedly it could wait, I know thAt the builder is struggling for work, and this is making things tight for them as a family. Obviously I will gain from better patio but I like to think it's offering him some support at a time like this .

I think it's so hard to make these decisions, practically and sometimes morally. One thing I've been trying to tell myself is I know what how and why I'm doing things so stuff the others
( not always easy!)

Just make sure if you make them a brew you social distance!!

LakieLady · 28/04/2020 14:35

My neighbours seem to think that nesting pigeons pack up their suitcases on the 31st August and leave but even in October they had to leave part of the hedge was had cut in situ

We've got a wood pigeon nest in a huge clump of ivy growing up the post that the washing line is attached to. Mr & Mrs Wood-Pigeon seem to be in residence year round. I'm not surprised, one of them is a right fat bastard, so it's obviously a cushy number round here!

God knows when we'll be able to hack back the ivy.

SirVixofVixHall · 28/04/2020 14:36

I think it is fine, you are keeping someone in work, without risking close contact.

julybaby32 · 28/04/2020 14:48

If there is any chance of it turning into an emergency situation, much better to deal with it in a planned way before it becomes an emergency and before it is full leaf. A tree falling on someone is definitely going to be bad news. (My tree had to have very severe emergency surgery a couple of years ago, having become dangerously hollow without much external clue. It's much closer to the people at the back than to us and could have ended very badly for them if it hadn't been spotted for another couple of months and we'd had a storm when it was in full leaf. The tree survived the operation and is making a good recovery.)
The community will have no hesitation in vilifying you if your tree squashes someone. Plus you will be putting food on someone else's table.

LIZS · 28/04/2020 14:54

No tpos?

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