Making an application to prune trees which are protected under a Tree Preservation Order, or within a Conservation Area.
British Standard 3998:2010 – Tree Work – Recommendations provides guidance for tree owners and their agents and all others whose activities might affect tree. Furthermore, it is assumed that in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.
In determining application for tree work the Council will assess proposals against the advice and recommendations provided in the Standard. Applicants should therefore ensure that the description of proposed tree work is in accordance with that described in the standard in terms of crown reduction, crown thinning, and crown lifting, etc.
Advice on management objectives and commonly applied pruning options are described in Table B.1. of the Standard.
Advice on pruning techniques is given in section 7 of the document. Applicants are particularly referred to sections 7.7, 77.7.1, 7.7.2 and 7.7.3 which relate to crown reduction.
The Standard states: “Specifications for percentage reduction are imprecise and unsatisfactory without reference to length, height, and spread etc.”
Example: A 30% reduction in crown volume can be considered to be approximately equivalent to a 12% reduction in overall branch length (i.e. radial distance).
Specifications which state what will remain are normally used to enable verification but to assist implementation, may also be translated into what is to be removed (e.g. length of branch)
Specifications that merely refer to % crown reductions will therefore not be acceptable.
Failure to specify tree works accurately and in accordance with BS3998:2010 may lead to delays in processing your application.