tree care & work

Thank you for visiting this web page.

Here you will find general advice on what to look for from an arborist & how to save money.
There are also links to organisations that can help you further.
Contact us -
details:
General manager & consultant: Bryn Andrews
Admin & partner: Helle Andrews
01935 862115 (Yeovil)
01823 729065 (Taunton)
01460 599036 (Chard/Ilminster)
Fax: 01935 864397
bryn@westendtreeservices.co.uk

Westend Tree Services is, to the best of our knowledge, the best qualified tree company in Somerset and West Dorset by virtue of the above qualifications - both of which are highly regarded within the tree industry and hard to achieve and that is why they are unusual.

Many contractors use logo's that look that the above ones - this is done to mimic credentials they don't have - don't be fooled.

Setting high standards means that we take a more considered approach than others - but thats a good thing - and we expect it will save you money.

WTS is a small company operating just one team of full-time employed arborists; who carrying high quality tree surgery and all other tree related operations (see below).

The contracts are managed by Bryn Andrews; site works are managed by Jon Forsyth.

Call 24/7
01935 862115 (Yeovil) or
01823 729065 (Taunton) or
01460 599036 (Chard/Ilminster)

bryn@westendtreeservices.co.uk

Our contracting services include;

Tree surgery; dismantling, crown volume reduction, density thinning, cleaning out, dead-wooding, eco-pruning, shaping, reduction by thinning, entrenchment pruning, storm damage repair;

Hydraulic platform access (MEWP)

Felling - confined spaces and sectional

Root pruning

Fruit tree pruning

Climbing and other woody plant maintenance

Brushwood chipping - tracked machinery and tow behind

Stump grinding - tracked machinery and pedestrian

Cable & rod bracing - traditional steel and expandables

Planting

Hedge reduction, trimming and removal & replacement

Air digging / excavation /spade root excavation & building services

Soil amelioation / fertilising / mulching

Clearance of unwanted brushwood & timber

Chainsaw sculpture

Supply of composted wood-chip mulch and timber

Slabbing trunks - using 48" chainsaw mill

Call 01935 862115 for prompt & professional service

Arboricultural contracting is best known as tree work and those who specialise in this line of work are normally referred to as contractors.

Our qualification as an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor is your guarantee of top quality service and finished product.

There are only about 160 AAAC's out of approx. 3000 tree companies in the UK - this 5% is the cream of the industry.

AAAC's are not necessary more expensive than other firms but almost certainly give best value.
More details about AAAC's and the Arb. Association can be had by visiting www.trees.org.uk

Click on the pictures above or below for a leaflet you can download CHOOSING AN ARBORIST which has been produced by all the top organisations in the industry.


	The above picture shows a 28m tall Corsican Pine being discussed by Jon and Ginj. The tree which was positioned in a small school playground and the six cable braces that we installed ten years ago had done their job and held it together but the decision was made that it now represented too high a safety risk and so it had to be felled.	Same tree as is shown left but with Jon and Ginj in action dismantling it.	Dan the trainee is seen in motion. Tree surgery is generally a young persons job and there is always the need to bring along the next generation of climbers. Wages and conditions are improving steadily for these youngsters as it gets increasing difficult to get good people.
Contact details: General manager & consultant: Bryn Andrews Admin & partner: Helle Andrews Tel: 01935 862115 Fax: 01935 864397 Mob: 07970 816280 bryn@westendtreeservices.co.uk Here's what you should look out for from a tree firm: For a start Never entertain cold-calling door-knocking operators. DON'T BE FOOLED! these types are con-men and will certainly charge too much for unnecessary work. They may provide a leaflet or flyer saying 'they are in the area' or some such rubbish - be warned these are cow-boy tree butchers that are not part of the arboricultural industry but are parasites on you and us. Call the police and give them their license plate number - their truck and equipment is probably stolen from reputable companies! If they only have a mobile telephone number then you can be very sure these are con-men. NO PROFESSIONAL TREE COMPANIES WILL SEND OUT PEOPLE TO KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR WITHOUT PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH YOU. Consider using a professionally qualified arborist - that being a professionally licensed by either of the following; ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION APPROVED CONTRACTOR AND/OR REGISTERED CONSULTANT / or Professional member(not just a member as that could mean nearly anybody - ask for a verifiable license number, copy of their certificate and i.d. Call the Arb. Association on 01794 368717 and check if in any doubt. ISA certified arborist: ask for license number ,i.d. and certificate copy. THESE DETAILS CAN BE CHECKED ONLINE THROUGH THE ISA - SEE LINK LEFT. The cost of employing one of the above to work out some recommendations and work specification is money well spent as it gives you an impartial and objective view-point. It can also save harmful or unnecessary work on high value trees. Qualifications: Please remember that modern professional tree firms will only send out a arborist to advise you about your trees who has spent between 1-3 years full time attending college and will have at least three years quality work experience. Arborists who carry out tree surgery work (Tree surgeons) require chainsaw, aerial rescue and first aid training certificates. To carry out all tree surgery operations they need to have up to & including NPTC CS41. However, remember NPTC's are just chainsaw use certificates and not professional qualifications and therefore are no indication of the persons capability, work quality or professionalism. We regularly get phone calls from people looking for employment who profess to "have their ticket or license" - in fact there is no such things and many tree surgeons do not have all their safety certificates. Insurance: �5m public liability, �1m professional indemnity and �10m employers' liability is now the industry norm. A copy of the certificate is easily provided and don't be shy to ask for a copy. Always ask for a written fixed quotation on headed paper with verifiable details, never a verbal estimate. An estimate is just that, an estimate; the price may change during the job. Get the quotation in writing and check that it includes disposal of arisings, and that the site will be left reasonably clean & tidy. You also need to know whether VAT is payable and whether a cheque is acceptable, it should be, if they insist on cash without a receipt, give them a miss. Normally you will get invoiced after the job is completed to your satisfaction. Use the Wood & chips yourself & save money & be environmentally friendly If you wish to keep the logs or wood chips tell the arborist while he/she is quoting, it may save you a fair amount of money. If you need a tree stump removed make sure this is included on the quotation. Legal restrictions Britain has more statutory controls on trees than anywhere else - contravention of which is a criminal offence - so beware. Local authorities take these controls very seriously as it is their responsibility to do so and they are there for good reasons. Make sure the contractor knows about the procedures surrounding Tree Preservation Orders, conservations orders (TPO's) and felling licenses. There are other controls as well - so get proper advice! If the contractor doesn't know the above basic details he shouldn't be allowed to advise you or work on your trees, as he is acting outside of the law and could get you into alot of trouble and frankly he should be doing something that better suits his attitude - prison time I suggest. Safety: Tree work has a very high level of risk and so is very dangerous. In the USA you are twice as likely to die at work if you are a tree surgery worker than a policeman! And its not much better in the UK. There are now many laws that relate to heath & safety, such as use of proper protective equipment and chainsaw training. Because the professional tree surgery companies will have invested much time and money to ensure that they conform to such legislation they need to charge accordingly. The cowboys avoid such overheads and so risks his own, his workers' and your health & safety. Remember in the eyes of the law you are responsible for the suitability of those you employ.


Contact details: General manager & consultant: Bryn Andrews Admin & partner: Helle Andrews Tel: 01935 862115 Fax: 01935 864397 Mob: 07970 816280 bryn@westendtreeservices.co.uk

	This Holm Oak was splitting apart and required reducing in size and cable bracing. This picture shows it before work starts.	Same tree after having been reduced and cable braced. Please note the good shape.	Same tree different angle. The balanced natural shape says it all.
Contact details: General manager & consultant: Bryn Andrews Admin & partner: Helle Andrews Tel: 01935 862115 Fax: 01935 864397 Mob: 07970 816280 bryn@westendtreeservices.co.uk