Arboriculture
Professional Arboricultural Consultancy
At TMA, we are leaders in arboriculture with over 30 years of experience supporting a range of clients. Our team of consultants combine technical expertise with a deep understanding of planning policy, environmental legislation, and best practice, enabling us to deliver trusted advice on all aspects of tree management.
Our services cover the full spectrum of arboriculture. From BS 5837 tree surveys to advanced decay detection, veteran tree care, risk management, expert witness and long-term strategies, we provide practical solutions that balance arboricultural, legal, and planning requirements.
Alongside consultancy, TMA also develops innovative software solutions to support data-driven approaches to arboriculture. These tools streamline survey data collection, improve reporting accuracy, and provide clients with clearer insights for decision-making and long-term tree management
Our arboricultural services
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BS5837 Tree Surveys for Planning
BS5837 Tree Surveys and Reports are an essential requirement for anyone who is planning a development near to or adjacent to existing trees.
Tree Officer Cover & TPO Review
TMA's arboricultural consultants deliver end-to-end tree surveys and inspections for estates, highways and development sites. Working with your existing inventory software or our bespoke MyTrees platform, we capture accurate field data fast, enabling detailed tree population analysis, targeted Ash Dieback surveys and proactive Massaria monitoring. Each tree-condition report assigns transparent risk ratings and maintenance priorities, giving landowners the insight to meet their legal duty of care, budgets, and safeguard long-term canopy cover.
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TMA are leaders in the area of decay detection and Dynamic Load Tree Stability testing. Using the most up to date technology, in turn providing comprehensive evidence to enable informed decisions on tree management. TMA have both PiCUS (sonic tomography) and Resistograph (micro-drill) technologies, enabling us to provide reports with detailed information to analyse and help to manage decay in trees.
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Ancient and Veteran Tree Surveys
Ancient and veteran trees are irreplaceable assets. Our VETcert-qualified arboriculturists apply Woodland Trust assessment criteria to accurately map, record and classify each specimen, documenting habitat features such as cavities, deadwood and saproxylic habitats. Working with our inhouse ecologists, we then produce a practical management plan that safeguards long-term vitality or on development sites, keeps your scheme fully compliant with BS5837 and national planning policy.
Arboricultural Reports for Planning
With over 30 years of professional experience, we provide comprehensive, reliable reports for planning applications that help streamline the development process and ensure full compliance with local authority requirements.
With over 30 years of experience surveying tens of thousands of trees, TMA are the leading experts in tree condition assessments
iTree Eco
i-Tree Eco give decision-makers a complete, evidence-based picture of urban tree value: i-Tree Eco analyses plot samples or full tree inventory data to quantify ecosystem services such as carbon storage, flood-water interception.
Subsidence & Mortgage Reports
By assessing the risk of tree-related damage to building foundations, our experts evaluate tree proximity, species, and soil conditions to determine potential subsidence or heave, providing clear recommendations to guide property owners, insurers, and mortgage lenders. By combining tree inventory data, claims history and soils information, TMA identify subsidence hotspots. Once identified, TMA will work with you to develop subsidence reduction management plans for trees, supporting a defensible position in relation to claims.
Clerk of Works
Local Authorities frequently attach planning conditions to a grant of permission requiring developers to provide monitoring and supervision of site works close to trees. TMA have the experience to provide assistance on site to avoid costly mistakes and project delays.
Tree Risk Contract Management
For our large tree inventory project TMA provide a dedicated contract management service. Our skilled contract managers will work with you and your approved tree surgeons to create work packages, source quotations, make applications to the relevant Local Authorities and liaising with stakeholders. Your contract manager will be responsible for keeping your tree database updated, ensuring an accurate audit trail of risk management and budget allocation.
CAVAT
CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees) is a UK-based method for valuing public trees as capital assets rather than liabilities, often used to calculate compensation for damaged trees. It assesses trees based on size, health, and location, providing a monetary value for urban forest management.
Expert Witness
Our expert witness work supports solicitors, developers, local authorities and private clients in planning appeals, civil disputes, subsidence claims and tree-related litigation. We deliver independent, evidence-based opinions grounded in extensive practical experience and a thorough understanding of current legislation, industry standards and best practice.
What is Arboriculture?
Arboriculture is the science-based cultivation, management and study of individual trees, shrubs and other woody plants, especially those that provide amenity value in gardens, streets, parks, schools, and development sites. It differs from forestry (which focuses on whole woodlands and timber) by concentrating on the health, structure and long-term management of amenity trees or trees in the public realm.
In practice, arboriculture blends biology, soil science and engineering with advanced diagnostics to keep trees healthy, reduce risk and maximise ecological and biodiversity benefits. Typical tasks carried out by an arboricultural consultant include species selection and planting, tree management specifications, advanced decay detection, BS5837 tree surveys and ongoing tree-risk management.
Our Technology
At TMA, we develop and use our own digital tools to support efficient, data-driven tree management. Our MyTrees platform combines a tree management database with GIS mapping, enabling clients to visualise tree locations, access technical survey data, and manage tree works from tendering through to completion.
We also support 3D and BIM-level projects, providing arboricultural data that integrates with wider design and planning processes.
Alongside this, TMA EnviroMap provides tools for environmental data collection, analysis, and communication. Using technologies such as LiDAR, thermal drones, sonic tomography, and 3D modelling, we deliver accurate environmental datasets that support informed decision-making.
We continually invest in the latest arboricultural technology. Advanced diagnostics such as PiCUS sonic tomography and targeted micro-drilling allow us to assess internal tree condition, identifying hidden decay, cavities, and structural weaknesses to support informed risk management.
