Curo Tree Management Procedure

1. Benefits of Trees

Trees are an important part of the environment and make a valuable contribution to neighbourhoods and communities. In addition to their visual appeal, trees provide huge environmental, social and economic benefits that support the health and wellbeing of residents. Some of the primary benefits include:

• Improving air quality - They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, helping to improve local air quality. 
• Supporting biodiversity - Trees provide habitat, food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including birds, mammals, insects and fungi.
• Climate regulation - Trees provide shade during warmer weather and shelter helping to regulate temperature, particularly in urban environments. 
• Supporting physical and mental wellbeing - Trees create attractive outdoor environments that encourage walking, recreation and community interaction, while exposure to natural environments has been associated with reduced stress and improved wellbeing. 
• Adding long-term value - Healthy, established trees are valuable assets that contribute to the overall quality and character of housing estates. Well-managed trees can enhance the desirability of neighbourhoods and reduce the need for engineered solutions to issues such as overheating and surface water management.
• Energy efficiency - Strategically located trees can help reduce energy consumption by providing shade during the summer and shelter from prevailing winds during colder months.  
• Sustainability - Trees play an important role in helping organisations meet wider environmental and sustainability objectives. By storing carbon, supporting wildlife, improving air quality and helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change, trees contribute to healthier, more resilient places to live. 

At Curo we recognise these benefits and seek to retain, manage and establish healthy trees wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.  

When removals are required, we endeavour to plant replacements at the location if suitable or in the nearby locality. 

2. Procedure Scope

This procedure applies to all trees under our ownership / management of Curo, regardless of their location, and to those trees in the private ground space of our customers that pose a safety risk to the public and potential damage to property.   

Although we believe this management procedure to be as comprehensive as possible, Curo acknowledges that it does not cover every situation. We reserve the right to exercise discretion in application of this policy when to do so would be in the best interests of Curo and its customers.   

3. Assessing Tree Risks

Curo uses suitable industry-recognised tree risk assessments methods for managing the risk from trees. Such methods have been peer reviewed and accepted as reasonable for the use of tree risk assessments. Persons undertaking a tree risk assessment are adequately proficient in their use, have a sufficient tree qualification and either be licensed or certified in the use of the tree risk assessment method they are utilising.  

In general, the tree risk methods used will evaluate risk in terms of: 

• Targets: Firstly, people or property and their location in relation to the tree, thus allowing the inspector to determine the level of survey required.  
• Impact potential (size): Where necessary, the tree or part thereof considered most likely to fail is then considered in terms of its size and potential to cause harm.
• Probability of failure: The assessment of the likelihood of the tree or branch failing based on technical knowledge and experience of the inspector.  

By undertaking this approach, the tree risk method system does not place the condition of the tree as its first consideration. Instead, it allows for tree managers to consider the usage of the land on which the tree stands, which in turn will inform the process for assessing the tree.   

This will therefore allow for a more targeted approach to managing Curo’s tree stock and the risks associated with them.  

The benefit of implementing this approach is that it moves away from the generally used terms “safe” or “unsafe”. Instead, it measures the risk of significant harm from possible tree failure in a way that allows Curo to retain a proportionate approach toward risk management balanced against the vast benefits trees continue to provide both for us and for wildlife populations across on our estate. 

3.1 Target Zone Categorisation

4. Duty of Care and Legal Responsibilities

As a tree owner, Curo has a responsibility for the health and safety of people on or near to the land Curo own. Curo recognises that under the Occupier’s Liability Act (1984) we owe a duty of care ‘Common Law’ to all people that might be injured by a tree. We will therefore take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that cause a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to persons or property. We also understand that under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), we have responsibilities to ensure the safety and welfare of members of the public as well as staff. 

5. Tree Maintenance

Curo maintains all its trees in communal areas within an active programme of management. As a tree owner, Curo has a responsibility for the health and safety of people on or near to the land Curo owns. Curo recognises that under the Occupier’s Liability Act (1984) we owe a duty of care ‘Common Law’ to all people that might be injured by a tree. We will therefore take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that cause a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to persons or property. We also understand that under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), we have responsibilities to ensure the safety and welfare of members of the public as well as staff. 

Ongoing maintenance can include the removal of major deadwood (deadwood greater than 50mm in diameter), formative pruning (to remove problems in tree form when the tree is young to avoid problems later) and the removal of trees when they come to the end of their safe and useful life. Remedial tasks include lifting low branches and maintaining access along pathways, drives and highways as defined in our Estates Standards Documentation. The way that trees are managed very much reflects their species and inherent genetics, where they are and ultimately the amount of space they have to grow. 

Trees in parks and green spaces are managed to reflect the circumstances of any one site and the type, age and condition of the trees. Trees in parks generally have more room to grow compared to the street and typically grow to their full height and spread.  

Some species of tree produce basal/sucker/shoot (epicormics) growth each year. Curo will remove this growth from trees where it will cause an obstruction as part of a cyclic works programme. Maintenance of basal/sucker/shoot will be carried out during cyclical inspection rounds and consequential works.  

5.1 Dangerous trees requiring immediate action

If a Curo-owned tree is assessed as such posing a very high risk to people or property it will be classified as an emergency situation, action will be taken to make the tree safe. We will cordon off high risk zones and undertake works to as a priority (potentially completing works in stages as deemed appropriate by our contractors). An emergency is defined as a tree that is in immediate danger of collapse or causing an obstruction, and requires urgent attention, as outlined below. 

Customer advice:

• If a tree poses an immediate and present danger urgent action will be taken to make the tree safe.  
• If a tree’s condition could be described as any of the following, it may to warrant urgent attention:  

1. Snapped or blown over.  
2. Rocking at its base - roots are damaged.  
3. Uprooted but held up by another tree or building.  
4. Large branch has broken off, is hanging off or hung up within the tree. 
5. Completely blocking road, footpath, access to property.  
6. Fallen onto house or car.

• Trees can be made safe by pruning or felling. We employ the most cost effective approach. However, for certain high value and ancient/veteran trees we would consider other options to reduce risk to an acceptable level, including those which would reduce the likelihood of:  

1. the tree or parts of the tree failing;  
2. persons being close to the tree if it did fail.  

Emergency occurrences should be reported to the main Curo Customer Contact Team line on 01225 366000.  

5.2 Defect tree requiring action but not an imminent danger 

If a tree is identified as not being an imminent danger according to the degree of risk, the tree will be made safe depending on the degree of risk identified at the time of inspection. If not an emergency situation, a site inspection will be undertaken within 30 days of notification. Where the enquiry has come from a customer or a member of the public, they will only be notified of the decision/outcome if requested.    

Customer advice:  

Signs to look out for which may mean that a tree is a risk to people or property, but the risk does not require an emergency response include a tree which is: 

• Dead
• Dying - few leaves in summer or dieback in the crown.  
• Losing bark
• Affected by mushrooms or other fungi growing on or near the tree. 
• Affected by old splits and cracks in the trunk or large branches. 
• Losing smaller branches which are falling from the tree.

If any of the above is noted you can report findings to the to the main Curo Customer Contact Team line on 01225 366000.

6. Tree inspection Regime

Trees in communal areas under Curo’s ownership will be inspected on a 3-year cycle as standard. This covers all trees within our communal estate areas. Increased inspection frequencies will be initiated where deemed appropriate for the collation of additional information and risk mitigation going forward. These re-inspection schedules are based on inspection findings and risk target zone categories and are specified via set timelines for return inspections (in months).  

Risk target zones are defined by public safety issues such as roadway characteristics (i.e. major roadways, congested junctions, etc.) and extensively used public areas and buildings. Risk target zones are defined as High, Medium and Low (see table overleaf for example of zone characteristics).  

The level of inspection employed by Curo can be categorised as the following:  

1. Informal: Essentially, day-to-day observations of trees will be made by employees who have good local knowledge of trees and location and see them during the course of their daily work. The frequency of these inspections will be ongoing and will be employed for some tree-related enquiries. Informal observations may also be applicable in instances where a tree has been previously inspected and is not due for a formal inspection. Informal inspections are key to deciding what action may be needed and when a more formal assessment is required.  
2. Formal: Formal tree inspections will be conducted via accredited industry professionals during specific site visits with the sole purpose of performing an inspection that is not incidental to other activities. The formal inspection will involve assessing individual trees utilising industry standard methodology i.e. visual tree assessment (VTA). This process will assist in identifying potential defects, specifying necessary remedial works and recording the inspection process. Formal tree inspections will be conducted on foot to assess condition and notable features and the inherent risk levels posed under typical climatic conditions. All information is recorded onto tree asset management software. The frequency of inspection is determined by the tree’s location, surrounding occupancy and condition. Formal inspections will be used as an important means of identifying when further action is needed, including when there is a requirement for a detailed inspection. Decision making and the specification of works follows accredited training guidelines and industry standards.  
3. Detailed: A detailed inspection will be conducted to evaluate the nature and extent of suspected defects. Depending on the location of the defect, this type of inspection will be undertaken either by a Curo’s in-house Tree Inspector or a suitable subcontracted tree professional. Detailed inspections utilise diagnostic tools and specialist equipment, typically in conjunction with aerial access equipment in forming findings of a standard that can be comparable to industry research data for analysis. 

6.1 Inspection response time

Following the report of a dangerous tree, Curo will arrange for an initial inspection within 24 hours from point of initial enquiry. The inspection time may be shorter depending on the significance of the tree issue. Depending on the findings of the inspection a tree contractor will undertake works within a 48-hour period or less. 

In an emergency outside of office hours, Curo will arrange for a tree contractor to assess and undertake any necessary work to make the tree safe. Follow-up work may be undertaken within an appropriate timeframe.  

In response to tree enquiries where the defect does not pose an imminent danger but may require urgent action, Curo will arrange for the tree to be inspected within 30 working days. Time periods for these inspections vary if there are access constraints or a customer/interested party has expressed a wish to be present for the tree inspection.