
Trees are a part of our natural world: They use the nutrients and water of the ground to grow, they help provide the atmosphere we rely upon and they enable wildlife to find food and shelter. Successful planting and managing our trees impacts us all and our wildlife; mismanaging them can have negative consequences. Consequently environmentalists, ecologists, conservationists, local and national authorities now provide us with guidance and rules to help manage our natural environment. Arborist-Direct Aberdeen have arborists and ecological specialists available to provide appropriate advice.
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Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of our tree owning clients to ensure work on their trees falls within the legal ( HSE), environmental and ecological restrictions in force. Usually there are very few cases where such restrictions come into play; however, very occasionally this can be a complex situation where advice is best sought from environmental and wildlife specialists.
Arborist-Direct Aberdeen are well versed in the key regulations regarding trees and wildlife:
In the UK all birds and nests and eggs are protected by law ( particular species, locations and times of year are important factors): In Scotland the regulations were amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
It is also an offence to fell a tree, or otherwise remove, any active bat roost.
Advice and Assessments
Different species of birds, and other wildlife, in different locations have different protection levels. It is important that the correct advice is given whenever serious pruning or tree felling is to be considered.
When Arborist-Direct Aberdeen specialists are first called to provide a work cost quotation they will agree a Scope of Work with the client: At that time a brief discussion of any wildlife concerns will be raised and an initial assessment made; where there is serious concern of active wildlife being disturbed a recommendation will be made to have a formal Habitat Disturbance Assessment undertaken by the appropriate specialists. Such documentation could be a key factor in gaining the correct approval for the arboreal work to be carried out.
Such surveys could be required when key wildlife are active in specific locations, they might involve – Protected bird species, bats, red squirrels, badgers, or even special plant species.
The key considerations will vary across Aberdeenshire; they will be different on Donside compared to what they will be along Deeside, different again between coastal areas and inland.