Emergency Tree Surgeon Horsham, West Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire

Even for those who regularly maintain their trees and garden, it’s impossible to prepare for emergencies that seemingly crop up when you least expect them. British weather is far from 365 days of glistening sunshine which is why we operate an emergency tree work service for the jobs that can’t wait.

With access to highly qualified staff and the latest in arboricultural technology, we’re always on hand to help overcome these unforeseen issues. Whether you have a broken branch hanging perilously overhead or a tree that’s fallen onto your home, CHAS approved, Foreman’s Tree Specialists Ltd will work quickly and efficiently to resolve your emergency.

Call us immediately on 01403 333142 or use the contact us page and a member of the team will get back to you asap. We offer our emergency tree surgery service in Horsham, Crawley, Chichester, West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire including all surrounding towns and villages.

EMERGENCY TREE SURGEON / EMERGENCY TREE WORK – CASE STUDY – FOREMANS TREE SPECIALISTS LTD

The client, located in Lower Beeding, Horsham, contacted Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd to deal with an oak tree that had failed and fallen onto some gas tanks, badly damaging them in the process.

Before any work could commence, a specialist company drained the gas tanks to avoid any risk of an explosion. As soon as the Gas company made the location safe, we conducted a site visit to assess the situation and establish why the tree had fallen.

Upon inspection, it was apparent that there was a significant amount of decay around the tree’s base, which ultimately led to its failure. There were also many Ganoderma brackets present, which we believe would have been the root cause of the decay.

As access was not a concern, we decided the quickest and most efficient solution to avoid further damage to the gas tanks would be to mechanically dismantle the oak using a truck-mounted crane and grapple saw.

The Volvo truck with a remotely operated crane and saw cutting grab has impressive capabilities, making it the perfect tool for situations such as this. The combination of a camera and remote allows the operator to mechanically cut and hold sections while remaining at a safe working distance. When fully outrigged, it can reach 35 metres straight up and 31 metres horizontally while lifting tree sections up to 850 kilograms, including the cutting head’s weight.

As you can see from the video, the grapple truck made light work of a job that would have proved much more dangerous and awkward for a climber and ground crew alone. The crane’s ability to hold, cut, lift and manoeuvre sections away from the gas tanks in one fluid movement was vital to prevent additional damage and speed up productivity.

The client was very impressed with their service, particularly with how quickly we could get the job done and with no further damage to his property.

We feel this unfortunate situation highlights the importance of monitoring the health of your trees, especially those which are close to buildings, structures, property or the public.

If you ever see the presence of fungus around the base of a tree, we would suggest contacting us or another tree professional to further assess the situation.

If you find yourself with a failed limb/fallen tree or in an emergency tree situation, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately on 01403 333142 . Our emergency helpline is active 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year, and we’ll always do our very best to get to you as soon as possible.

A TREE HAS FALLEN – CAN I CLAIM ON MY HOME INSURANCE?

No one will argue that trees can be an attractive and welcome addition to almost any garden and provide homeowners with vital privacy. Still, it’s essential to be conscious of the damage they could cause to your home and the impact they may cause on your home insurance.

A TREE HAS FAILED AND OR FALLEN ONTO MY HOUSE AND OR PROPERTY. WILL THE REMOVAL OF THE TREE AND THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED BE COVERED BY MY HOME INSURANCE?

Claiming for tree surgery or removing a fallen tree under your home insurance policy tends to be a bit of a grey area. Commonly, insurance policies only cover the property/properties that have been damaged by the tree and not the tree itself. That said, a lot of the time, you will require tree removal to complete the repair works, so insurance companies often cover the associated costs. It would be best to closely examine the ‘Storm damage’ section in your insurance policy; this is the best place to start to find out if the tree work you require is covered. You will usually find exclusions to your policy regarding fallen trees causing damage to fences, gates and outdoor furniture.

A NEIGHBOUR’S TREE HAS FAILED AND OR FALLEN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY. DOES THEIR HOME INSURANCE COVER ME FOR THE DAMAGES?

It’s important to note that every insurance policy is different and likewise is the level and terms of their cover. If your neighbour’s tree falls from their garden into yours, causing damage, it is doubtful that their insurance will cover the damage. The reason being is that their insurance will usually only cover damage to their property and not yours. The only situation where you could get them to pay for the damages is to prove they have been negligent. With this in mind, if you own trees that may pose a risk to the public or property, you should have them checked regularly by tree professionals to cover yourself should a problem arise.

Unfortunately, you will most likely find that the responsibility of usually removing fallen trees and replacing any fences or garden furniture will ultimately lie with you.

FOREMANS TREE SURGEONS LTD: STORMS, HIGH WINDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON TREES.

It’s no secret that we all like to envisage nature as a sustaining, nurturing and gentle force. It’s easy to forget that in contrast, it can be extremely destructive, dangerous and unforgiving, damaging property and putting lives at risk.

Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd have put together this helpful guide to you remind you of the damage high winds and storms may cause to your tree and in turn, the damage that may result from your tree falling or failing unexpectedly.

Luckily for us, we don’t have hurricanes, tornados or typhoons in the UK, although we have had numerous substantial storms with high winds and destructive outcomes. Some may recall the damage and chaos caused by the famous storm in October of 1987. The scale of fallen and failed trees brought the need for routine tree care and the idea of tree maintenance to the public eye.

Howling winds of up to 100mph created mayhem throughout the south, causing vast amounts of trees to fall or fail, resulting in millions of pounds worth of damage. Trees fell on houses, roads, cars, train tracks and electricity cables leaving much of the population stranded and distressed without adequate shelter, electricity or transportation. The storm heavily impacted Surrey, West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, which may account for the many established tree companies operating in these locations.

Some suggest that the storm of 87 was the worst storm to hit the UK for 300 years, it took a long time to clear up and while it’s an extreme example this storm was far from unique. The United Kingdom has a reputation for bad weather and is subject to storms of varying strength and danger.

When a storm or weather system meets a particular ferocity, meteorologists and weather forecasters give them names. The naming of storms started in America but is now standard practice throughout the meteorological industry. You may have heard them talking about storm “Barbara”, “Doris” or “Aileen”, and not to forget the more recent “Beast from the East.”

Britain’s trees regularly experience 70 to 90mph winds, so they must be inspected for weakness to mitigate the risk of damage or injury to property or persons alike. Many factors determine the risk your tree may post in high winds, some of which include, its health, species, size and surroundings. Some might believe their tree is safe and well only for the fact it’s been there for hundreds of years, they are quickly corrected with a crash, bang and of course dealing with the cost of any damage, loss or injury. As mentioned above, the homeowners’ responsibility is to check their trees’ safety and don’t pose any unnecessary risk to persons or property. If found guilty of negligence, you may find your insurance void of the claim, leaving you liable for any damages.

SO HOW CAN I PREVENT MY TREE FROM BEEN BLOWN OVER IN STRONG WINDS AND STORMS?

As we know, life and nature can be incredibly unpredictable, and it’s for that reason, we suggest regular tree maintenance to avoid any unforeseen tree-related accidents or incidents. Larger trees and those near structures or people (footfall) are of particular importance.

Even the most well-established trees may have been subject to physical trauma from storms or poor pruning techniques, and they can often harbour hidden weaknesses caused by tree disease or infestation. In our opinion, the best precaution you can take is to have the most vulnerable trees inspected by a qualified arborist/tree surgeon on an annual basis. A visual assessment from an arborist with at least a level 3 qualification in arboriculture will help identify any weaknesses or issues. They’ll be able to formulate and schedule a suitable maintenance plan to ensure the tree’s ongoing health and structural integrity.

Generally speaking, the best way to prepare your tree for a storm or high winds is to reduce its canopy’s height, size, and density. A crown reduction will address the canopy height and overall size, whereas a crown thin will reduce its density. These pruning techniques lower the tree’s surface area, allowing strong winds to pass through and around it rather than bearing the storm’s full force. Having a crown reduction or crown thinning also provides an excellent opportunity for your tree surgeon to identify signs of infection/disease, weak unions, cavities and dead or damaged branches. If a branch is heavily damaged or the trees’ overall health is in question, limb or total tree removal may be the only option.

SHOULD I BE LOOKING OUT FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY SUGGEST MY TREE IS WEAK OR AT RISK?

As the tree’s owner, it’s your responsibility to keep an eye out for any signs the tree is a risk. Here are some essential things to look out for:

• Broken or damaged branches – these will be structurally weak.

• Hanging branches – strong winds may cause them to fall.

• Excessive deadwood or dieback – deadwood may fall in high winds and dieback could indicate your tree is either diseased or in decline.

• Cavities – not always easy to spot you should keep a lookout for cavities, rot pockets and decay as they can cause structural weakness to your tree.

• Fungus, disease and infestation indicators – see our handy guide to tree pests, diseases and fungus found on our tree removal page.

WHAT CAN DAMAGE SHOULD I EXPECT FROM A STORM?

Two factors will determine how much damage is likely, the strength of the wind and the health of your tree. The wind is measured using the Beaufort scale:

• Beaufort Force 8 (A gale with 39-46mph winds) – you should expect twigs are breaking loose from trees.

• Beaufort Force 9 (A strong gale with 47-54mph winds) – you should be prepared for branches snapping.

• Beaufort Force 10 ( A storm with 55-63mph winds) – you are likely to see trees uprooting.

It’s always a good idea to visually inspect your trees after a storm or high winds to look for any damage or the signs mentioned above. Following a storm, there will undoubtedly be plenty of twigs, branches and debris to clear up and usually numerous trees to make safe and remove.

CHAS approved, Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd have a vast amount of experience dealing with aftermath caused by high winds, storms and gales. We have the skill, expertise and tree surgery equipment to tackle the most dangerous emergency tree situations while limiting further damage to your tree, house or property.

From a large limb dangling perilously to a whole fallen tree resting on your house, contact Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd immediately, and we’ll do our best to get to you as soon as possible. Our fully insured tree surgeons will make the situation safe and look to address the problem both quickly and efficiently. For an emergency tree surgeon call our helpline on 01403 333142.

Alternatively, if you are concerned about your tree’s health or its ability to stand up to strong winds or a storm, contact a team member using our contact form here. We can offer a free site visit, consultation and friendly advice.