Arborist software and systems for small tree firms. Less paperwork after a day up a tree.

What is a tree preservation order, and what does it mean for a tree surgeon?

A tree preservation order is made by the local planning authority to protect particular trees, groups or woodlands for their amenity value. Cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting or wilfully damaging a protected tree needs the council's written consent, unless an exception applies. GOV.UK guidance says cutting roots needs consent too.

Applications go on the standard form from the Planning Portal or the council, with a plan showing the trees and a clear description of the work. The owner usually applies, or a contractor acting as their agent. If there's no decision within 8 weeks, the applicant can appeal, and consent normally lasts 2 years.

Conservation areas and dead trees

A tree in a conservation area without an order still needs a section 211 notice to the council 6 weeks before felling, topping, lopping or uprooting it, unless an exception applies. No notice is needed if the trunk, or every stem of a multi-stemmed tree, is 75 millimetres across or less at 1.5 metres above ground. If the council lets the 6 weeks pass, the work can go ahead within 2 years of the notice.

A dead protected tree needs 5 working days' written notice before work, unless the tree poses an immediate risk of serious harm and the work is urgent. Dead branches on a living tree can come off without notice.

Wildlife, chainsaws and waste

Wildlife law applies even where an exception does. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it's in use or being built. GOV.UK lists removing branches from a mature tree as work that can harm bats, and both sets of offences can mean an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison.

HSE says anyone using a chainsaw on or in a tree should be trained and hold a certificate of competence or national competence award, unless training under supervision. It advises against working alone with a chainsaw; where you must, have a way to raise the alarm, such as a check that you're back by an agreed time. Taking brash, chip and timber away means registering as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

• A protected-tree check on every enquiry, with the council's reply saved to the job.
• Notice and application dates logged, with a reminder when the waiting period ends.
• A nesting birds and bats question on the survey form, with photos, before a job is booked.
• A lone-working check-in: if a job isn't marked done by the agreed time, someone gets a text.

How do I choose tree surgery software?

Look for the tree-specific parts first: surveys with photos per tree, quotes written in terms customers understand, risk assessments on site, and scheduling for people and equipment together. Then the basics. It needs to run on a phone with poor signal, link to your accounting software for Making Tax Digital, and let you take your data if you leave.

• Per-tree records: species, position on a simple site plan, work agreed and photos.
• A place to record order and conservation area checks, notices and consents.

Examples, not recommendations: Arb Pro and ArboStar are built for tree work and say they serve UK firms, and Joblogic offers a tree service version of its UK job management system. Nobody pays me to mention them, and sometimes a simpler set-up does the job.

Why a law firm Managing Partner?

Tree work waits on permissions, and so does a lot of legal work. At my firm, I built task hand-offs with approvals and one-click sign-off, so nothing moves until the right person says so. The same idea stops a fell being booked before a notice period is over.

The firm didn't always run like that. For years I put in 60 to 70 hours a week, often until 2am. Putting the firm on systems changed that, and it's now four to five times the size it was when I started.

This consultancy is new, so no tree surgeon has been a client yet. I'm a dad of two and coach a football team, so I know what a free evening is worth to a family. There's more about me on the About page, and my business automation page covers the tools.