Tree surgery is one of the most dangerous trades in the country. It involves chainsaws, heavy timber and working at height, often just a few metres from your house, car or your neighbour’s fence. Choosing the right tree surgeon is about much more than getting a good price. It protects your property, your trees and your wallet if something goes wrong.
Whether you live in Detling, Bearsted, Hollingbourne or elsewhere around Maidstone, here are the checks we recommend making before you let anyone work on your trees.
1. Ask About Qualifications
Anyone can buy a chainsaw, but that does not make them a tree surgeon. A professional should hold recognised qualifications for the work they carry out, such as NPTC certificates (awarded through City & Guilds) for chainsaw use, tree climbing and aerial rescue. Do not be afraid to ask to see them. A genuine tree surgeon will be happy to show you. Our team is NPTC and City & Guilds qualified. We have also completed Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry training, so we are prepared to deal with an accident in the field.2. Check They Work to BS 3998
BS 3998 is the British Standard for tree work. It sets out good practice for pruning, crown reduction, felling and other operations so that the work is done safely and in a way that keeps the tree as healthy as possible. A tree surgeon who works to BS 3998 should be able to explain what they plan to do and why. Be wary of anyone who suggests “topping” a healthy tree (cutting the whole top off) to make it smaller. This can leave a tree weak and prone to decay, and crown reduction or thinning is usually a better option. All of our work is carried out to BS 3998.3. Make Sure They Have Public Liability Insurance
If a branch lands on your conservatory or a neighbour’s car, you need to know the tree surgeon’s insurance will cover it. Ask to see a current public liability insurance certificate and check the expiry date. If they employ staff, they should also have employer’s liability insurance. Our team is fully insured, with £5 million public liability cover.4. Get a Written Quote
A proper quote should be in writing and clearly explain:- Exactly which trees will be worked on and what will be done to each one.
- Whether waste removal, logs and stump grinding are included.
- The total price, and whether VAT is included.
5. Check Their Waste Carrier Registration
Tree work produces a lot of waste. Any business that takes it away from your property must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. As a householder, you have a legal duty of care to make sure your waste goes to an authorised carrier. If it is fly-tipped, you could be held responsible. You can check any business for free on the Environment Agency’s public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. A proper tree surgeon will be happy to give you their registration number. It is also reasonable to ask where your waste will be taken. We are a registered waste carrier, and we take our green waste to our own green waste site in Detling. Waste removal is included in our quotes as standard, although you can choose to have the waste left on site if you would like to save money.6. Check They Will Look Into Permissions
Some trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or are in a conservation area, and working on them without the right consent can lead to a fine. Parts of Bearsted, Detling and Hollingbourne are conservation areas, and Bredgar falls under Swale Borough Council rather than Maidstone. A good tree surgeon will check this before starting work. We can help with TPO applications and conservation area notices, with a charge depending on how complex the application is. Our guide, Do I Need Permission to Cut Down a Tree in Maidstone?, explains the rules. They should also think about wildlife. Hedges and trees should be checked for nesting birds before any work in spring and summer. Read more in our post, When to Cut Hedges to Avoid Nesting Birds.7. Read Reviews and Look at Their Work
Reviews from local customers are one of the best ways to judge a tree surgeon. Look at Google reviews and ask whether they have done similar jobs nearby. Photos and videos of previous jobs show you how tidy and careful a team is. Search for Maidstone Tree Surgeons on Google to read our Google reviews. You can also read what our customers say on our testimonials page and see examples on our previous work and gallery pages.8. Choose Someone Local
A local tree surgeon knows the area, the common tree species and the local councils. Being nearby also means shorter travel times and a faster response if a tree comes down in a storm. We offer emergency call-outs 24/7. Our yard is in Detling, so we can reach Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Stockbury, Bredgar, Grove Green and the rest of the Maidstone area quickly.Red Flags to Watch Out For
Be cautious if a tree surgeon:- Knocks on your door uninvited. Cold callers who “just happen to be in the area” and say your tree is dangerous are a common warning sign. Take their details, then get other quotes.
- Only accepts cash. The Environment Agency advises householders not to pay cash for waste removal. A legitimate business will give you a proper invoice and a receipt.
- Pressures you to decide on the spot, or offers a discount only if you agree today.
- Will not put the quote in writing, or the price changes once work has started.
- Cannot show insurance or qualifications.
- Has no address or landline, only a mobile number and a van.
- Suggests topping a healthy tree, or uses climbing spikes to prune a tree that is being kept, as spikes damage living trees.
