Tree Inspections & SurveysAcross Surrey, KentAnd Sussex: Written Up Properly

A VTA works systematically from the base of the tree upward: root plate and buttress roots first, checking for heave, cavities, fungal fruiting bodies or soil cracking that might indicate root failure; then the trunk, looking for cracks, cavities, included bark, old wounds, sap runs and the presence or absence of a healthy bark surface; then the crown, assessing deadwood, dieback, weak or included unions between major limbs, and the overall density and symmetry of foliage.

The assessment is carried out from the ground using binoculars where needed rather than by climbing the tree, which is standard practice for this type of visual inspection. Anything that raises a genuine concern about imminent failure is flagged to you directly on the day rather than waiting for the written report.

Deadwood is graded by size and location rather than treated as a single category, small twig dieback at the crown edge is normal and low risk, while a large dead limb over a path or drive is a priority. Cracks are assessed for depth, whether they run with the grain, and whether there's evidence of movement, such as fresh bark reaction at the edges.

Included bark, where two stems or major limbs have grown together with bark trapped between them rather than forming a strong structural union, is one of the most common causes of sudden limb failure in mature broadleaf trees, and it's frequently invisible until you know exactly where to look for the tell-tale seam running down from the fork.

Fungal fruiting bodies at the base or on the stem, brackets, mushrooms or other visible fruiting structures, indicate that decay fungi are active somewhere in the root or stem wood, though the exact extent of internal decay isn't always visible from the outside. Different species indicate different patterns and severity of decay, and their position on the tree matters as much as their presence.

Honey fungus is one of the more serious indicators, spreading through root systems and often visible as black, root-like rhizomorphs under bark or in the soil, or as clusters of honey-coloured toadstools at the base in autumn. Where it's suspected, this is flagged clearly in the report, as it affects not just the tree in question but potentially neighbouring trees too.

The same defect on the same tree carries very different real-world risk depending on what's underneath it. A weak union over open ground carries low occupancy risk; the same union over a driveway, a children's play area or a public footpath carries a much higher one, because failure there is far more likely to cause harm or damage. Target and occupancy assessment is built into the report alongside the physical condition findings, because risk is really a combination of both.

This is particularly relevant for landlords, managing agents and anyone with public access across their land, where a documented, risk-graded record of tree condition supports the duty of care they're expected to show.

The written report covers each tree inspected, its species, general condition, any defects found, an assessment of priority, and recommendations, whether that's no action needed, monitoring, or specific work such as deadwooding, reduction or removal. Basic inspections start from £50 per tree, rising to £250 for anything up to 10 trees on one visit, then £7.50 per tree after that.

Where a lender, planning authority or insurer specifically requires a full BS5837 arboricultural survey, the standard used for development sites and formal mortgage valuations, with its own detailed methodology and root protection area calculations, that's a distinct piece of work outside the scope of a basic visual inspection. If you're not sure which you need, mention the exact requirement when you book, and we can talk it through at the site visit.