Tree Constraints Plan – A Powerful Tool to be Used as Design Tool

A tree constraints plan is one kind of design tool which if used in the preliminary round of designing any site would be of great help to designers, developers, residents and authorities. Any professional and experienced environmental consultant knows that a tree constraints plan is a layout plan for the development site which is prepared to scale and show the surrounding buildings, the proposed development as well as any trees that are there around the site in question. The things that tree constraints plan should include are following:

• Age class
• Category grading
• Stem diameter taken at 1.5m from ground level
• Height
• Physiological condition
• Height of crown clearance above ground
• Structural condition
• Preliminary management requirements
• Tree species
• Estimated safe useful life expectancy
• Branch spread (in four directions North, East, South and West)

The tree constraints plan will show the stem, canopy spread, and root protection area of each tree. Hence, in order to consider trees at the outset of the development, it is good to have such thorough tree survey so that the development of the site can be saved from the refusal of the planning permission. As, the planning authority has the right to reject the development proposal to on the grounds that trees were not considered in the plan. The tree constraints plan must have correct information gathered during topographical survey and an accurate tree survey. The topographical survey will have information on the location of all trees surrounding the development site, shrubs and hedges and other relevant features such as streams, buildings and spot level heights. Now, in order to carry out tree survey, you need to take the help of environmental consultant as it needs to be carried out in accordance with BS 5837 (2005). Professional ecological consultancy has specialist Arboriculture team which knows what it is to create tree constraints plan as part of powerful and cost-effective Arboriculture solutions.

Existing Environmental Conditions call for Woodland Management Plans

In older days, woodsman used to take care of the woods and other habitats. But the recent developments and urbanization has cause harm to many species and trees. Woodland management plans are introduced to protect wild-life and other species and trees from the human intervention. At the same time it can be implemented to safeguard property or earn business from land. Before a decade, UK  government realized the impact of rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. Many species and their habitats were almost on verge to end. Pollution level became high which higher the heat level in the cities. Water pollution increases, trees or forests were damaged for individual or business purpose. Government could foresee the results of urbanisation and industrial growth thus to protect people from the negative effects and save our valuable wildlife they ruled “Town and Country Planning Act and BS 5837:2005”.

Under the above act, professional environmental engineering services offer woodland management plans and maps to meet the several objectives. Good environmental engineering services create woodland management map which shows the characteristics and compartments of woodland. Each compartment has unique features and actions to perform on. It may possible that you need to have government grant for implementing woodland management plans. In such scenario it is a duty of environmental consultants to interact with the government authorities and get the permission or grant for the specific project. Woodland management plan is normally implemented for 5 years yet it can be implemented for longer time depending on the situation. In UK, environmental consultants have successfully implemented woodland management plan to protect the threatened species and save environment. By taking these steps, UK government has also benefited from the higher timber production volume. Even if you’re a farm owner or having a land with dense trees and shrubs, you can make the outcome from the land under the guidance of ecological consultant.

Any Development Design Gets Benefited by Drawing Tree Constraints Plan

Tree constraints plan is among a science that deals with producing and managing trees and shrubs in towns as well as countrysides. This science is called Arboriculture. It is an emerging and expanding science that needs to be handled with care by professional and skilled environmental engineers. Tree constraints plan also includes tree survey which gives the correct information about the trees that come in the way of development work or about the trees that are around the development site. Arboriculture shares some of its traits with forestry, but it is unique in a sense that as far as urban areas are concerned, maintenance and protection of trees are of paramount importance and tree constraints plan precisely do that. When there is any development going on, before drawing the actual development plan, environmental engineers need to draw tree constraints plan so that it reduces the time to redesign the actual development plan.

If Arboriculture is about maintaining and protecting the trees, tree constraints plan too includes tree selection, planting, care, and removal. The science of Arboriculture is an evolving science with statutory frameworks providing constraints for any purposed development. A tree constraint plan is among these constraints as well. The ecological consultancy that have the understanding, sensibility and sensitivity of creating landscapes of aesthetic and cultural beauty can help developers create constraints plan that are practical and affordable. Such professional consultancies and environmental engineers provide services that include the preparation of Tree Survey Schedules, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Implications Assessments, Arboricultural Method Statements and Tree Protection Plans to aid the design and application stages of any scheme where trees are or could be a constraint. Having planned this, they also monitor and supervise to make sure that the trees are protected throughout the demolition and construction process. They also advise how to manage trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders or Conservation Area status both with regard to and independent of proposed development.

Implant Woodland Management Plans by Ecological Consultants

The fast urbanization has made our life easier but at the same time destroyed many habitats of valuable species. Woodland management was initiated to preserve valuable wildlife from the rapid and blind urbanization. However, today woodland management plans are also followed to get economical benefits. In earlier days, woodsman were knowing everything about the wildlife and woods surrounded to him and he used to reside somewhere in the woodland area. In this modern world, neither anybody lives there nor we have any knowledge of environment conservation. Thus, the importance of ecological consultants is increasing with the technological advancement.

The consultants or ecological scientists know about the legal aspect of woodland management. They have latest instrument to conduct survey and know about the roosts of endangered species, existence of wild animals. Wildlife migrates from one place to another based on the different season of the year and the environmental scientists use this knowledge to save their habitats. The environment scientists can make best use of their knowledge and make the habitats perfect living place for endangered species. Protecting wildlife is important to maintain the most valuable Eco-system. In 1970s, Britain was suffering environmental issues because of the rapid urbanization so the government applied woodland management plans. Today, the benefits of public forests holds large share in Britain’s economy.

The environmental consultancy has scientists or arboricultures who know the legislation of woodland management plans. You must be wondering why one should contact the environmental consultancy and what activities they conduct? Using their arboriculture’s skills, they:

• Conduct survey to know about the existence of biodiversity or all types of habitats and its population
• Based on the survey result, they  define and implement woodland management plans
• Apply the legislation and avail the grant from government to apply woodland management plans
• Generate timber income
• Monitor the human visits and manage the conflicts

 

Woodland Management Plans to Gain Ample Benefits

There are different types of woodland on this earth but in general it can be divided into two broad categories: Coniferous woodland and Broad leaf woodland. Woodland management plans are executed to safeguard all property, woods and the species existing in the woodlands. In UK the major types of woodlands are native oak, ash and timber. It is known that timber production is quite necessary as a building material thus a dedicated staff of environmental engineers is needed to focus on the area and its surroundings. Woodland management plans are necessary as we want to gain the commercial value of these woodland.

Woodland doesn’t mean only trees, it has different plants, herbs, shrubs and existence of wildlife too. These all creatures make a cycle which run continuously from the trees and plants to the bacteria and fungi creating organic energy resources for us. Absence of any component from this recreation cycle can create big environmental issues. Thus, woodland management plans needs to be executed by the well qualified environmental engineers not by any average person. Every creature has varying needs of light and food. The ecological consultancies having environmental scientists know how to save specific habitats. Woodland management is not limited to commercial aspect, it is also conducted to save valuable wildlife and maintain the recreation cycle.

Britain has put hard efforts in managing woodland to save valuable wildlife. They have found good result as part of this management program like an increase in the timber production, increase in the population of endangered species. If you are going to build a construction or buying a property then woodland management by the professionals of ecological consultancy can really help you in many ways like helps in making entry of deferrable tax assessment programs, creates a legal document disclosing the objective of landowner, generating commercial value and offer abundant information about the site. Effective woodland management can really give ample benefits.

Tree Preservation Orders Relevant to the Present Age of Rapid Development

Are you wondering why the Tree Preservation Orders are needed? May be you are not, because you might think that it is yet another exercise to conserve the environment and yet another opportunity to pay “humane” tribute to Mother Earth. Well, every thought has some truth in it, but it cannot be the absolute truth. Similarly, your not wondering because of the reason mentioned above is partially true, but not entirely. The reason is Tree Preservation Orders are not exactly meant to save the Earth, but rather they are legal procedures taken by the local authority of the United Kingdom if site clearance of any development work involves cutting, uprooting, or chopping of the trees.

Therefore, when there is any residential or commercial development that is to be carried out, it is the duty of the local council to thoroughly check the development plan and pay close attention if there are any trees that are coming in the way of the development. According to the section 197 of The Town & Country Planning Act 1990: “it shall be the duty of the local planning authority to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for any development adequate provision is made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees.” Read more..

Tree Surveys Necessary to carry out for Trouble-free Site Development

Tree surveys are part of the science called Arboriculture. Arboriculture is a branch of horticulture that is more concerned with the well-being of the individual plants. The well-being of the trees then is comprised of selecting the proper trees for the landscapes, proper care for the already planted trees, being well-informed about the pros and cons of their functionality and their visual impact on landscapes. There are many benefits of having trees near the residential area and commercial area as well. Such benefits are: interception of scorching sun rays, prevention of soil erosion, natural cooling of the immediate atmosphere, reduction in noise and many more. However, they can equally be a threat to the human habitats if they are of wild nature such as some of the invasive species out there in the world. Sometimes, their pollen, leaf pubescence, toxic sap, and strong fragrances may cause allergic infections or other health hazards to humans. In such a situation, it is important to take the help of efficient environmental consultancy.

In the United Kingdom, while planning any development, the details of the nearby trees is mandatory to be submitted to the local council. Such details need to be submitted in accordance with BS5837:2005 Trees in relation to construction – Recommendations. And, it is the responsibility of the local council to check the details of such planning carefully and if they are not meeting the stipulated criteria of the planning and development, it is authorized to release tree preservation orders.

This BS5837 which exists since 1980 provides “guidance on how to decide which trees are appropriate for retention, on the means of protecting these trees during construction and on the means of incorporating trees into the developed landscape.” This standard also advocates that tree surveys should be taken with the help of an arboriculturist for the sake of recording information about the trees. Read more..