Survey launches to inspect trees in your neighbourhood and Derker is top of our list!

17/03/2021

This week we’ll begin our tree stock survey to inspect trees in the gardens of FCHO-owned homes and Derker is the first neighbourhood we’ll be working in.

The purpose of the survey is to confirm how many trees we have in the gardens of FCHO-owned homes, note any potential health and safety risks to customers and members of the public, schedule tree management work where it’s needed and identify areas for planting new tree stock.

This survey is not designed to remove trees. Trees are extremely valuable assets in neighbourhoods and the survey will help us better manage our tree stock so you, your families and friends can benefit from it now and in the future

We have around thousands of trees on land we own and we anticipate it will take us approx. two years to get round all your neighbourhoods.

The team will be surveying trees in Derker first. Work in this area will begin next week and is anticipated to last until July. You can see when the team will be coming to your neighbourhood by checking the tree stock survey schedule.

David Wrigley Head of Neighbourhood Care said: “We are very fortunate to have a healthy and rich tree stock which provides lots of environmental benefits, promotes health and wellbeing to our customers and enhances the appearance of our communities. Carrying out the tree surveys is part of our work to provide and maintain high quality, safe places for our customers to live. The work will help us understand the treescape across all neighbourhoods and help us have a well-managed tree stock in the years ahead.”

Which trees are we surveying?

We will be surveying trees in the gardens of all our houses and maisonettes.

Who will be carrying out the tree survey work?

We are working with a team of specialist Arboriculture consultants from The Environmental Partnership. They will all carry a valid ID badge.

What do we need you to do?

Please allow the team access to your garden and highlight any concerns you have relating to the trees.

It is also very important that you and your household follow current Covid-19 guidance to keep yourself and the team safe.

Observe social distancing and maintain a 2m distance from the team when they visit your garden
Please follow any advice the team may give you.

When will we be surveying trees in your neighbourhood?

The tree survey programme will begin at the end of March 2021 and we expect it will take us two years to survey trees in the gardens of FCHO-owned homes. The team will be surveying trees on a neighbourhood by neighbourhood basis. You can see when they will be carrying out tree surveys in your area by checking the schedule.

Are you going to remove trees?

The survey is not underway to remove trees. Trees are extremely valuable assets in neighbourhoods and we only carry out essential works to trees where they are dead, diseased or in immediate danger of causing structural damage to properties.

We don’t manage trees that are causing problems with any of the following:

Lack of sunlight
Falling leaves
Dripping sap or bird droppings
Phone wires
TV reception
Size or appearance