Terms of Service

Terms and Conditions of Service for Forest View Tree Care

The Contractor – Forest View Tree Care

The Client – the person or business instructing the works (and in so doing, and accepting the quote, agrees to / accepts the following terms and conditions.)

1) ‘Notice of the Right to Cancel’ – Once the client has accepted the work, the client has 14 days to cancel the contract (in writing/ by email) from the acceptance date. If the client accepts work to protected trees and cancels after the application for the work has been submitted, an administration charge of £25.00 plus VAT will be charged.

2) This quotation/estimate is valid for 30 days and takes into account any ‘value’ (monetary or otherwise) the arisings may have unless stated otherwise.

3) A date for carrying out the agreed work will be arranged and agreed upon by the client. Even if you are unable to be present on the date offered, we will still continue to carry out the work, unless an alternative date can be organised. Forest View Tree Care will try to meet all performance dates, but shall not be liable for delays due to inclement weather or other causes beyond its control.

4) All works will be in accordance with the current British Standard 3998 ‘Tree Work Recommendations’ where possible unless specified otherwise. Dimensions specified are approximate and, wherever possible, will be to the nearest appropriate pruning point.

5) In the event of a variation to the quotation as a result of: a. Amendments to works required prior to arriving on-site, or b. Changes in site/ground conditions since the original visit, or c. Additional works requested/required whilst on site, the quotation will be revised accordingly, either electronically in advance or in a handwritten on the day of work, with agreed amendments signed by the contractor and the client.

6) Stump-grinding will be to a depth of 15 cm below the immediately adjacent ground level and will include the removal of the stump and buttress roots but will not include lateral roots unless otherwise specified. The client is responsible for and will advise the contractor of any underground services in the vicinity of the stump prior to starting the job. If there is any doubt of the location of underground services this must be advised beforehand and Forest View Tree Care will hire a CAT scanner. The hire charge will be payable by the client and added to the work invoice on completion. Forest View Tree Care cannot be held liable for damage to underground services, caused by stump grinding.

7) All arisings (inc. twigs/branches/woodchips/logs/trunks/foliage etc) will be removed from the site and become the property of the Forest View Tree Care unless specifically stated otherwise in the quotation.

8) The term 'deadwood removed', unless otherwise stated specifies that we will remove deadwood of 5 cm in diameter and larger.

9) On completion of the works, an invoice will be raised and payment is required within 7 days OR payment is required in full on completion of the

quoted works (unsatisfactory completed jobs MUST be immediately notified, in writing / by email, to Forest View Tree Care or within 24 hours.) The prices quoted are the total cost unless stated, including VAT at 20%. Payment options of bank transfer, cheque, or cash are provided on the invoice, we can not take card payments.

10) Following written/verbal instructions from the client, Forest View Tree Care will check with the Local Planning Authority (LPA):

1. Whether the tree(s) are the subject of a Tree Preservation Order
2. Whether the trees are located within a Conservation Area

Forest View Tree Care will also consider whether a Felling Licence is required from the Forestry Commission (FC) or if any other permissions/consultations are required, i.e. Natural England / Environment Agency. NB Please note, if the contractor undertakes the necessary LPA application/notification, no extra charge will apply. A charge may be necessary for the obtainment of an FC felling licence if required. The client is responsible for informing Forest View Tree Care of any changes or additional Tree Preservation Orders following the acceptance of work that may come to their attention before work commences.

11) Where works are proposed to third party trees, i.e. ‘neighbours trees’, the contractor will require written confirmation from the tree owner (‘the neighbours’) that the works are agreed and where necessary, that access is permitted. If works only apply to overhanging branches that can be pruned from within the client’s property then permission is not required but the neighbour should be advised where practicable (please also see 7. above as this may also apply.)

12) Where a client's tree overhangs a neighbouring property, it is the responsibility of the client to inform the neighbour that access may be required to clear arisings. In accepting the quote, the client confirms items 10 and/or 11 will be carried out before work commences.

13) Where works require traffic management, this will be included in the quotation, provided by qualified staff at Forest View Tree Care, or from an independent traffic management company.

14) Where works are in close proximity to power lines, Forest View Tree Care will contact the power company to arrange a shutdown. This may change the arranged date to carry out the work.

15) Forest View Tree Care has £5million in Public Liability Insurance and a copy of the certificate is available on request. Forest View Tree Care operates in accordance with good industry practice, their Health & Safety Policy and Procedures and undertake Site Specific Risk Assessments (the outcomes of which may place constraints on the site whilst works are in progress, i.e. the client can’t access their shed without prior agreement from ground staff.)

16) The site will be left generally ‘clean, tidy and safe’ but because of the very nature of the works including the production of wood dust, chainsaw/wood chippings/twigs/leaves and needles, etc. and the traversing of site personnel, it will not be as it was prior to commencement of works. During the Autumn months, fallen leaves will not be removed, unless specifically stated otherwise in the quotation.

17) Where wood is to be left on-site unless otherwise stated, this will be left neatly piled at the base of the tree. If the client requests that the wood is to be moved around the site to be stacked then an additional charge may be added for labour.

18) If the works spread over multiple days, the site will be left appropriately and safe and as agreed with the client beforehand.

19) Forest View Tree Care will undertake the works as scheduled but is aware of / may be constrained by ecological and wildlife legislation including:

1. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
2. Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
3. Conservation of Habitats and Species Regs. 2012 (amendment)

This legislation requires the contractor to assess the impact of the works which may result in works being delayed as a result of nesting birds, roosting bats, or similar being present.

20) If the presence of Bats is suspected then work will have to cease until confirmation from an Ecologist. The cost of a bat survey will be the responsibility of the client unless specifically stated otherwise in the quotation. This can be arranged by either the client or Forest View Tree Care.

21) When working on domestic sites, dog waste must be cleared prior to the contractor’s arrival. If removed by Forest View Tree Care to allow a safe worksite then the client will incur a £14.40 (incl. VAT) cost.

22) Where trees to be worked on are not on the property of the client, it is the client's responsibility to ensure that permission for this has been granted by the tree owner. A signed letter of consent is preferred, but if the customer gives verbal confirmation of this, they are liable for 'down time' charges should an issue arise on the day.

Works - Glossary of terms

Crown reduce/reshape:

This is the all-round reduction of the crown size unless otherwise specified. In some cases, only partial crown reduction is specified in order to clear buildings and street furniture, etc. These will usually be expressed in metres.

Clean out crown:

This means the removal of dead, dying, diseased, weak, suppressed, split and broken wood, as well as hanging, crossing and rubbing branches and epicormic growth from the crown.

Remove deadwood:

This refers to the removal of all major deadwood in the tree down to 5 cm in diameter.

Formative prune:

This is the minimal pruning of normally young trees to maintain optimum initial branch structures and crown balance to pre-empt future problems.

Trim/prune:

This refers to hedge trimming and maintenance of shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous. It encompasses the pruning back to flatten-off or round-off of growth to contain the spread and maintain control/optimum visual appearance and shape. Trimming is undertaken with hedge trimmers and pruning with pole pruners, secateurs or pruning saw.

Crown lift:

This is the complete removal of the lowest branches and/or the reduction in length of the lowest branches to increase the height of the main crown line above ground level. The improvement/clearance from the ground will normally be expressed in metres.

Crown thin:

This is the removal of all branches as in‚ “Clean out crown”‚ and the removal of further smaller-diameter branches evenly throughout crown in order to lessen the crown density and therefore improve light throughout the tree. Crown thinning will not result in any major alteration in the outline of the tree and will usually be expressed as a percentage.

Pollard:

This is the removal of all growth back to the main trunk or trunk knuckles unless otherwise specified.

Fell/dismantle/remove:

This is the complete removal of a tree as near to the ground or surrounding soil level as possible, leaving a stump of approximately 50 cm in the ground. It usually means dismantling the tree in sections.

Remove stump/stump removal/stump grind:

This refers to the stump at or near ground level being mechanically chipped, resulting in removal from view at ground level and removal not more than 15 cm below ground level. The radial root spread will remain unless otherwise specified. Any chipping from stump grinding will be pushed back in the pile to break down, where the stump once was.

Grub-out/dig out:

This refers to the manual removal of the stump and roots of a tree. It usually applies to smaller trees only.

Winch-out:

This refers to the stump and roots of a tree being excavated manually with the assistance of a winch, severing the major radial roots. It usually applies to medium trees only.

Treat stump to prevent re-growth:

This is the poisoning of the stump at ground level following felling work effectively to prevent the tree from re-sprouting.

Spraying:

This means the spraying of a tree or shrub with insecticide/fungicide. It will only be undertaken by operatives who possess the appropriate licence(s).