We work with you to understand your specific needs, concerns, nature of the area to be assessed and any notable features and land use.
Trees are an integral part of our historic and modern landscapes, providing significant environmental, social and economic benefits. With over 30 years’ experience in tree care, Keystone’s arboriculture specialists provide expert advice to help clients understand, manage and enhance their tree assets while meeting their duty of care.
Combining extensive practical knowledge, up-to-date training and innovative digital solutions, we deliver bespoke arboricultural services across development, land management and tree safety. We assess tree condition, risk and value using industry-recognised methodologies, providing practical recommendations and support with statutory requirements to ensure trees are managed safely, sustainably and appropriately.
With early engagement and continued professional arboricultural input, trees can play a pivotal role in the success of development schemes. Our team has first-hand experience of the complexities and constraints associated with site clearance, enabling works, access and construction activities, providing pragmatic advice from feasibility through to completion and ongoing maintenance.
Services
We cover every stage of the development process, from initial constraints assessment and tree mapping through to project delivery and compliance. We provide arboricultural impact assessments, arboricultural method statements and tree protection plans to help safeguard trees throughout construction. Our team also contributes to environmental management plans, delivers site watching briefs to monitor works in sensitive areas, and provides expert witness services where specialist arboricultural evidence is required.
BS5837
At all scales of development and re-development British Standard 5837: 2012 “Trees in relation to design demolition and construction – recommendations” (BS5837) is the guiding document in the UK for assessing trees within and adjacent to the development site. With early engagement and continued professional arboriculture input, trees can play a pivotal role in the success of development schemes while remaining BS5837 compliant throughout. We have expert first-hand experience of the complexity and constraints of site clearance, enabling works, access, and construction activities from feasibility stage through to site completion and maintenance.
Trees play an important role in the way water moves through the landscape, helping to intercept rainfall, improve infiltration, reduce surface water runoff and enhance water quality. Using industry best practice, robust assessment methods and extensive experience, we provide technical advice and reports to ensure trees are appropriately considered within sustainable drainage strategies, water management plans and development design.
We provide a comprehensive range of tree management services, from desktop triage and zoning of large areas through to detailed risk-benefit assessments using the VALID methodology. Our experienced arboricultural consultants develop practical management recommendations, including remedial works specifications, statutory consent applications and advice on protected species considerations. We also support nature recovery through habitat creation and veteranisation techniques, helping to enhance biodiversity value while ensuring trees are managed safely and sustainably.upporting compliant project delivery while safeguarding wildlife.
Working within guidance set by the National Tree Safety Group and the Health and Safety Executive, we use industry-tested methodologies to assess tree-related hazards, determine levels of tolerable risk and prescribe proportionate remedial works where required.
Where trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order, located within a Conservation Area, subject to ecological constraints or require a felling licence, we provide expert support to secure the necessary permissions and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
Our forestry services support landowners, organisations and developers in managing, enhancing and creating sustainable woodland assets. We provide expert advice across the full forestry lifecycle, from woodland design, creation and establishment through to long-term forest and woodland management. Our specialists undertake harvesting and timber marketing support, including forest mensuration and inventory, alongside woodland valuations, grant and licence applications and impact assessments for afforestation and deforestation proposals. We also provide guidance on the role of forestry and woodland within Biodiversity Net Gain strategies, helping clients maximise ecological value while meeting regulatory and sustainability objectives.
Keystone follows defined RIBA work stages to provide a structured framework for delivering successful projects. From initial concept and feasibility through to completion, this approach ensures key considerations are identified at every stage, helping to maintain quality, control budgets, manage timelines and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
| Stage | Title | Arboriculture activity | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Strategic definition and brief | Desk based constraints survey to identify statutory and non statutory protections afforded to trees and likely next steps | – Desk Study Report |
| 02 | Concept design | Carry out site survey to BS5837 to confirm the condition of trees on site including their above and below ground spatial constraints to design | – Constraints Report – Tree Constraints Plan – Tree Survey Schedule |
| 03 | Developed and technical design | Work with the project team to confirm the relationship of trees with the development during and post construction, aid detailed design of the scheme with retained trees | – Tree Protection Plan – Arboriculture Impact Assessment – Arboriculture Method Statement – Tree Retention or Removal Plan |
| 04 | Construction | Work with team to discharge conditions applied to the planning consent, these typically include requirements for watching brief on site and contribution to landscape and ecological management plans | – Watching Brief and Reporting; – LEMP, CEMP, HMP and Mitigation Plans; |
| 05 | Handover and close out | Carry out site audits of tree works, tree planting and condition of retained trees | – Close-out Report; – Snagging List and Recommendations |
Project process
Our Advantage
Clients choose Keystone for more than our expertise. Explore the advantages of working with Keystone and the difference our integrated approach can make to your project.
Innovation
We have access to some of the most advanced digital
and remote sensing tools and experts in our industry.
Social Responsibility
We commit to giving back to the communities in which we work; delivering education volunteering our time and
contributing to environmental and community projects.
Origin Partnership
As an Origin Enterprises company, we have access
to environmental experts throughout the UK.
Trusted Expertise
We work nationwide across every sector. We can
identify likely constraints or pinch points long before they become a problem.