bmtreeconsultancy

Tree Safety Inspections

Professional Tree Risk Assessments for Public and Private Land

At Black Mountains Tree Consultancy we provide detailed Tree Safety Inspections for landowners, estate managers, and organisations who need to understand and reduce tree-related risks. Whether you’re concerned about a single tree near a property or overseeing a large site with public access, tree safety is a key part of responsible management.

Carried out by a professionally accredited tree inspector, our inspections combine in-depth knowledge with a practical, site-specific approach. All assessments are fully documented, prioritised by risk level, and tailored to meet your legal responsibilities under Occupiers’ Liability Acts (1957 & 1984).

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Tree care professionals working outdoors among trees
Black Mountains trees landscape outdoors

Why Tree Safety Inspections Matter

Trees are living, ever-changing structures. They bring enormous value to our landscapes and wildlife, but they can also fail particularly during storms, high winds, or periods of decline. As a landowner or duty holder, you have a legal responsibility to take reasonable measures to ensure the trees on your property do not present a foreseeable risk to people or property.

Our inspections help you:
  • Identify deadwood, decay, fungal infections, or structural weaknesses
  • Assess likelihood of failure and potential targets
  • Prioritise works based on risk severity
  • Maintain a defensible position in case of an incident
  • Fulfil duty of care under civil law
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What Our Inspections Include

Every site is different. We adapt our inspection method depending on the nature of the site, access, tree population, and usage level. Surveys may include:

  • Entire site assessments evaluating your trees for health, vitality and structural weakness, in relation to their location and target value
  • Detailed individual tree inspections
  • Climbing inspections for high-risk or particularly valuable trees
  • Decay detection tools (e.g. mallets, probes, resistograph, or PICUS investigations)
  • Assessment of ground and rooting conditions
  • Tagged trees and GIS mapping
  • Clear, prioritised reports with easy to implement management recommendations
We use the internationally recognised ‘Quantified Tree Risk Assessment’ (QTRA) system for assessing the risks posed by your trees, or can provide risk ratings using our in-house method. Either system is easy to understand and simple to implement, ensuring decision making is aligned with current best practice and duty of care compliant.
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Tree inspection assessment outdoors

Benefits of the Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA) method:

Our lead consultant is a registered user of the QTRA method and has many years experience at implementing the system.

QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment) is a system that helps tree managers and individual tree owners make informed, balanced decisions about the need for tree works-especially when it comes to safety.

Benefits and advantages of QRTA services graphic
What is QTRA?
QTRA is a structured method that evaluates the risk posed by a tree in a measurable way. It considers three key factors:
  • The likelihood of tree failure – How likely is it that a branch or the whole tree might fall?
  • The size of the part that could fail – Would it be large enough to cause harm?
  • The likelihood of a target being hit – How often are people, vehicles, or buildings in the area?
These factors are combined to calculate a numerical risk rating, which helps determine whether action is needed and if so, how urgent it is.
Using QTRA helps you:
  • Avoid unnecessary tree work by putting risk in perspective—many trees may appear dangerous but pose very low risk.
  • Prioritise tree maintenance based on actual levels of risk, focusing resources where they matter most.
  • Support safety decisions with a consistent, professional framework recognized across the industry.
  • Provide documentation that demonstrates your duty of care has been met in a reasonable and proportionate way.
When a QTRA assessment is carried out:
  • A qualified assessor will inspect your tree(s) and surrounding area.
  • You'll receive a clear explanation of the risk level and the necessity for action in relation to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, ensuring that risk management decisions are defensible and aligned with public safety standards.
  • Recommendations, if any, will be proportionate to the actual risk helping preserve valuable trees where possible.

Who We Work With

Our Tree Safety Inspections are suitable for:
  • Private homeowners
  • Estate managers & Farms
  • Schools, Colleges & Universities
  • Parish, Town & Community Councils
  • Dioceses, Churches & Cemeteries
  • Areas of public recreation
  • Hospitals & care homes
  • Housing associations
  • Commercial landlords
  • Holiday parks, venues & public attractions
Whether you have a mature oak near a car park or an avenue of trees beside a footpath, we can help you manage risk while retaining tree value.

When to Book an Inspection

Regular inspections are best practice, but there are key times when a survey should be prioritised:

  • After storm or wind damage
  • If fungal growth or dieback is visible
  • Before buying/selling property
  • Following complaints or incidents
  • When trees are near highways, schools, or public paths
  • If a particularly high value tree hasn’t been inspected for many years
We also provide post-inspection support, including referring trusted arborists for works, liaising with local authorities, or producing follow-up reports.

Book Your Tree Safety Inspection

We cover all of Wales, the West Midlands, South West England and beyond. Whether you require a one-off inspection or ongoing tree risk management, we offer professional advice and reports tailored to your setting.

Take control of tree risk today.

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FAQ: Tree Safety Inspections

How often should a tree safety inspection be carried out?
There isn’t a single inspection schedule that suits every site. The appropriate frequency depends on the tree species, its age and condition, the level of public access, and the potential consequences if a tree were to fail. Trees located near roads, schools, public footpaths or buildings generally require more regular inspections than those in low-use rural locations. As a guide, many trees benefit from professional assessment every one to three years, with additional inspections recommended after severe storms, flooding or noticeable changes in the tree’s condition. We can advise on a suitable inspection programme tailored to your site and duty of care responsibilities.
Every inspection begins with a systematic visual assessment of the tree and its surroundings. We examine the trunk, crown, branches, root flare and overall vitality, looking for signs of structural weakness, decay, disease, pest damage, previous pruning defects or environmental stress. We also assess what could be affected if part or all of the tree were to fail, including nearby buildings, roads, footpaths and public spaces. Where appropriate, we may recommend further investigation using specialist decay detection equipment or climbing inspections before any management decisions are made.
Yes. Many structural defects develop internally and may not be visible from the ground. Trees can appear healthy in leaf while suffering from root decay, internal cavities or weakened branch unions. Likewise, fungal pathogens may be affecting structural integrity long before obvious symptoms become visible. Professional inspections combine visual assessment with an understanding of tree biology, biomechanics and site conditions to identify potential risks that may otherwise go unnoticed. This allows issues to be addressed before they become serious safety concerns.
Only where it is genuinely necessary. Our approach is always to retain trees wherever it is safe and practical to do so. In many cases, risks can be managed through pruning, crown reduction, bracing, monitoring or further investigation rather than complete removal. Because Black Mountains Tree Consultancy is an independent consultancy and not a tree surgery business, our recommendations are entirely impartial and based solely on the evidence gathered during the inspection.
Yes. Protected trees still require routine inspection and responsible management. If a Tree Preservation Order or Conservation Area restrictions apply, we assess the tree in exactly the same way while also advising on the legal process should any remedial work be required. Where necessary, we can prepare supporting evidence and documentation to accompany applications to the Local Planning Authority, helping ensure any recommended works are properly justified and compliant with current legislation.
Absolutely. Many clients contact us because they are concerned about a single mature tree close to a house, driveway, neighbouring property or public highway. A focused inspection can identify any structural defects, explain whether the tree presents an unacceptable level of risk, and provide practical recommendations for future management. This service is particularly useful for homeowners, property buyers, insurers and mortgage providers seeking independent professional advice before making important decisions.
Tree safety assessments should always be carried out by a suitably qualified and experienced arboricultural professional. At Black Mountains Tree Consultancy, inspections are undertaken by a Royal Forestry Society and Lantra-accredited Professional Tree Inspector with more than 20 years of practical arboricultural experience. Our reports are prepared using recognised industry guidance and can include Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA) where appropriate, providing robust, evidence-based recommendations that stand up to scrutiny.

QTRA is an internationally recognised methodology used to assess tree risk in a consistent and measurable way. Rather than relying solely on subjective opinion, it considers the likelihood of tree failure, the size of the part that could fail and the probability of a person or object being struck. This helps ensure management decisions are proportionate, reducing unnecessary tree removal while demonstrating that reasonable steps have been taken to fulfil your duty of care. It’s particularly valuable for estates, public spaces, schools, highways and organisations responsible for large tree populations.

Yes. Every inspection includes a professionally prepared report that clearly explains our findings and recommendations. Depending on the scope of the inspection, your report may include photographs, tree locations, risk ratings, maintenance priorities and recommendations for further investigation or remedial work. Our reports are written in clear, straightforward language so they can be easily understood by homeowners while also providing the level of detail required by insurers, solicitors, landowners, local authorities and other professionals.
Black Mountains Tree Consultancy is based in Talgarth, near Brecon, and works throughout Powys, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and the wider regions of Wales, the West Midlands and South West England. We also undertake projects further afield where specialist arboricultural expertise is required. Whether you need a one-off inspection of a garden tree or ongoing risk management across a large estate, we can provide professional advice tailored to your requirements.