Last updated: March 2025
Author: Rob Lambert
Editor at Arbtech, Rob is a content specialist who manages our ecology and arboriculture services copy to ensure it is accurate, up to date, and insightful for current and future clients.
Coverage of Trees All Over Dorset
The environmental character and strategy of Dorset are dictated by present trees, and while the county may not have a target for tree planting as pivotal as Surrey’s pledge to add an extra 1.2 million trees, it is engaged in various initiatives to protect and enhance the natural environment. Such schemes primarily involve individual trees and woodlands, helping to underscore the importance of tree preservation and support the diverse landscape that encompasses the coast, heathland and ancient woodland.
If you require planning permission for a development and trees are present on or near your site, Dorset Council or one of the other local councils might request a tree survey. The request is driven by the concern that the development could negatively impact existing trees. Although tree surveys can be perceived as an unwelcome cost and inconvenience, they are often necessary, and damaging protected trees without consent can have legal consequences.
Development opportunities in Dorset are on offer for investors, businesses and homeowners. Ongoing projects and planning applications demonstrate a balanced approach to development, considering both economic growth and environmental protection. It respects the county’s natural heritage and shows adherence to environmental laws and guidelines. Evidence from tree reports is valued by planning offers, and the results will avoid planning refusal as a result of tree-related issues.
Protecting Dorset’s Existing Trees
Various measures are in place to protect trees across Dorset. The county has numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) which often house important woodlands and veteran trees. Many conservation areas and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) further protect trees throughout Dorset.
A conservation area protects all trees within its designated boundary, while a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) protects specific trees or groups of trees. The presence of protected trees signifies their ecological importance and emphasises the need to demonstrate that your development aligns with environmental and community interests through tree advice from an established tree consultancy such as ours.
Arboricultural Advice from a Tree Report
A BS5837 tree survey is typically the standard assessment when a tree survey is needed for planning. Professional tree surveyors conduct a thorough analysis of all trees on the site, assigning each tree a category based on its ecological value and condition. The categorisation determines the appropriate course of action between the options of retention, relocation or removal, and if necessary, certain tools will be used such as an air spade.
An arboricultural consultant prioritises retaining as many trees in close proximity to the site as possible during a British standard tree survey. Relocation might be considered for valuable, healthy trees that cannot be accommodated within the development design. Tree management typically recommends that trees that are dead, dying, dangerous or of low value be removed and replaced with new plantings on or off-site to mitigate ecological loss.
Following the BS5837 tree survey, the arboriculturist produces a tree report containing recommended mitigation measures, a CAD drawing of the site to inform the design team, and other information to assist the local authority in its planning decision. The information is often sufficient, but further surveys such as an arboricultural impact assessment (AIA), arboricultural method statement (AMS), tree constraints plan (TCP), tree protection plan (TPP) or arboricultural supervision and site monitoring might be recommended.
Consult with Our Arboricultural Specialists
Whether you have tree concerns in Bournemouth, a large beech in Bridport or anywhere else in Dorset, our arboricultural surveyors can provide the necessary advice and guidance to keep your development project on track. Our team has extensive knowledge of tree conservation and experience producing tree reports for planning permission, ensuring you meet local council expectations. We can also help if the tree survey uncovers any concerns related to ecology and requires an ecological survey of any kind.
Our arboricultural consultancy offers comprehensive tree surveys, considering all potential approaches to achieve the best outcome. We can also arrange climbing inspections and other specialist surveys as required. Contact us for a free quote via email, phone or our contact page. We can then organise a BS5837 tree survey or any other surveys you need and assist you in obtaining planning consent while respecting Dorset’s valuable trees and environmental laws.