Articles

Trees, planning and development without the unnecessary jargon

Arboricultural consultancy sits somewhere between biology, planning, engineering, construction, law and human behaviour.

That combination produces plenty of misunderstandings.

These articles and illustrations look at some of the recurring issues I encounter in planning, development and protected tree work, sometimes seriously and sometimes with a little less reverence than the subject usually receives.

They are intended to explain, not replace site specific professional advice.

Click on each illustration thumbnail below to read the article and view a larger image

A detailed infographic titled 'Tree Surveys: More Than Counting Trees,' explaining the process and importance of tree surveys. It includes sections on starting a survey with purpose, understanding how numbers don't tell the whole story, and why surve
Infographic comparing early arboricultural advice with late discovery of tree problems. The top section shows early advice steps like tree assessment, survey, access design, drainage, levels, demolition, submission, and construction, emphasizing plan
An informational infographic titled 'The Root Protection Area' explaining the concept, what the circle represents, what trees actually do, why judgment matters, and key takeaways about assessing and protecting tree roots in construction sites.
Informational infographic about building driveways and hard surfaces near trees, emphasizing the importance of understanding roots and soil, proper construction detail, and area protection during construction.
An infographic titled "The Tree Is Protected, That Doesn't Mean It Has To Stay Forever" shows steps for proper tree management, including observation, evidence, significance, target, options, amenity, and proportionate work, with detailed description
An informational graphic titled 'Does That Tree Really Need to Be Cut Down?' discussing reasons for and against tree removal. It compares common assumptions versus actual risk assessment, emphasizing to evaluate the condition, target, and context of
Infographic titled 'Why Are Tree Officers So Annoying?' explaining tree assessment, soil compaction, future pressure, and planning, with illustrations of a tree officer, construction site, and person looking at a tree.
Illustration of an arboricultural consultation with a supervisor explaining tree protection and dig method to two workers, one in a hard hat. A large tree and construction site are in the background. A detailed site plan and tree root diagrams are on
An infographic titled 'Tree Roots Don’t Read Site Plans' showing a comparison of a tree's root system in real life and on a drawing. The drawing side features a neat plan with a retained tree, protective fence, proposed extension, and driveway. The r
Informational poster titled 'Why Not Just Cut All the Trees Down? It Would Be Easier.' Explains reasons against indiscriminate tree removal, emphasizing legal, environmental, and aesthetic considerations, with illustrations of trees, development, and
Informational infographic on tree root management, showing why roots matter, what happens when you excavate roots, and asking better questions before cutting roots, including illustrations of tree roots, trenching, and excavation procedures.
An infographic explaining the importance of planting three new trees instead of replacing one mature tree. It highlights the benefits of mature trees, the meanings of tree replacement, and key considerations for successful planting, such as species c
Illustration of construction site showing two workers talking, with labeled commentary about the process of planting a tree, including digging only 300mm deep, discovering few roots, careful operation, and placing fencing. Various construction equipm
An infographic titled 'The Tree Was There First. So What?' discussing the importance of trees in development and planning. It explains that being older than a building is not a valid argument for removal, highlights that trees are not all equal, and
An infographic titled 'What Could Possibly Go Wrong? A short guide to protecting trees once construction actually starts' with three sections illustrating common mistakes and best practices in tree protection during construction. The first section em
An informational infographic titled 'That Tree Looks Dangerous,' explaining how to assess the risk of a tree's danger based on appearance. It discusses what looks alarming—hollows, fungi, deadwood, and lean—and emphasizes that these signs do not alwa
An informational infographic explaining how to correctly draw a tree for architecture and development planning. Contains diagrams of trees with measurements of crown spread and root zones, suggestions for surveying real trees, and the importance of a
An infographic explaining how a tree can help in urban development planning. It illustrates the process starting from initial tree survey, addressing questions about roots and placement, and designing development around existing constraints to improv
An informational illustration about trees with labels and descriptions. It shows a large tree in a backyard, with two men observing it. The labels highlight points such as respecting boundaries, growing symmetrically, reading planning drawings, under