📍 Location: Suffolk
🏢 Client: Environmental Consultancy (Specialist Spill‑Response Contractor)
🔎 Summary
Countryside Trees was instructed by an environmental consultancy to assist with a spill‑response project involving a mature lime tree protected by a TPO. A significant contamination incident had occurred directly within the tree’s Root Protection Area (RPA), and following assessment, the soils required full excavation to prevent wider environmental harm. Because the contamination sat entirely within the RPA, and the tree stood within 10 metres of a residential property, excavation works created an unacceptable risk of destabilisation. Removal became the only safe and compliant option.
🎯 Objectives
- Support the environmental consultancy in managing a contamination incident
- Ensure compliance with TPO legislation and environmental regulations
- Remove the tree safely without increasing ground disturbance
- Enable soil remediation to proceed without risk to property or the environment
🛠️ Project Execution
Environmental Assessment
The environmental consultancy completed an Environmental Impact Statement and site risk assessment. Testing confirmed that contaminated soils had migrated throughout the tree’s RPA. To protect groundwater and surrounding land, full soil removal was required. However, disturbing the soil structure around a mature lime tree so close to a dwelling introduced a high risk of destabilisation and potential failure toward the property.
Permissions
We worked with the Local Authority Tree Officer and the environmental team to submit a detailed TPO application, including evidence, justification, and method statements. Permission was granted on environmental and safety grounds.
Tree Removal
To avoid further disturbance to the contaminated ground, the tree was dismantled using a controlled rigging system, allowing each section to be lowered safely and precisely. Once felled, the stump was ground out to allow the environmental contractor to proceed with excavation and remediation.
✅ Outcome & Evaluation
The tree was removed safely and compliantly, enabling the environmental team to carry out essential soil remediation without risk to property or the wider environment.
