TREE FELLING SERVICE ACROSS LONDON, SURREY & KENT

Our Tree Felling Service

Tree Doctor are professional tree surgeons based in London. Our arborists have extensive experience in removing trees and are well equipped for all types of tree surgery works including tree removals.

Our tree surgeons are able to fell trees of all sizes and in any location. We are able to navigate through the tightest of spaces while keeping noise and disruption to a minimum.

What is Tree Felling?

Tree felling is the process of cutting down a tree and removing all waste including brushwood, branches, and other debris. It is commonly referred to as tree removal and there is no difference between the two terms. 

Different Types of Tree Felling

Sectional Tree Felling: This is the process of dismantling the tree in manageable sections with the use of lowering ropes and slings.

Sectional tree felling is very dangerous and requires highly skilled tree surgeons. When completing a sectional felling the smallest of errors can cause serious harm to life and huge expense to property.

You will typically come across sectional tree felling when our tree surgeons have limited space to work with and so each section needs to be lowered down piece by piece to maintain health and safety.

Our expert team start by cutting off all branches and lowering large limbs from the crown using lowering ropes. The trunk will likewise be removed in sections and dropped to a preset, safe landing area.

Our expert tree surgeons are highly trained and extremely experienced in navigating through tight spaces. We use the latest rigging techniques to safely complete a sectional tree felling


Straight Tree Felling: When completing a straight felling our tree surgeons will cut the tree from the base allowing the tree to be felled in a controlled manner - a face-notch is cut out from the base of the tree's trunk along with a back cut through to the hinge.

To complete a straight tree felling we either require the tree to be small or require enough space for larger trees to lean and fall.

Straight felling is where a tree is cut from the base and allowed to fall to the ground in a controlled manner. However, in London, this is often not possible for large trees as considerable space is required.

We always use ropes and slings to assist the fall and may also use wedges to ensure the tree does not fall the opposite way.

Getting Permission to Fell a Tree

It is an offence to fell trees without a licence, where one would have been required. There are some exceptions that can apply, but in many instances a felling licence will be required. These licencing measures are not new; they have been in force for 50 years.

There are some circumstances where a felling licence isn’t needed and therefore felling trees isn’t illegal. Some examples of this are:

- Felling trees in gardens, churchyards or a public open space
- Felling trees with a diameter less than 8cm (the width of baked bean can) at a height of 1.3m on the main stem
- Felling trees to prevent the spread of a quarantine pest or disease, as required under a Statutory Plant Health Notice
up to 5 cubic metres of timber (a stack of timber the size of a small car) may be felled each calendar quarter without a felling licence.

Need further advice regarding felling a tree: Tree Felling

Tree Felling

The Correct Way to Fell a Tree

Tree Felling Tree Removal

When it comes to tree removal using a chainsaw, preparation is key. If you plan the felling and which forestry equipment to bring, not only are you in for a safer working session, but your post-felling work can also be a lot easier. First of all, ask yourself if there are any major obstacles – such as overhead lines, roads or buildings – in the area. Deploy warning signs if you know that a road crosses the forestry area or that a lot of people pass by on a daily basis.

Continue by determining the felling direction by carefully studying the tree. How do the branches look and how do they grow? Also, take the wind direction into consideration. If you’re unsure of the tree’s natural direction of fall, step away from the tree and check with a plumbline (see fact box for details). Clear around the tree in the intended felling direction. Additionally, clear about 45 degrees behind the tree in both directions to create your path of retreat. 

When you have cleared the area, put up your warning signs, decided on the tree’s direction of fall and created your path of retreat, you should check that you have enough fuel in the tank for the task ahead. Then it’s time to prune the trunk to get rid of all the branches and twigs that might get in the way when sawing the felling cut. The safest way to prune is to work with a pulling chain (underside of the guide bar) from the top down. 

Once the trunk is twig-free up to shoulder height, it’s time to make the felling cut. When doing this, it’s important to remember two things: the hinge should have a uniform thickness with the right dimensions and the felling wedge or breaking bar should be inserted before the tree can pinch the guide bar. Which technique you should use for making the cut depends on the tree size, slope, and on the size of your chainsaw. We have put together information about the different techniques here; so that you can find out for yourself which method best suits your conditions.

If you notice that the timber is discoloured and soft or if the lower part of the trunk looks swollen or diseased, you need to be very careful. This is an indication that the tree is infested with rot and that means the wood fibres are weakened. When this happens, fell in the tree’s natural direction of fall and use a winch if you are unsure. Rot infestation usually subsides higher up in the tree, so one option might be to fell the tree with an extra high stump.

There are several felling tools to choose from when taking the tree down. The size of the tree determines which type of forestry equipment you need. For the smallest trees, you do not normally need the felling tools. Hand force is enough, possibly with the help of a long pole. The felling wedge provides greater felling force than the different types of breaking bar. In extreme cases you can use a rope and a winch, which is the safest and most powerful way to fell a tree. Have a look at the fact box for more information about the different tools.

  • Wear the correct safety gear! Felling a tree is dangerous and should be taken very seriously. There are a few essential bits of tree felling kit you'll need: a helmet, this protects your head from falling branches (one of the most common types of tree surgery injuries). You'll need some earmuffs as well as a face screen and goggles to keep any tree dust out of your eyes. We also recommend Kevlar chaps to keep your legs protected should you drop the bar.
  • Purchase two plastic felling wedges will prevent the saw from getting 'pinched' during any cutting.
  • It is easy to under estimate a tree's true height, with this in mind always allow extra felling space in case the tree reaches further than you anticipated.
  • Ensure you have a safe escape route clearing away any debris so you don't trip should you need to utilise it. Don't fell a tree that has, for example, buildings, fences or power lines around the felling zone.
  • When felling a tree you ideally want to make the depth of the 'notch' 1/5th of the tree trunk's diameter. You want to take a greater angle on the top half of the notch than the bottom. A wedge should be placed at the opposite side creating a hinge for the tree's felling direction to fall into.
  • When cutting the notch, sight along the handle and adjust the saw until it's pointing towards your fall direction. Where the bar touches the bark, this will form the centre of the notch.
  • Always make the top cut first. When creating the bottom cut, adjust your hand controlling the throttle with just your thumb. If you are a craftsman, the wedge will drop straight out the notch, if not extend the cuts till the wedge is free.
  • For big trees always use a wedge.     
  • To make the felling cut score a line connecting the apex of the notch on both sides. The back cut should be even with the apex of the notch. Now make the felling cut. Once the tree begins to lean, pull out the saw, apply the chain break and proceed via your exit route, always with your eyes on the tree to ensure it fells as expected.
Tree Doctor, the Tree Fellers

We provide an exceptionally high standard of workmanship to both domestic and commercial customers. We operate across London, Surrey & Kent. We are local tree surgeons to Beckenham, Bromley, Crystal Palace, Croydon & all surrounding areas.

Tree Felling

Talk to Our Friendly Expert Team....

Why Choose Tree Doctor
when Felling your Tree?

Tree Doctor - Tree Surgeons of Beckenham, Kent are skilled Tree Surgeons covering a wide range of tree care work.

We have built an Outstanding Reputation as domestic and commercial tree care specialists with a fully qualified & passionate team that combines many years of experience.

We are the professional choice for arboriculture services and grounds maintenance across London Surrey & Kent.  

Our services cover all aspects of arboriculture and tree care including tree and stump removals, pruning and pollarding. We trade as forestry and woodland management specialists with the expertise to create attractive landscapes that preserve local ecosystems and contribute to a sustainable future.

We provide convenient site surveys and no-obligation quotations supported by the best independent advice in today's highly specialised marketplace.

We are the professional choice for arboriculture services and grounds maintenance across London, Surrey & Kent.

Our customer's experience is paramount. We make it our business to provide an attentive & professional service for all our domestic and commercial customers alike from the very first moment you speak with us. 

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Feedback from a
Few of Our Customers

The guys from Tree Dr are truly the specialists. Richard came out to do a couple of site inspections at no charge, gave me advice a few issues I had. The team did a magnificent job of trimming my 5 giant trees on the property. They also took everything away and tidied up. I would recommend them to anyone. Excellent service. Thanks Richard and team.

Michael Daverson

We have used Tree Dr twice now and wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Polite, professional, no fuss!

Pamela Isla

Many thanks for your team's excellent work. The work was completed with the minimum of disruption, the pruning is imperceptible and the garden was left immaculate. We were highly impressed and would recommend you.

Ramesh Patel

Stump grinding job. Very professional set-up. They cleared everything so well you wouldn't know where the tree stood! Would recommend and use again. Cheers 'tree' fellas.

Damien Logshott

Contact Us

Email

Prefer to send us an email?
Contact us at:

contact@treedr.co.uk

Office

Croydon Road
Industrial Estate, Tannery Close, Beckenham
BR3 4BY

Phone

Call Our Friendly Expert Tree Surgeons

0208 040 2725

PROFESSIONAL WORK BY TREE EXPERTS

About Us

Tree Doctors are Highly Skilled and Qualified Tree Surgeons based in Beckenham Kent. Our Tree Surgery Services extend across London, Surrey & Kent.

Emergency: 0208 040 2725

Our Tree Services
Contact Info

Croydon Road Industrial Estate, Tannery Close, Beckenham, BR3 4BY

contact@treedr.co.uk

www.treedr.co.uk

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