When people think of tree surgery, they often imagine chainsaws, ropes, and branches falling to the ground. While these are undoubtedly part of the job, complex tree projects—especially those involving public spaces, roads, or large trees—require something far beyond the tools you see on site. At The Blue Tree Company, the real work begins long before a saw is ever started.
In this blog, we take you behind the scenes of a recent 3-day operation in Baldock—a technically demanding job involving large tree fells, crown reduction, traffic management, HIAB and MEWP use, and a dedicated team of arborists. This is a snapshot of what makes us more than just your average tree surgeon.
Why Planning is the Backbone of Arboriculture
Whether it’s a school, industrial estate, local authority site or private estate, any job involving significant machinery, public safety risks or multiple stakeholders needs to be meticulously planned. Compliance isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; it’s a core part of delivering quality and keeping people safe.
For this Baldock job, the works stemmed from a Health and Safety Tree Survey that identified structural weaknesses and risks in several mature trees adjacent to a public highway. From that moment, every step was mapped to align with safety standards, legislation, and best practice from the Arboricultural Association and British Standards.
Traffic Management, Permissions and Public Safety
One of the first hurdles in this job was traffic management. The site was bordered by a road, meaning vehicle and pedestrian safety needed to be prioritised. Our back-office team handled the advance planning:
- Securing permissions and traffic management plans
- Informing residents and stakeholders in advance
Signage, barriers and work timings were all designed with minimal disruption and maximum safety in mind.
Lifting Power: HIABs and MEWPs
On day one, our HIAB (lorry-mounted crane) was deployed to safely remove large timber sections. The use of this equipment required coordination between our climbing arborists and crane operators—a good example of the sort of multi-skilled teamwork we excel at.
Our truck-mounted MEWP (mobile elevated work platform) also played a crucial role. Where trees were too dangerous or decayed to climb, we used the MEWP to safely reach crown areas for reduction or dismantling. Not only does this reduce risk to operatives, but it also allows us to be more precise and efficient with cuts, especially near buildings or highways.
The Importance of Teamwork
There is no room for lone rangers on a job like this. Our teams are trained to work as a unit—ground crew supporting climbers, MEWP operatives syncing with traffic marshals, and surveyors on site to advise on any changes needed due to weather or structural conditions.
In fact, our setup means we always have an experienced site supervisor present to coordinate real-time decisions. When handling large fells, rigging or technical crown reductions, having clear communication lines between all parties is what ensures we remain safe, compliant and efficient.
Why Clients Trust Us with Complex Work
Clients often come to us after trying to manage these jobs with general contractors or smaller operators. What sets us apart is our ability to bring large-company compliance and capabilities, with the personal service of a small team.
We offer:
- Full-time office support and advanced CRM planning tools
- All necessary accreditations (ArbAC, ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, CHAS)
- A highly trained workforce with regular CPD
- Specialist tree consultancy services, from safety and condition surveys to BS5837 planning advice
We don’t just carry out tree surgery; we help our clients meet their legal and operational obligations with clear, practical solutions.
Post-Job Cleanup & Reporting
Tree surgery doesn’t end when the last branch hits the ground. One of the most commented-on aspects of our service is the quality of our clear-up. On this job, we removed all timber and arisings, swept the road and footpaths, and ensured the site was left cleaner than we found it.
We also provided a full photographic report, documenting:
- Before and after imagery
- Works completed
- Notes on any additional findings or safety concerns
This helps our clients demonstrate due diligence and feeds into their own compliance reporting.
Final Thoughts: It’s More Than Just Chainsaws
Tree work may look physical, and it is—but the most successful projects are those underpinned by planning, compliance and communication. This Baldock project is a great example of how we bring all that together.
If you manage estates, infrastructure, schools or sensitive sites and need a tree contractor that understands complexity, we’d love to hear from you.
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