Managing safety, TPO requirements and ecology after major branch failure
Devon Tree Services was appointed to undertake urgent tree work at a school in Dartington, South Devon, after a mature horse chestnut suffered the failure of a large primary branch.
The tree was located within the school grounds, immediately beside a highway. Its location meant that the situation required prompt professional assessment: the failure had implications not only for the school site, but also for people using the adjacent highway.
As experienced arborists providing emergency tree work in Dartington, Totnes and across South Devon, our priority was to assess the remaining tree, secure the area and develop a safe, proportionate way forward.
The tree was protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), so the work also required close liaison with the Local Authority.
The initial branch failure
The first failure involved a substantial primary branch from the mature horse chestnut. Our initial assessment considered the extent of the failure, the condition of the retained structure and the risk presented by the tree’s position next to the school grounds and highway.
Given the size and prominence of the tree, we applied for consent to reduce it back to the principal main stem. This approach would remove the unstable crown structure, make the site safer and retain the lower main stem as an ecological feature.
At this stage, the Local Authority did not support the proposed reduction.
Escalating risk and urgent response
Approximately two weeks after the initial primary-branch failure, a further substantial secondary branch failed from the tree.
This additional failure materially changed the risk profile. With repeated branch failure, a school setting and a highway immediately adjacent to the tree, the need to make the tree safe became urgent.
Following further liaison with the Local Authority, permission was granted for the proposed work to proceed. The agreed solution was to reduce the tree back to a retained standing stem at approximately six metres in height.
This demonstrates why emergency tree work must begin with a competent assessment. A visible failure should never be ignored, especially where buildings, highways, public access or school grounds are involved; however, the right response is determined by the individual tree, its condition, its setting and the risk it presents.
TPO tree work and Local Authority liaison
Tree Preservation Orders protect significant trees from unauthorised works, including pruning, lopping and felling. They are an important part of managing valuable trees within the landscape, but safety remains a critical consideration where a tree becomes dangerous.
In this case, we worked with the Local Authority throughout the process, providing the necessary professional input and responding to the changing condition of the tree after the second failure.
The approved work was carefully limited to what was needed to manage the safety concern: the removal of the failed and unsuitable crown structure, while retaining a six-metre habitat stem.
For protected trees, the legal and professional expectation is that any urgent work is no more extensive than necessary to remove the immediate danger. Clear photographs, a professional assessment and good communication with the Local Authority are therefore essential.
How the work was completed
Once the work was agreed, Devon Tree Services completed the project over three days.
The site was managed with clear exclusion zones, barrier tape and warning signage to prevent unauthorised access to the work area. This was particularly important given the school setting and proximity to the highway.
The team used a combination of rope-and-harness climbing and a compact 4×4 MEWP to access the tree safely and efficiently. This allowed the remaining crown structure to be dismantled in a controlled manner and reduced to the agreed retained stem height.
Our work included:
- Establishing signed and barriered exclusion zones around the tree
- Controlling access within the school grounds during operations
- Using a trained climber to access and dismantle crown sections
- Using a 4×4 MEWP to provide safe access where appropriate
- Removing the failed and unstable branch structure in a controlled sequence
- Reducing the tree to a retained standing stem of approximately six metres
- Completing the work over a three-day period to ensure safe, orderly delivery
Retaining ecological value
Although the horse chestnut could no longer safely retain its full crown, complete removal was not the only option.
By retaining the main stem at a safe height, the school site has kept a valuable standing deadwood feature. Over time, the retained stem will weather, decay and develop additional habitat features that can be used by fungi, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
Standing and fallen deadwood are recognised as valuable habitats. They support invertebrates, fungi, mosses and lichens, while the invertebrates associated with deadwood also provide food for birds and bats.
The retained stem will also serve as a visible educational resource within the school grounds. It provides a practical opportunity to show pupils that trees have value beyond their living canopy, and that responsible tree management can balance public safety with ecology.
The outcome
The outcome was a safe and proportionate solution for a complex site.
The immediate concern created by multiple branch failures was addressed. The school grounds and adjacent highway were protected through controlled working, clear site management and a carefully delivered reduction.
At the same time, the mature horse chestnut was not removed entirely. The retained six-metre standing stem preserves a lasting ecological feature and gives the site an educational asset for the future.
This project reflects the approach Devon Tree Services takes to emergency tree work: assess the evidence, manage the risk, liaise appropriately with relevant authorities and retain value wherever the site can safely accommodate it.
Need emergency tree work in Dartington?
If a tree has failed, suffered storm damage, dropped a large branch or is causing concern near a school, property, highway, public footpath or other high-use area, Devon Tree Services can provide professional advice and urgent assistance.
We provide emergency tree work, tree safety inspections, TPO tree-work advice, tree surgery and arboricultural consultancy across Dartington, Totnes, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, South Devon and the wider South West.
Call Devon Tree Services: 01803 814126
Email: info@devontreeservices.co.uk
FAQs
What should a school do if a large tree branch fails?
Keep pupils, staff and visitors away from the affected area, establish a safe exclusion zone and contact a qualified arborist to assess the remaining tree. If the tree affects a highway, public route, buildings or overhead utilities, notify the appropriate authority as necessary.
Can emergency work be carried out on a TPO-protected tree?
It can, where urgent work is genuinely necessary to remove an immediate danger. The work should be limited to what is needed to make the tree safe, with evidence retained to justify the decision. Where time permits, the Local Authority should be notified before works begin; in a genuine emergency, notification should follow as soon as possible.newforestnpa.gov+1
Why was the horse chestnut not removed completely?
Following assessment and Local Authority liaison, it was possible to safely reduce the tree to a retained main stem at approximately six metres. This addressed the safety concern while retaining standing deadwood habitat and educational value within the school grounds.
What is a retained habitat stem?
A retained habitat stem is the standing main trunk of a tree left in place after unsuitable or hazardous crown material has been removed. Where it can safely be accommodated, it can provide valuable habitat as the wood naturally ages and decays.
Do you provide emergency tree work near Totnes?
Yes. Devon Tree Services provides emergency tree surgery, failed-tree assessment, TPO tree-work advice and arboricultural consultancy in Dartington, Totnes, Ashburton, Newton Abbot and throughout South Devon.
