BS5837 vs BS3998 Part 4: Survey Validity, Common Pitfalls, and a Simple Action Plan

This final part is the one that saves programmes and budgets: keeping your tree information current, avoiding the usual traps, and knowing what to do next.

Survey validity: the headline rule

Desktop surveys are fine for early feasibility. Before construction starts, you need a site specific survey that reflects current reality. As a rule of thumb, if your survey is older than 12 months, treat it as a risk and confirm whether it needs updating.

Common pitfalls we see

• Surveys that are years old by the time the job goes live, then the tree list is wrong.
• Protection measures specified but not installed, or installed and then removed for access.
• Tree work specified without enough detail, then quality varies and disputes start.
• Highways constraints not factored in early, then the method changes late and nobody documents why.

A simple action plan

1. Check the date and scope of your existing tree survey: desktop or site specific.
2. Confirm whether construction start is within 12 months of the survey.
3. Make sure the Tree Protection Plan and Method Statement are issued to the site team, not just filed.
4. Specify tree work properly and deliver it to BS3998 wherever achievable.
5. On highways jobs, document constraints and justifications early.