7.11 Tree maintenance and adoption

All planting schemes within adoptable highways must conform with the guidance in this chapter and Surrey County Council’s Tree Strategy. The proposals should include a detailed and viable maintenance management plan which is subject to approval by the Highway Authority.

The tree strategy documents provides detailed information about the Authority’s approach to tree maintenance and additional information on best practice for new tree maintenance can be found at the Woodland Trust [Reference 27] and the publication Trees in Hard Landscapes [Reference 28].

Provision must be made for five years of comprehensive aftercare for the establishment of trees which must include replacement for any dead trees and weed control. This is to be followed by a management plan for new planting and commuted sums put in place for a further 20 years.

The local community should be encouraged to take some ownership of new trees and participate in maintenance, especially watering trees while they establish. This will reduce the long-term maintenance cost and reduce the risk of vandalism of new trees.

References

• Reference 27: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/care/ (Return to content for reference 27).
• Reference 28: TDAG (2014) Trees in Hard Landscapes (Return to content for reference 28).