Expert diagnostics help maintain the woods and the trees

Occasionally, trees, just like us, can have problems that need an extra level of information to enable better-informed decisions regarding their management or safety. Ian Barnes is lead arboricultural consultant and director of Barnes Associates, who offer a range of detailed assessments to help identify, understand and quantify issues that can affect trees.

Ian explained: "Some problems cannot be commented on accurately by simply undertaking a visual assessment, a lot like a doctor referring us for further testing before a diagnosis is given. However, a lot can be gleaned from ground-based visual assessments and that does form the basis of a lot of our recommendations; but when issues are identified, not all is lost and further assessment with specialist equipment might be all that is required to allay any fears or help identify cost-effective or timely management.

"Those assessments enable us to provide you with an improved level of information and allow us to work with you and provide an informed and balanced management of your trees and landscapes.

"We use modern hi-tech equipment and are leaders in the UK on making advanced assessments from tomography scans, tree pull tests and root mapping, and tree radar. Working throughout the UK, we provide specialist services to all our clients and other professionals, including arboricultural surveyors, ecologists and landscape architects.

"Our Tree Diagnostics Department at www.treediagnostics.co.uk provides training and equipment for other arboricultural consultancies in the UK and Ireland."

For further information visit www.barnesassociates.co.uk