Responsible tree care is a major aspect of the management of public open spaces on housing developments is tree maintenance and monitoring. Thousands of trees are found across our developments, and we have a responsibility to ensure that the trees are healthy and do not pose a risk to people using our open spaces. We also want to ensure that trees and woodlands are being managed correctly to ensure the health and success of the trees and their ability to support wildlife.
Health and safety
As part of our approach to responsible tree care, all of Meadfleet’s Regional Managers and Operations Managers hold certificates in LANTRA Basic Tree Survey and Inspection. This equips our team with the skills necessary to conduct visual tree inspections, enabling them to identify potential hazards between our detailed independent tree hazard assessments. This proactive approach ensures that our tree safety standards are upheld year-round.
Our independent tree hazard assessments are typically conducted every 18 months by expert arborists. These comprehensive inspections consider the overall health, structure, and associated risks of the trees in our developments. The 18-month interval ensures that trees are inspected in both summer and winter, so that all aspects of tree health can be accurately assessed.
Following tree surveys any required works are undertaken only by tree surgeons registered with the Arboricultural Association (ArbAC) Approved Contractor scheme.
Conservation
Prior to the commencement of any necessary tree works we check if trees are subject to any protections such as Tree Preservation Orders, and acquire relevant permissions from local planning authorities.
All our contractors are required to check for any wildlife issues and consult our ecology team to ensure compliance with all legislation.
Our Operations Team attend in-house training sessions on tree health and woodland management, to ensure that all trees on our developments, from single ornamental trees to mature woodlands, are providing the maximum benefits to biodiversity.
Read more about our approach to tree care.
About Meadfleet
Meadfleet is a leading sustainable land-adopting management company, established in 1995. We manage over 350 developments and 40,000 residential properties across England and Wales, supported by in-house expertise and decades of experience.
Our in-house ecologists bring expertise in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and we offer management of BNG delivery both on managed developments and offsite areas, funded through customer contributions or commuted sums. Our adoption model relieves developers of ongoing liabilities and management costs.
The Meadfleet approach removes onerous responsibilities from homeowners while encouraging resident engagement in the stewardship of their local environment. We are members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS), providing customers with free, independent redress if required. We also welcome and support resident groups, creating a valuable two-way dialogue that strengthens community involvement.
As a land-adopting management company, we take long-term responsibility for open space, building strong community relations and implementing ongoing management and improvement plans. Our independent, holistic approach ensures open spaces are managed sustainably for the benefit of residents, biodiversity, and the wider environment.