Manage tree planting and establishment operations

This standard covers all the activities that may be required to manage tree planting and establishment operations in forest, woodland or urban settings.

Ground preparation and planting methods will differ between forestry and woodland planting and urban planting.

Trees come in a range of sizes from small nursery transplants, to whips which are up to a meter in height, to semi mature and require different methods of planting. They can be plugs, containerised, bare root or root balled. Large container grown trees are very heavy and may require lifting equipment to assist with moving and planting.

Activities could include managing some or all of the following:
• clearing and preparing sites for planting trees
• planting trees
• providing aftercare to newly planted trees

You could be working to a given specification that defines the methods to be used but you will be expected to determine how to manage the work on site.

You will need to take account of any restrictions affecting the work e.g. designated sites, presence of listed structures, wildlife, non-native invasive or protected species etc.

You are required to avoid or minimise damage or disturbance to the surrounding area including trees, other vegetation, wildlife and habitats, or to any structures, fences, paths, signs, ditches/waterways or underground services, and to ensure that other site users are not put at risk by your work.

Anyone working with equipment and machinery or chemicals must be appropriately trained, and hold current certification where required, in line with the relevant legislation.
When planting in urban areas this may include holding relevant street works qualifications.

You must conform to all relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

This standard is for those responsible for the management of tree planting and establishment operations.

Core requirements and responsibilities

1. obtain the relevant information to manage tree establishment operations in accordance with organisational procedures
2. check any statutory requirements that might be in place that may prohibit or place conditions on the work to be carried out and confirm that all the required permissions and licences have been obtained
3. confirm that an environmental assessment of the site is carried out before starting work and take the findings into consideration
4. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
5. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, including underground and overhead hazards, and produce risk assessments and method statements as required
6. confirm that sufficient control measures are implemented and emergency planning and procedures relevant to the site are established and recorded
7. confirm that procedures for the use and storage of hazardous substances and the handling of chemically treated trees, are in place, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions, and ensure they are followed
8. monitor biosecurity in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, industry guidance and organisational procedures
9. confirm that procedures for the removal and disposal of all waste are in place in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures, and ensure they are followed
10. coordinate site services and activities and use appropriate methods to maintain effective communication with the workforce and anyone else involved in, or affected by, the work, in accordance with organisational procedures
11. confirm that damage or disturbance to the site and surrounding area is minimised while the work is carried out and that the site is left in a safe and tidy condition
12. implement best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out
13. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and report issues that cannot be resolved, in accordance with organisational procedures
14. complete and store all the relevant documentation in accordance with legal and organisational requirements

Develop and implement tree planting and establishment plans

1. develop plans for tree planting in accordance with the information provided and the site objectives, including methods of site clearance, preparation and drainage and tree planting
2. determine measures to prevent and control diffuse and other types of pollution during planting operations, in accordance with legal requirements and industry guidance, and taking account of site ground conditions and potential for poor weather
3. confirm that these measures are implemented, monitor effectiveness and adapt the measures in response to changing conditions
4. select the safest methods of tree planting in accordance with tree size, the assessed risks and organisational procedures
5. specify after-care requirements of the newly planted trees to ensure their successful establishment, including tree protection and maintenance methods
6. specify the materials required to meet the tree planting and establishment plans
7. oversee the ordering of planting stock and other materials to meet the plans and confirm that all deliveries are checked against the order for accuracy and quality
8. manage planting stock in accordance with site requirements and the tree planting and establishment plans
9. identify and gather the resources required to achieve the outcomes of the tree planting and establishment operations in accordance with plans
10. allocate responsibilities to the workforce for their part in the tree planting and establishment operations
11. confirm that all members of the workforce have the relevant training, skills, competence and certification to carry out the work, in accordance with legal requirements
12. when using contractors, confirm that the relevant insurances are in place
13. communicate the relevant safety and work-related information and responsibilities to the workforce in accordance with organisational procedures, and monitor that safety procedures are followed
14. confirm that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
15. confirm that the equipment and machinery required for the work is available and fit for purpose
16. manage the safety and security of equipment and machinery on site
17. monitor the tree planting and establishment operations against the plans, in terms of timeframes, quality, cost, results and the standard achieved
18. take action to suspend work when weather conditions increase the likelihood of diffuse pollution
19. manage any deviations from the plans

Core requirements and responsibilities
1.     how to identify and access information relevant to the tree establishment operations
2.     the importance of carrying out an environmental assessment of the site before starting work and the findings that must be considered
3.     your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice
4.     how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out and how to produce risk assessments and method statements for tree establishment operations
5.     the relevant health and safety control measures, Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) and emergency planning and procedures relevant to the site
6.     the correct use of warning signs and barriers to inform and protect others while the work is carried out 
7.     current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
8.     the requirements for handling, using and storing hazardous substances, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
9.     the importance of biosecurity measures and how to ensure they are applied
10.  the legal requirements and organisational procedures for the removal and disposal of all types of waste
11.  how to coordinate site services and activities and maintain effective communication with the workforce and anyone else involved in, or affected by, the work and the methods of communication that should be used 
12.  the potential impact of the work on the site and surrounding area and how to manage and mitigate the environmental and biodiversity impact of the tree establishment operations
13.  your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
14.  the issues that can occur when managing tree establishment operations, the actions to take and the organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
15.  the scope and limitations of your competence, responsibilities and accountability
16.  the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation

Develop and implement tree planting and establishment operations
1.     the principles of developing tree planting and establishment plans and what should be included
2.     navigational and mapping techniques and how to apply these
3.     how to identify trees and their characteristics
4.     silvicultural systems and methods
5.     the principles of naturally regenerated woodland
6.     how to identify soil types and the significance of this to tree planting and establishment
7.     ground clearance, preparation and drainage methods and how to select the most appropriate
8.     the importance of preventing and controlling diffuse and other types of pollution on site and the measures that can be implemented to do this
9.     how to obtain the materials required for the work and the importance of checking their accuracy and quality
10.  the methods and techniques for managing planting stock and how to optimise healthy stock        
11.  the resources required to implement tree planting and establishment plans and how to gather them
12.  how to allocate responsibilities to the workforce and what should be considered
13.  the importance of checking that all members of the workforce, including those not directly employed, have the relevant training, skills, competence and certification to carry out the work
14.  how to ensure that the equipment and machinery required for tree planting and establishment is fit for purpose and available where and when required
15.  tree planting techniques relevant to the type of planting (forestry, woodland, urban) and the importance of safe methods of handling
16.  the aftercare requirements of the newly planted trees and the methods that can be used to protect them from a wide variety of damaging agents
17.  the relevant legislation affecting the use of herbicides, pesticides and other tree protection methods
18.  the management methods and techniques for implementing and monitoring tree planting and establishment plans to meet the given requirements and how to deal with any deviations

Methods of clearing and preparing sites:
• waste collection and disposal
• stump removal
• brash removal (raking, baling, chipping, burning)
• unwanted vegetation control (chemical spraying, mechanical, manual)
• pest control
• screefing
• scarifying
• subsoiling
• ploughing
• mounding
• mulching
• drainage
• use of light and heavy plant equipment
• application of fertiliser
• sterilising

Methods of post-planting tree protection include:
• spraying or mulching around newly planted trees to control weeds
• tree guards, tubes, shelters
• fencing
• netting
• staking
• spray on deer deterrent
• “street furniture” in ornamental plantings

Methods of post-planting tree maintenance include:
• soil amelioration
• watering
• feeding
• maintenance of support systems
• repair/replacement of tree protection
• removal and correct disposal of tree protection when it is no longer serving a purpose

Causes of damage to trees:
• handling
• transport
• timing
• site conditions
• soil type
• exposure/aspect
• drying out
• wind

Damaging agents:
• insects
• deer
• voles
• rabbits/hares
• feral pigs
• grazing livestock
• weeds
• vandals
• weather

Tree planting and establishment planning in terms of:
• soil types
• water drainage requirements on a range of sites
• tree species requirements, ecological benefits and end uses
• interpretation of survey and geographical information
• planting requirements e.g. positioning, density
• managing labour
• costs
• legislation
• silviculture

Cell grown trees (Plugs) – trees are grown in a small but deep pot or cell to produce a deep root system. They come as a deep plug with compost ready for planting.

Diffuse pollution in treework includes: mud and silt, small amounts of spilt fuel, oil or other contaminant which is released into a natural watercourse.

Information required to carry out work activities could include:
• drawings
• plans
• schedules
• specifications
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturer’s instructions
• customer requirements
• quality assurance requirements
• industry standards (e.g. British Standards)
• verbal or written instructions
• industry guidance (e.g. FISA)

Line grown - trees are grown very close together in lines which promotes tall straight growth.

Low density planting – trees are grown further apart to encourage bushy growth.

Nursery grown tree sizes: (girth at 1m)
• Feathered – 175-200 – 200-250
• Light Standard (LS) 6-8cm
• Standard (S) 8-10cm
• Select Standard (SS) 10-12cm
• Heavy Standard (HS) 12-14cm
• Extra Heavy Standard (EHS) 14-16cm
• Advanced Heavy Standard (AHS) 16-18cm
• Specimen Mature 18-20cm +

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)

Pollution prevention measures can include:
• buffer zones
• barrier ditches
• silt traps
• silt fences
• filter zones
• off-lets
• brash mats
• corduroy roads
• log bridges
• correct storage of fuel, oil and chemicals
• designated refueling and maintenance areas
• regular inspection and maintenance of machinery to prevent leaks of oil and hydraulic fluid

Pollution control measures can include:
• barrier booms
• absorbent materials for surface-borne pollutants
• high pressure, low volume water sprays

Plugs – see cell grown

Root balled - tree is supplied along with the soil or compost it was grown in.

Safe System of Work (SSoW) – is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.

Sites could include:
• greenfield
• farmland
• designated
• urban derelict
• reclaimed land
• existing
• forest/woodland re-stocking
• protected

Tree sizes for forestry:
• 1u1 - 1 year seedling undercut and grown in situ for a further year
• 1u2 - 1 year seedling undercut and grown in situ for a further 2 years
• 1+0 - 1 year seedling
• 1+1 - 1 year seedling transplanted for 1 year
• 1+2 - 1 year seedling transplanted for 2 years
• 2+2 - 2 year seedling transplanted for 2 years
• Sets - a pre-cut section of a willow which can be planted directly into the ground. Usually measures approximately 45cm length.

Whip - single stem young seedling normally 30 to 40cm in height

Workforce could include:
• team members
• temporary workers
• agency staff
• volunteers
• contractors
• any combination of these