19 The Marches, Kingsfold, Horsham, England, RH12 3SY
19 The Marches, Kingsfold, Horsham, England, RH12 3SY
Surrey, UK
Residential property owner
Removal of a large mature tree affected by fungal decay
Removal of a large mature tree affected by fungal Safely remove a structurally compromised tree while complying with local council regulations.
Our team was contacted to assess and remove a large mature tree located within a residential area in Surrey. The tree had developed a significant fungal infection caused by Meripilus giganteus, a species known for causing extensive root and base decay in trees.
During our inspection, we discovered that the tree had the largest colonisation of Meripilus fungus our team had encountered to date, indicating severe internal decay and a high risk of structural failure. Due to the size of the tree and its proximity to nearby properties and public areas, the removal required careful planning and specialist equipment.
The tree was also protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), meaning that permission from the local authority was required before any work could begin. Our team managed the entire approval process, ensuring that all legal requirements were followed before proceeding with the removal.
Once approval was granted by the local council, we developed a detailed plan to safely dismantle and remove the tree.
Key work carried out during the project included:
Submitting a formal application to the council to request permission to remove the protected tree due to its severe fungal decay.
Planning the dismantling process, taking into account the tree’s size, location, and surrounding infrastructure.
Hiring a specialist grapple saw truck to assist with the safe removal of the upper canopy and large branches.
Systematic dismantling of the tree, with the grapple saw removing branches individually and lowering them safely to the ground.
Deploying a climber to access the upper structure once the main canopy had been reduced.
Removing larger timber sections manually, allowing the remaining trunk sections to be safely dismantled.
Loading and removing timber and logs using a large trailer for off-site processing and disposal.
This combination of specialist machinery and experienced arborists allowed the removal to be completed efficiently and safely.
This project presented several technical challenges that required careful coordination and planning.
Severe fungal decay: The extensive Meripilus colonisation had weakened the tree’s structural integrity, making conventional climbing and dismantling methods more hazardous.
Tree Preservation Order (TPO): Because the tree was legally protected, formal approval from the council had to be obtained before any work could take place.
Tree size and positioning: The tree was extremely large and located near neighbouring properties and public access areas.
Safety considerations: Ensuring that the removal could be carried out without risk to pedestrians, nearby residents, or surrounding infrastructure was a key priority.
Equipment coordination: The use of a grapple saw truck required precise communication between the ground crew, machine operator, and climber.
By combining specialist equipment with experienced arborists, the team was able to overcome these challenges and carry out the work safely.
The tree was successfully dismantled and removed with no disruption to local traffic, pedestrians, or neighbouring properties.
Key outcomes included:
Safe removal of a severely decayed tree, eliminating the risk of structural failure.
Efficient dismantling using specialist machinery, allowing the project to be completed quickly and safely.
All timber processed and removed from site, leaving the area clean and tidy.
Full compliance with council regulations and TPO requirements.
Positive feedback from neighbours and the local community.
Several neighbours commented on the professionalism of the team during the removal process, and one neighbour even sent a message following the work to express their appreciation:
“Amazing job today Team Marshall. VERY impressive.”
