Surveys, reports and professional advice relating to trees, woodland and landscape

For the past 20 years our staff - working with local authorities, developers, architects, surveyors, landowners and private individuals - have been dedicated to the conservation, sustainability and safe management of trees and landscape.

Simon Stephens, Principal of SJ Stephens Associates, and a Registered Consultant with the Arboricultural Association, specialises in supporting local authorities, in particular with:

·   TPO and Planning Appeals – often, local authority tree officers are too busy for the detailed focus needed to contest appeals. Simon has the experience and skills to prepare a case thoroughly and present it with authority, in support of local officers. He can present evidence effectively in the often hostile environment of Public Local Inquiries.

·   High Hedge Complaint resolution – where local authorities receive complaints, which meet the criteria of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, Simon carries out site investigations and using government guidelines, recommends the appropriate Action Hedge Height for the local authority to enforce.

·   Training for non-specialist staff – Simon has carried out training sessions for non-specialist staff, such as housing officers and parks staff, who deal with trees on a regular basis. Where undertaken, local authorities have seen the number of referrals to tree officers drop as staff develop the confidence to deal with basic tree enquiries themselves.

Based on the Wiltshire/Berkshire/Hampshire border, the practice normally works in London, Central Southern and South West England, covering Swindon, Reading, Newbury, Oxford and Bristol and also serving a number of clients on a national basis.