Tree Surgery Services in East Sussex & Kent
Comprehensive tree care solutions across East Sussex and Kent. From routine pruning to emergency storm response, our NPTC-certified arborists deliver safe, expert workmanship backed by over 15 years of experience and full public liability insurance.
Comprehensive Tree Removal
Tree removal is sometimes the only practical option, whether a tree has died, become structurally dangerous, is causing subsidence, or simply needs to be cleared for a development project. At Walbridge Tree Care, we approach every removal methodically, prioritising safety for people, property and surrounding vegetation throughout the process.
Our NPTC-certified climbers and ground crew are experienced in both section felling and straight felling techniques. Section felling involves dismantling the tree piece by piece from the top down, lowering each section on ropes. This controlled method is essential when working near buildings, power lines, fences or neighbouring gardens -- which is the case for most domestic tree removals in East Sussex and Kent. Straight felling is used where there is sufficient space for the tree to fall safely in one piece, and is common on rural sites, farmland and development plots.
Before any work begins, we carry out a thorough site assessment and check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or is within a Conservation Area. If consent is needed, we can handle the application process on your behalf. We also discuss stump options -- whether you want the stump ground out, removed entirely, or left at ground level -- so the site is left exactly as you need it.
Every removal includes a complete clean-up: all timber, brash and debris are cleared from your property and recycled responsibly.
- Dead, dying and dangerous tree removal
- Section felling in confined spaces
- Straight felling on open sites
- Planning permission and TPO applications
- Stump grinding or removal included on request
- Full site clean-up and waste recycling
- Insurance report support for storm-damaged trees
Tree Pruning & Crown Work
Correct pruning is the foundation of good tree management. Poorly executed cuts can introduce disease, destabilise growth patterns and leave trees looking unsightly. All of our pruning work is carried out in accordance with BS3998:2010 -- Tree Work: Recommendations, the British Standard that governs best practice for tree surgery operations in the United Kingdom.
Crown reduction reduces the overall height and spread of a tree by shortening branches back to suitable growth points. This is commonly requested to reduce shading, bring a tree back into proportion with its surroundings, or reduce wind loading on structurally compromised specimens. We typically reduce crown volume by 20-30%, maintaining the natural shape of the tree.
Crown thinning removes a proportion of secondary and crossing branches throughout the canopy, allowing more light through without altering the tree's overall size or silhouette. This is particularly effective for species such as oak, beech and sycamore that develop dense canopies.
Crown lifting removes lower branches to increase clearance above ground level, footpaths, driveways or garden areas. Deadwooding targets dead, dying or diseased branches that pose a risk of falling. Pollarding is a more radical cyclical pruning technique used on species such as willow, lime and London plane, cutting branches back to the main trunk or a framework of permanent branches.
- Crown reduction to BS3998 standards
- Crown thinning for light and airflow
- Crown lifting for access and clearance
- Deadwood removal for safety
- Pollarding and cyclical management
- Formative pruning for young trees
Stump Grinding & Removal
After a tree has been felled, the remaining stump can be an eyesore, a trip hazard, and an obstacle to new planting or construction. Left untreated, stumps can also attract honey fungus (Armillaria) and other decay organisms that may spread to healthy trees and shrubs nearby. Stump grinding is the most efficient and least disruptive method of dealing with old stumps.
We use professional-grade stump grinders capable of tackling stumps of all sizes, from small ornamental tree stumps to large hardwood bases over a metre in diameter. The grinding head chips away the stump wood to a depth of 150-300mm below ground level, which is sufficient for re-turfing, planting or laying a patio. For deeper requirements -- such as building foundations or new tree planting -- we can grind to 450mm or more on request.
The grinding process produces a quantity of wood chip and soil mix, known as arisings. These can be left in the hole as a mulch base (they settle naturally over a few weeks), or we can remove them and backfill with topsoil if you have immediate landscaping plans. We also sever any significant surface roots that radiate from the stump, so your lawn or garden bed has a clean finish.
Our equipment is narrow enough to pass through standard garden side gates, so access is rarely a problem even on terraced or semi-detached properties.
- Professional stump grinding to 150-300mm depth
- Deeper grinding available on request
- Surface root removal
- Arisings removal or backfilling with topsoil
- Narrow-access equipment for tight spaces
- Replanting and aftercare advice
Emergency Storm Response
Storm damage does not wait for convenient working hours. When a tree falls onto your roof, blocks your driveway, brings down power lines or threatens to collapse further, you need a rapid, professional response. Walbridge Tree Care provides a 24/7 emergency call-out service across East Sussex and Kent, with typical response times of 1-4 hours depending on your location and current demand.
Our emergency team arrives with all necessary equipment -- chainsaws, rigging gear, personal protective equipment and a chipper -- ready to make the site safe as quickly as possible. We are experienced in dealing with trees on roofs, across roads, tangled in power lines and leaning dangerously over properties. Safety is always the first priority: we cordon the area, assess structural risks and carry out a controlled removal rather than rushing in.
After the immediate danger is resolved, we carry out a full clean-up and can return to complete any further work, such as stump grinding or removing secondary damage. We understand the stress that storm damage causes, and we work with your home insurance provider where applicable, providing photographs, written reports and itemised invoices to support your claim.
If you have a tree emergency, call us immediately on 07834 151 929. Do not attempt to deal with fallen or dangerous trees yourself -- the risks of injury from unstable limbs, hung-up branches and tensioned timber are severe.
- 24/7 emergency call-out service
- Typical 1-4 hour response times
- Fallen trees on buildings, roads and gardens
- Dangerous hanging limbs made safe
- Full clean-up and debris removal
- Insurance claim documentation and support
Tree Health Assessments & Reports
Understanding the condition of your trees is essential for managing risk, meeting legal obligations and making informed decisions about care or removal. Walbridge Tree Care provides thorough arboricultural assessments for homeowners, landlords, property managers and developers across East Sussex and Kent.
Our assessments begin with a detailed Visual Tree Assessment (VTA), examining the crown, trunk, root plate and surrounding ground for signs of structural weakness, disease or decline. We look for indicators such as fungal fruiting bodies, bark cavities, deadwood, crown dieback, root plate heave and soil changes. Where a closer investigation is warranted, we can carry out decay detection testing to assess the extent of internal deterioration.
Common diseases we diagnose and manage include ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which is widespread across Sussex and Kent, honey fungus (Armillaria species), Phytophthora root rot, bacterial canker in cherry and plum species, and various bracket fungi such as Ganoderma and Inonotus that indicate significant internal decay.
We provide clear, professionally written reports that are suitable for planning applications, mortgage lender requirements, insurance surveys, subsidence investigations and neighbour disputes. Each report includes our findings, risk assessment, photographic evidence and recommended actions with priority timescales.
- Visual Tree Assessment (VTA)
- Disease identification and management advice
- Structural and decay assessments
- Written arboricultural reports
- Reports for planning, mortgage and insurance
- Subsidence investigation support
- Risk assessments for public and private sites
Hedge Trimming & Maintenance
A well-maintained hedge is one of the most attractive and functional features in any garden, providing privacy, wind protection, noise reduction and valuable wildlife habitat. We maintain hedges of all types and sizes, from low box edging to towering leylandii screens and everything in between.
Different species have different requirements. Privet and leylandii are fast growers that typically need two to three cuts per year to stay neat. Beech and hornbeam hedges are best trimmed in late summer after the second flush of growth, leaving the russet leaves to provide winter screening. Yew is slow-growing but extremely tolerant of hard pruning, making it ideal for formal shaping. Laurel hedges should be cut with secateurs rather than powered trimmers to avoid shredding the large leaves, which causes browning.
For overgrown hedges that have lost their shape or encroached on paths and boundaries, we carry out phased hedge reduction, cutting back hard over one or two seasons to encourage dense regrowth from the base. We also offer one-off tidying, regular maintenance contracts and new hedge planting.
It is important to note that under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. The main bird nesting season runs from March to August, and we always carry out a pre-work check before trimming hedges during this period. If active nests are found, we will reschedule the work to avoid disturbance.
- All hedge species: privet, leylandii, beech, yew, laurel, box, hornbeam
- Regular maintenance schedules and contracts
- Overgrown hedge reduction and reshaping
- Formal and informal hedge styling
- Nesting bird checks (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981)
- New hedge planting and establishment
Arboricultural Planning Advice
Trees and the planning system are closely linked. Whether you are applying for planning permission, working near protected trees or developing a site with significant tree cover, you may need professional arboricultural advice to navigate the regulatory requirements. Walbridge Tree Care provides practical, cost-effective consultancy for homeowners, architects, builders and developers across East Sussex and Kent.
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are made by local authorities to protect specific trees or groups of trees that contribute to local amenity. It is a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, damage or destroy a TPO tree without the council's written consent. We prepare and submit TPO applications on your behalf, setting out the justification for the proposed work and any mitigation measures such as replacement planting.
If your property lies within a Conservation Area, you must give your local authority six weeks' written notice before carrying out any work to trees with a trunk diameter of 75mm or more (measured at 1.5m above ground). We handle the notification process and liaise with tree officers to ensure compliance.
For development projects, we carry out BS5837:2012 tree surveys, which categorise trees by quality and provide root protection areas, tree constraints plans and tree protection plans. These documents are typically required as part of a planning application to demonstrate that trees will be adequately safeguarded during construction. We also prepare arboricultural impact assessments and arboricultural method statements where necessary, and can attend pre-application meetings with local planning authorities.
- TPO consent applications
- Conservation Area notifications
- BS5837:2012 tree surveys and constraints plans
- Arboricultural impact assessments
- Tree protection plans for construction sites
- Arboricultural method statements
- Pre-application meetings and planning support
How We Work
A straightforward, professional process from first contact to finished job.
Free Consultation
We visit your property to assess the work needed, discuss your requirements and provide expert recommendations tailored to your trees and your budget.
Detailed Quote
You receive a clear, no-obligation written quote with a full breakdown of the work and costs involved. No hidden charges, no surprises.
Professional Execution
Our NPTC-certified team carries out the work safely and efficiently using industry-standard equipment, fully insured and compliant with all regulations.
Complete Clean-Up
We leave your property tidy with all waste removed and recycled responsibly. Your garden is left ready to enjoy straight away.
Need Professional Tree Surgery?
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation and quote. Our NPTC-certified arborists are ready to help with any tree care challenge across East Sussex and Kent.