Tree management policy

Abstract

Local authority delivery of tree management remains challenging. Indeed, with current cutbacks in local government funding in the UK, the importance of a clear strategic focus in service delivery becomes more acute. The Borough of Poole Leisure Services service unit (Poole, Dorset, UK), includes two arboricultural officers who manage trees on open spaces and highways on behalf of the Council. In 2008, it was proposed that a Tree Management Policy should be written and adopted. There were four outcomes which were anticipated as a result of this process:

1.	It would help the arboriculturists prioritise their workload in a time of decreasing resource
2.	It would provide a framework for decision making
3.	It would provide a sustainable, future-proof urban tree population
4.	It would be subject to a review process to enable performance monitoring and be flexible to change.

Keywords:

• policy
• level of service
• workload
• resources

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Andy Osborne and Trevor Maynard, the Leisure Services Arboriculturists for the Borough of Poole for their help in preparing and implementing the Tree Policy.