Skip to content
McNamaraTree Consultancy

Duty of Care

Tree Risk Assessments

McNamara Tree Consultancy offer the clearest and most intuitive tree risk assessments in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

VALID Tree Risk-Benefit Assessments

The VALID Tree Risk-Benefit Strategy is the basis of our risk assessments here at McNamara Tree Consultancy. This simple, clear and smart strategy has been adopted by hundreds of councils and public bodies around the world.

In Northern Ireland, McNamara Tree Consultancy has introduced the VALID Tree Risk-Benefit Strategy to Ards and North Down Borough Council, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Ulster Wildlife, Waterways Ireland and many more.

The VALID system provides landowners with a framework to balance the many benefits that trees provide, whilst also allowing them to meet their Duty of Care obligations.

Duty of Care compliance: as a tree owner in Northern Ireland, you have a legal Duty of Care to manage the risk from your trees in a reasonable, proportionate and practicable manner. Our VALID Tree Risk-Benefit Assessments ensure that you meet that Duty of Care, and will also save you money on unnecessary and damaging tree works.

Suitable for

Councils and public bodiesSchoolsChurchesCommercial premisesResidential estatesProperty managersOwners of mature or high-value trees
Arrange a Risk Assessment

Our tree risk assessment service includes

  • Active and detailed tree assessments
  • Unique risk ratings based on science
  • The production of a site-specific Tree Management Policy that is accepted by all the major insurers
  • A prepared media statement for large organisations
  • An Obvious Tree Risk Features document to aid you in the future management of your trees

Who carries out your assessment?

Tree risk assessments are carried out by John McNamara, a VALID Accredited Validator, using the VALID Tree Risk-Benefit method.

  • VALID Accredited Validator
  • QTRA trained
  • Professional Tree Inspection (PTI)

View John’s qualifications and experience

VALID Tree Risk-Benefit Validator badge

The VALID risk-benefit approach

Tree risk assessments are carried out using the VALID tree risk-benefit method, which weighs the low level of risk trees usually pose against the many benefits they provide, so that recommendations remain proportionate and defensible.

Do I need a tree safety survey?

If people or property spend time within falling distance of your trees, you have a legal Duty of Care to manage the risk they pose in a reasonable, proportionate and practicable way. That applies to homeowners with large garden trees just as much as to schools, churches, councils and estates with publicly accessible land.

A tree safety survey, sometimes called a tree condition survey, is sensible when trees are mature or showing visible change, after severe storms, before land is opened to the public, or simply on a regular assessment cycle. Site visits are arranged from County Antrim to every part of Northern Ireland and Ireland. What sets this service apart is independence, since we carry out no tree works, and the VALID risk-benefit method, which keeps recommendations proportionate.

What happens during a tree risk assessment?

The trees are actively assessed on site, risk is rated using the science-based VALID system, and the findings arrive as a clear report with a site-specific Tree Management Policy accepted by all the major insurers. You also receive an Obvious Tree Risk Features document so your own staff can keep an informed eye on the trees between assessments.

If a planning project rather than safety is the driver, a BS 5837 tree survey is the right starting point instead, and for property purchases see our mortgage tree reports.

Need clear advice before your project moves forward?

Send us your site information and we will help you understand the appropriate next step.

Request a QuoteCall 07376 226 294