Understanding Our Role in Keeping Trees (and You) Safe

It’s one of the first questions we’re asked at Holly Arboriculture: “So, what does an arborist actually do?”

It always makes us smile because most people think a qualified arborist just cuts trees down or trims hedges. But ask any professional in our field, and you’ll hear the same thing: we spend more time protecting trees than removing them.

As one arborist put it recently: “Our job is to protect trees from people, and people from trees.” That’s it in a nutshell.

An arborist is a trained tree care professional but a consulting arborist or arboricultural consultant goes far beyond chainsaws and hard hats. We assess tree health, safety and structural stability; diagnose problems; produce clear, defensible reports; and help you make sound decisions about your trees.

Put simply, we balance what people want with what trees need, whether that’s for a planning application, a new housing scheme, a hotel garden, or a historic estate.

Here are just a few ways we help our clients across Cork and Ireland every week:

✅ Tree Surveys and Reports for Planning Permission
If you’re developing land, local authorities often require a BS5837 Tree Survey and Impact Assessment. This shows how your project might affect existing trees and how trees might affect your project. Getting it right from the start can save you costly delays or redesigns.

✅ Tree Risk Management and Safety Inspections
Trees are living structures, they age, suffer storm damage, or develop hidden decay. We carry out thorough tree risk assessments so landowners, local authorities, hotels, schools and golf courses can meet their duty of care and avoid preventable accidents.

✅ Specialist Tree Decay Detection and Root Investigation
Not all tree problems are obvious. We use advanced equipment like the Arborsonic 3D Acoustic Tomograph and DynaRoot system to detect decay or root damage that can’t be seen by eye. Non-invasive testing often means saving a tree, rather than removing it unnecessarily.

✅ Working with Architects, Planners and Engineers
We’re the bridge between nature and design. Qualified consulting arborists work hand-in-hand with architects, landscape designers, civil engineers and planning consultants to ensure your project stays compliant and your trees are considered properly  from concept to completion.

If you scroll through any arborist’s social media, you’ll see this theme pop up again and again: people think our work is just chainsaws and hard hats. In reality, as an aborist consultant spend a lot of time at our desks producing detailed CAD drawings, risk assessments, and reports that stand up in planning appeals and insurance claims.

Next time you see an arborist’s truck, remember: it’s not just about ‘tree cutting.’ It’s about knowledge, science, legal compliance, and helping clients do the right thing by their trees and their projects.

We know how easy it is for trees to be an afterthought on busy sites. But poor advice or none at all  can mean damage to roots during groundwork, trees declining because of compaction or poor pruning, or planning conditions being breached.

Working with an experienced, insured, and qualified consulting arborist protects you from these risks. It means you get clear, defensible advice and practical solutions.

At Holly Arboriculture, we’re trusted by local authorities, architects, civil engineers, planners, estate managers and private clients across Cork and the wider region.

• Is an arborist the same as a tree surgeon?
  Not quite. A tree surgeon focuses on carrying out physical tree work. A consulting arborist provides expert advice, inspections, and reporting , often before any physical work happens.
• How much does a tree survey cost?
  It depends on your site’s size, the number of trees, and the level of detail needed. We always give clear, upfront quotes, no hidden surprises.
• Can an arborist help if I’m worried about a dangerous tree?
  Absolutely. We carry out tree risk assessments to help you manage hazards, reduce your liability, and keep people safe.

Whether you’re an architect looking for a BS5837 report, an engineer needing help with root protection, or a landowner who wants peace of mind, we’re here to help you get it right, first time.

As we often say: next time someone asks you what an arborist does, you can tell them , we help keep people safe, trees healthy, and projects moving forward.

Contact Holly Arboriculture today to book your initial tree survey or request a no-obligation quote at info@hollyarb.ie