Professional Tree Inspection
Advance your expertise in arboricultural risk assessment with our LANTRA-accredited Professional Tree Inspection course at GVA Training. This intensive three-day programme is designed for experienced arboricultural professionals who are responsible for inspecting trees and assessing potential hazards.
Tree inspection plays a critical role in managing risk to people, property and infrastructure. This advanced course builds on existing arboricultural knowledge and practical experience, enabling learners to carry out detailed visual tree inspections and confidently identify structural weaknesses, pests, diseases and other factors that may compromise tree safety.
Delivered by experienced instructors, the training combines classroom-based learning with practical field sessions. Learners will develop a systematic and consistent approach to tree inspection, learn how to assess risk in the context of legal responsibilities, and determine appropriate remedial actions where hazards are identified.
The course also explores the role of the professional tree inspector in modern risk management, helping participants understand how inspection findings contribute to safe and responsible tree management across parks, estates, highways and other environments.
This course includes both theory and practical assessment. Successful completion demonstrates a high level of competence in professional tree inspection and hazard assessment.
What will be covered?
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- Recognise the role of the tree inspector in risk management
- Identify the legal framework in the context of statute and common law that affects tree inspection and the duties and liabilities of the owner, manager, and inspector
- Summarise how a tree system functions, what constitutes a safe tree and know that energy is required to keep the tree in a healthy/safe state
- Adopt a systematic and consistent methodology for carrying out visual tree inspection at an advanced level with the aid of binoculars, mallet, and probe
- Collect data out in the field in accordance with the inspection instructions (having determined the scope and limitations) using a suitable format. For this course, a written survey template with appropriate headings will be used
- Recognise a range of observable mechanical and biological defects as seen in trees and confirm by the use of textbooks where necessary
- Identify a range of commonly seen pests, diseases, and disorders that affect tree safety, confirm their identity by the use of textbooks, where necessary, and state the arboricultural significance of finding them in the field
- State the appropriate control/remedial measures required to eliminate or reduce risks identified in the inspection process to an acceptable level
- Determine when an aerial inspection is required, also if pro-active management recommendations can be made which may eliminate future defects from forming
- Prioritise the necessary tree/management works with time scales based on a broad category of risk assessment
- Identify when it is appropriate to recommend the use of decay detecting or measuring equipment, based on a basic knowledge of the working principles of commonly available equipment
- Understand that a balance between the remedial measure opted for and the range of benefits/values that a tree may have requires special attention, for example, amenity, wildlife, historical, veteran, rarity, and public access.
Use the following links to download the Lantra course brochure PDFs:
Professional Tree Inspection: Download PDF
Lantra Course Code: TIS02
Course Dates:
13th-15th September 2027
Full course & course resits available
Contact:
Tel: 01422 737 044
Email: training@gva-trees.com
Training Location:
GVA Training Centre, Halifax
Note: Booking is required at least 7 days in advance for all courses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Bookings can be made by email or phone. Unless stated otherwise, a completed booking form must be returned within 7 days of the booking confirmation email. If it is not returned within this time, the booking will be cancelled automatically.