Rural Payments and Services

It is important that new or upgraded paths are made reasonably safe from falling trees, and unobstructed by trees and branches for the full range of users.

Any land is eligible.

Tree safety works must relate to upgraded or new paths.

Make safe hazardous trees:

• remove trees, dangerous limbs, deadwood and other dangerous features identified in the tree safety survey as posing significant risk to users of the new or upgraded path
• you will be responsible for obtaining any felling licences that may be needed
• you must maintain a diary of photographic evidence of the tree safety works

Manual brashing:

• to be carried out along both sides of path as required to open a path corridor for all users unobstructed by vegetation; may additionally increase light levels to the path or open up views
• to be carried out using purpose-made hand or mechanical pruning saws (not chainsaws)
• cuts should be flush with stem and to a minimum height of two metres
• you must take and retain for inspection dated photographic evidence of the tree safety works

You can claim:

• make safe hazardous trees: £113 per tree
• manual brashing: £1.09 per metre of path

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work

Make safe hazardous trees:

• trees, dangerous limbs, deadwood and other dangerous features were removed as identified in the tree safety survey as posing significant risk to users of the new or upgraded path
• you have obtained any felling licences that may be needed
• you have maintained a diary of photographic evidence of the tree safety works

Manual brashing:

• work was carried out along both sides of path as required to open a path corridor for all users unobstructed by vegetation; may additionally increase light levels to the path or open up views
• work was carried out using purpose-made hand or mechanical pruning saws (not chainsaws)
• cuts were flush with stem and to a minimum height of two metres
• you have taken and retained for inspection dated photographic evidence of the tree safety works

Section	Change
Requirements and Inspections	Clarification of requirement regarding taking and retaining photographic evidence.

Previous versions of this page

Click 'Download this page' to create a printer-friendly version of this guidance that you can save or print out.