We were recently appointed by a Ministry of Defence (MOD) contractor to carry out tree works on a secure commercial site in Greater Manchester. The project involved the management of a small copse located at the edge of the site, where trees were starting to encroach on both an adjacent industrial unit and a nearby residential estate.

The client required a professional and fully compliant team with commercial experience — capable of delivering the work safely, efficiently, and in line with site-specific operational requirements. At Woodfelder Tree Care, this is exactly the kind of project we’re well set up for.

The Brief

The works centred on a cluster of Silver Birch, Willow, and Sycamore, which had grown too tall and dense for the site. The client’s brief was to:

• Reduce the overall height of the trees across the copse

• Push back lateral growth away from the industrial unit boundary and residential properties

• Remove all overhanging branches beyond the site perimeter

• Thin the woodland by removing suppressed or poorly formed trees, improving long-term structure and allowing more light into the area

The goal was to reduce encroachment, improve clearance for site access and equipment, and make the boundary easier to manage moving forward.

Compliance and Site Preparation

As the job took place on an MOD-related site, compliance was a key part of the process. Before any work began, we provided:

• A detailed RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) tailored to the site and task

• Copies of our public and employer’s liability insurance

• Confirmation of our qualifications, first aid cover, and equipment certifications

Our team are well-versed in working on secure and commercial sites, and we ensured all paperwork was in place before arriving.

Carrying Out the Work

Access was straightforward, and the weather held up well over the two-day job. We started by removing suppressed and dead trees, followed by a reduction in height and spread across the remaining canopy.

Key elements of the work included:

• Crown reductions across multiple trees to reduce height while retaining structure

• Precision pruning along the boundary lines, keeping overhang to a minimum

• Use of rigging and lowering techniques in tighter areas to avoid disturbance to fencing and stored equipment

• Processing and removal of all brash and cordwood from site

As always, we worked in accordance with BS3998:2010 (Tree Work – Recommendations), ensuring all cuts were made cleanly and with the health of the retained trees in mind.

Outcome

The finished result gave the client exactly what they were looking for:

• Clearer boundaries

• Improved light and space for MOD equipment and access

• Reduced risk of nuisance from overhanging branches

• A healthier, more manageable group of trees going forward

We also ensured the site was left clean, with all waste removed and logs processed neatly.

The client was pleased with how quickly and professionally the work was carried out, and appreciated the care we took to meet the compliance and operational needs of the site.

Commercial Tree Work You Can Rely On

If you’re managing trees on a commercial, industrial or government-owned site, we can help.

At Woodfelder Tree Care, we provide:

• Full RAMS and insurance documentation

• Experience working with schools, MOD contractors, facilities managers and industrial sites

• Safe, organised teams who leave sites clean, compliant, and ready to use

Whether you need a one-off job or ongoing support, get in touch to find out how we can help manage your trees — safely and professionally.