Non-invasive root investigation
Down to Earth operate a professional Air Spade Investigation service. The Air Spade consists of a hand held lance connected to a compressor, not too dissimilar to a pressure-washer, but rather than water the Air Spade fires a continuous jet of compressed air.
This jet of air effectively removes soil whilst retaining tree roots relatively undamaged, allowing excavation to take place within ground occupied by roots without causing significant damage to trees, unlike with mechanical excavation which, if carried out recklessly can render a tree immediately liable to collapse.
The Air Spade and Planning Permission
The Air Spade is useful for determining the presence or absence of roots within Root Protection Areas (RPAs), which is useful in the latter stages of BS5837 Surveys where a structure is proposed to be installed in the RPA of a retained tree.
Carrying out a trial excavation along the proposed foundation line with an Air Spade allows all significant tree roots to be retained, observed and evaluated, which helps us to draw a balanced conclusion on the likely impact of development on trees and serves to inform of vital next steps, including mitigation measures.
Getting to the root of it
RPAs are only indicative, and in some cases trial excavations within RPAs have revealed no significant roots at all, allowing a development within the RPA to go ahead without worry since it has been proven that there will be no significant loss of roots.
Of course the opposite can occur and significant roots may be found, but once uncovered they can be individually evaluated and either worked around, or pruned as necessary under our guidance. In any case, the Air Spade is a vital tool in assessing the likely impact to trees by delivering results which can really be seen.
Whether you have small scale extension or a large development proposal with trees nearby, contact our experts today to help you obtain planning permission.
Air Spade Investigations for fungal diseases
This service is usually specified by the surveyor when in their opinion a particular pathogen or disorder (such as previous mechanical damage) warrants a below-ground inspection. The Air Spade can be used to inspect the roots of a tree which are not normally visible.
When other signs of defects such as fungal activity highlight a need to go below ground, the Air Spade can carefully remove soil around roots allowing us to get an insight into the problem and draw considered conclusions for future management.
Areas we cover
We cover most of the South East including Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London and Essex.
We’ve used Down to Earth for several years after a recommendation from a neighbour. They’ve done a variety of jobs from taking down two inherited overgrown confers to general pruning and tidying up of trees and bushes. They always do the work exactly as agreed after an on-site visit, giving good advice, they’re very efficient, clear up thoroughly, and are always friendly. We’d strongly recommend them.
A very professional done by very pleasant friendly people. (and they left the garden all clean and tidy - and many do not do that!) We would highly recommend them
Great communication, knowledge and patience with members of the public asking lots of questions. Great machine to relieve deep compaction after events
Likable, professional team of 3 turned up on the day, did a fantastic job (they have a really good sense of aesthetics). Very pleased, will definitely be using them again.
Excellent service, very slick. Took down large diseased ash, cut up and removed debris, and cleared up afterwards. Great work by the team. Would recommend.
An excellent and very thorough haircut for a large cedar tree carried out by a very professional and pleasant team. All done on schedule and everything left clean and tidy. Highly recommended.
Great service and very impressed by the skill and speed of the team. All priced very competitively. Would highly recommend.
Second time I have used them. Thoroughly professional - they give good advice, easy to deal with. First time a year ago was a really big job, so pleased I used them. Thoroughly recommend.
An unpleasant job, taming the leylandii trees which we had inherited and had been allowed to do their own thing for too long! We are grateful to our friends who recommended "Down to Earth" and we are very happy to say to anyone else who reads this, that from Andy who came to give us a very reasonable estimate, and Frankie's team who did skilful and beautiful job, we couldn't be happier. Very nice people too!
Excellent service, professional team, very large job bringing down dead sequoia; handled the job very well, cleared everything up, went above and beyond what we expected
Down To Earth were great. They did an excellent job from start to finish. Good customer service. Excellent team on site who did a fantastic job that went beyond my hopes and cleared up after themselves in an extremely thorough way.
An excellent job from start to finish, arrived on time and did a great job at clearing up afterwards. Worked the whole time they were here and couldn’t be happier with the results!
Exceptional service from start to finish. The job was carried out (non-stop working by the crew!) at the exact time agreed with all the remnants cleared up and taken away. They even ended up clearing my patio!
Another excellent job from Down to Earth trees. They have carried out all pruning and planting a new hedge in my garden for many years and I would never use anyone else. They are reliable, everything is cleared at the end of the job and all the staff from start to finish are polite and professional. I was happy with the quotation given. The 2 guys who carried out the latest work were very pleasant and listened to what I said before beginning the work. I would definitely recommend them.
I have been most impressed with DTE's professionalism and integrity. The scope of work I proposed I discussed was reduced as it wasnt all needed, and the work itself was carried out to a high standard
I had my trees done recently and the four gentlemen did a great job. Very professional and cleared all fallen debris at the end. Will definitely use the company again.
This is an excellent company to do business with. Their quote was thorough and very competitive. The team turned up on time and were very professional, polite and respectful of both our property and our garden. The work undertaken, (tree prunning and removal of a large shrub), was carried out to a high standard and everything was left very tidy. I can only recommend this company for their excellent service.
This company is outstanding in professionalism, care and efficiency, so we didn’t hesitate in using for this job. The weather was bad on the day of the booking and we thought they might postpone the work, but they didn’t. Our job involved varied work - trees, bushes and hedges. Everything is in much better shape now. Thanks, again to Down to Earth.
I have used this company on 3 occasions now. I have found all staff including administrative and the tree surgeons themselves to be consistently efficient, polite and informative. They have always arrived at the arranged time and date, completed the work effectively and well and left the garden clean and clear of all cuttings. Have recommended to neighbours and friends.
Fantastic from start to finish, from the quoting process, application to local council for approval, and the people on site doing the work. Had two trees taken out, one planted and general hedge height reduction work done. Superb team, cleaned up after themselves, very polite to me and neighbours. Will be using again. Thank you!
Had Ben along for a tree survey and risk assessment. Very professional and knowledgeable. Inspected every aspect of our spinney. Would highly recommend!
