Anyone with a chainsaw and a van can call themselves a tree surgeon. There’s no law stopping them. That’s the bit most people don’t realise until something’s gone wrong: a branch through a conservatory roof, a felled tree on the wrong side of a boundary, or a bill for work that’s left a tree worse off than before.
Credentials are how you tell the difference before you’ve handed over a deposit.
What does “local authority approved” actually mean?
It means a council, school, or similar public body has checked a contractor’s qualifications, insurance, and health and safety record before adding them to an approved supplier list. That vetting isn’t a formality. Public bodies carry real liability, so they check properly: training certificates, public liability cover, risk assessments, method statements, the lot.
If a tree surgeon has worked for local authorities, schools or churches, they’ve already been through that process. You’re getting the benefit of someone else’s due diligence.
Why this matters more than a five-star review
Reviews tell you how a job went. They don’t tell you whether the person up the tree is qualified to be there. A few things approval and proper credentials actually confirm:
- Chainsaw and climbing certificates (NPTC or City & Guilds) — the legal minimum for working at height with power tools
- Public liability insurance — cover if something goes wrong on your property
- Employers’ liability insurance — required if they bring a team
- Health and safety accreditation (SafeContractor, CHAS, or similar) — proof their processes have been independently checked
- Method statements and risk assessments — for anything near power lines, buildings, or public paths
None of that shows up in a five-star Google review. It shows up when you ask to see it.
What happens when someone isn’t qualified
I’ve been called out plenty of times to finish a job someone else started, or to fix damage from a job that went wrong. A tree cut back at the wrong time of year, storm damage that could have been avoided with a proper crown reduction, a stump left in a spot that’s now a trip hazard. Cheaper quotes usually mean corners cut somewhere, and it’s rarely obvious until later.
Worse than the property damage is the accountability gap. If an uninsured, unqualified contractor injures themselves on your property, or damages a neighbour’s fence, you can end up carrying the cost. Insurance and accreditation exist to stop that landing on you.
How we’re vetted
I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, trained through the army after leaving the Fusiliers, then NPTC-qualified on top of that. We’re an approved supplier to schools, churches, local authorities and estate agents across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire, and we’re fully insured to match. That’s not a claim, it’s a status other organisations have checked and signed off on. You can read more about how I got into the trade here.
We’re also fully insured, and you can see exactly what that covers on our insurance and qualifications page.
Before you book, ask to see it
Any tree surgeon worth hiring will have their certificates and insurance ready to show you, not buried somewhere they “can dig out.” If they hesitate, that’s your answer.
FAQs
Is a tree surgeon legally required to be qualified?
There’s no single licence required to call yourself a tree surgeon in the UK. Anyone using a chainsaw at height should hold NPTC or City & Guilds certificates, and reputable contractors will have both training and insurance in place.
What’s the difference between insured and accredited?
Insurance covers financial liability if something goes wrong. Accreditation (SafeContractor, CHAS, local authority approval) confirms a third party has independently checked qualifications, insurance, and safety processes.
How do I check a tree surgeon’s credentials?
Ask directly for certificates and insurance documents, or check if they’re listed as an approved supplier with a local council or school.
Are all tree surgeons local authority approved?
No. Local authority approval usually means being added to a council or public body’s approved contractor list after checks on qualifications, insurance and safety record, and only contractors who’ve applied and passed are listed.
Got a tree that needs sorting and want someone properly vetted for the job? Get a free quote and we’ll come and take a look.