Stay calm, keep clear of the tree and any cables, and call for help, because a fallen tree can still be unstable and dangerous long after the wind drops.
The first thing to do is get everyone away from the tree and out of danger. A fallen tree can be under tension, with branches and trunks pinned and ready to spring or roll when moved. Wind may also still be bringing down more limbs. Keep children and pets indoors, do not walk beneath leaning trees nearby, and never go out in a gale to inspect the damage until it is safe to do so. Wait for a lull and then look from a safe distance.
If the tree is touching or near overhead cables, treat the cables as live, even if they look dead or are lying on the ground. Stay well back, keep others away and contact the electricity network operator straight away. Never attempt to move a branch that is caught in wires. If you smell gas or see a damaged pipe or service, call the gas emergency service from a safe distance. Do not touch anything that might be carrying power.
If it has struck the house, check for structural damage and leave the building if the roof, walls or ceilings seem unsafe. If it blocks a public road or pavement, tell the police or the highways authority, who can arrange warnings. Where it has fallen onto a neighbour's property or a shared boundary, let them know. In a serious situation where life is at risk, call the emergency services first.
Once it is safe, take photographs of the tree, the damage and the surrounding area before anything is moved. Note the date and time, and write down what you saw. Then contact your home or buildings insurer promptly to find out what is covered and how they want the work handled. Some insurers want to see the damage first or have preferred ways of arranging the clearance, so ask before agreeing to anything.
Resist the urge to start cutting. Chainsaw work on storm-damaged timber is among the most dangerous jobs there is, because wood under tension behaves unpredictably and a root plate can drop back into its hole. Do not climb onto the trunk or lean a ladder against damaged trees. Standing trees that have been loosened, split or partly uprooted may also fail without warning, so leave all this to a professional. A few hours of waiting is always better than an injury.
Where a tree threatens people or property after a storm, we can attend as an emergency call-out to make the area safe. That may mean cutting the tree into controlled sections, lifting it clear of a roof or fence, and then removing the timber and green waste and leaving the site tidy. We also look at neighbouring trees that may have been loosened, so a second failure does not catch you out.
Even after a storm, it is worth knowing whether the tree was protected. Trees can be protected by a Tree Preservation Order or by being in a conservation area, and the local council is the place to check. In Wales, felling larger amounts of timber may also need a felling licence from Natural Resources Wales, so check if that could apply. For non-urgent clearance we give a free quotation after seeing the job.
We will visit, tell you honestly what is needed and give you a free, no-obligation quotation.
We advise against it unless it is a small, light branch you can lift from the ground. Large trunks and tangled limbs may be under tension and can shift without warning. It is safer to wait and have a professional cut and clear it properly. We will bring the right equipment for the job.
It depends on whose land the tree stood on and what your policy covers. Check your buildings or home insurer first and ask about clearance. If a neighbour's tree fell onto your property, let them know and take photographs to support any claim.
Not necessarily. Storms can loosen roots, split limbs or leave broken branches hanging in the crown. Look for leaning, lifted soil, cracks and hanging branches, and keep clear until it has been checked. We can inspect nearby trees while we are on site.
If a tree threatens people, a home or a road, we treat it as an emergency and aim to make it safe as soon as we can. Less urgent clearance is usually arranged by appointment, so we can plan the work, equipment and access properly.
Tree surgery is priced job by job rather than from a fixed list, so this guide explains what moves the cost up or down and how to get a firm figure.
Read the guide →Most trees are perfectly safe, but certain signs suggest a tree is weakened, and knowing what to look for helps you act before something falls.
Read the guide →A few sensible checks in early autumn can reduce the damage that gales and heavy rain do to trees, fences, hedges and outbuildings across South Wales.
Read the guide →Tell us what needs doing and where. We will come back to you, or call 07766 919630 if it is urgent.