Lightfoot Tree Service

We don’t just work in the domestic sector we cover commercial tree work too, ranging from industrial estates to working with property management agencies. Here we were reducing a boundary Sycamore, bringing some multi stemmed Limes back into a hedge and some light reduction work on some small Whitebeams to keep them maintained and aesthetically pleasing. If there’s anything we can help you with drop us a DM or send us an email.

Some sensitive reductions on two Yew trees in Mapledurwell. 2m off the height and selective reduction work on the lateral growth. The south side still a little wide but not wanting to cut into too larger wood to allow better recovery. These trees fall into a conservation area which we can assist on the application process.

Another Oak removal due to decay under the buttresses and multiple top snap outs. A steady climb and gentle rigging to get it down safely. Extensive brown rot revealed upon felling and no fibres on the hinge wood. Thanks to the team for a good job done, brash removed and wood remained on site. Another tidy grind from 👌

Two large Thuja removals from a few weeks back. We actually trimmed these back in 2020 but now we’re ready for being removed. Large wood removed and smaller wood left for logs. No after photos but big thanks to dealing with the difficult task of grinding the stumps so close to the electric gates and have a happy customer. Top work from all involved on this job.

Busy week this week dodging the rain. Here’s a few of our jobs (mainly Laurel based) lowering hedges, trimming hedges, removing hedges and cutting back overhang. We are all ready for the weekend, have great one guys and gals 🍻

We’ve been quiet on here but 2024 has started off busy. Some small reductions we’ve been taking on and some hedge removals before bird nesting season begins.

Tidy job this week on a Macrocarpa removal, stump left high for a seat. Plenty of rigging dodging some nearby shrubs. Tidy job from all involved 💪🏻 happy Friday everyone 🍻

Busy week with a variety of work. Road closure Monday (apologies Beech and surround areas) dealing with some Ash dieback trees and cutting back some hazel to save some wing mirrors. A cypress hedge removal giving more light and space and finished off with a dry day speedlining another Ash tree. Great team work and thanks to all involved 🍻

Well what a full on two weeks. Great to see our biggest project yet from start to finish. Carrying out the felling licence, SSSI forms, road closure and the necessary health and safety requirements that need to be in place. Approximately 100 Ash trees felled alongside and within falling distance of a road. These were mostly lapsed coppice stools that had significant decay at the base as well as being heavily in decline due to Ash dieback. We managed to extract 80% of the timber due to the hillside and customers requests. Thanks to all contractors who helped make the process run smoothly for the small time frame we had.

Busy job last week on these two TPO Sycamore reductions. Recommended reduction work from Ben Abbat at Sapling Arboriculture due to the previous heavy pruning having now formed large decay pockets. Work made much easier thanks to and his 25m MEWP, the reach was impressive. Great team work all round 💪🏻

Some reductions this week which has been a welcome break to hide from the sun. Value of trees even more important with this late hot spell. Hope you’ve all had a good week and maybe even found some comfort under a trees canopy

Always interesting access when working in Beech….this Ash tree was pretty far gone but no MEWP access meant steady climbing. Then on the Douglas Fir removal we (Jay) found a wasp nest out on a limb which we removed and returned a few days later to complete the tree….only to find they’d started another nest on the remaining limb 🤦‍♂️ finally got the job completed all wood and chip remained on site. Looking forward to the next work that’ll be less problematic 😅

Boundary trees can often become a headache for one or more parties. The past couple of weeks warmer weather often has two views regarding trees. Giving nice shade to take cover from the sun or blocking out the much enjoyed sun. We were brought in to reduce this Oak tree that had been previously reduced. Pleased to maintain a good shape and growth points on the tree owners side whilst cutting back to boundary on the neighbours side. Everyone happy including ourselves.

A couple of new customers tidying up some existing hedges. The first leylandii is still relatively young so needs to thicken in places but came out well. The last photo is a juniper that was planted far too close to the septic tank inspection hatch and the current occupiers didn’t even realise there was one underneath. All nice and tidy and on to the next ones.

2-3m reduction on this Copper Beech. It had been hit quite hard many years ago so had lots of long skinny branches. Hopefully it’ll put on some more interior growth so it’s next reduction could be a bit harder (more to appease some of the neighbours). I am quite fond of this tree as see it nearly daily.

Emergency job we did earlier in the year. This one was a right head scratcher. A failed Beech that was leaning into an adjacent field maple. It was really hard to gauge how much weigh was in the smaller tree. We loaded the stem up with our tirfor winch and then gradually lowered the brash until we had to play jenga cutting out the loaded limbs. I wish I had taken a photo after we cut the Beech off of the maple and began to lower as eventually there was no weight on the winch so was actually more stable than we realised. Great climbing again from he definitely didn’t enjoy this one 👏🏻

Horse Chestnut removal from a couple of weeks back just as it was coming into leaf. It had lost a couple of limbs in previous winds and was under a recommendation to be felled due to its location. Great climbing from and on the ground. Brash chipped and removed and wood left in log length on site.

We take on a wide range of jobs and size of work. The first photos are of an oak tree that we reduced to tie in some over extended branches. Because of its location it had lost some branches in high winds so with this pruning it should minimise further losses. The next was a large Olive tree which was getting a bit too tall so starting a fresh height lower down. Then on to a Yew that really only wanted a couple of branches reduced in to make it uniform. Finally a small front garden tidy up cutting back some Forsythia and Choisya giving much more light into the house. Doesn’t matter the scale of the job we will always take pride in what matters to you.

So I’ve edited the photo to really show the browning of the hedge. We had some great guesses in on our story but only one correct answer (well my belief to be the correct answer). I’d say this is quite common regarding the recent pavement excavation for fibre broadband. Being the same height running along the hedge it’s surely the exhaust of the digger burning the hedge. If you have a hedge and shrubs at the front of your property and know you have works due to occur maybe see if you could have a board placed to protect your plants. This seems to be an oversight that these companies should real be foreseeing and putting things in place. The Leylandii won’t recover from this but hopefully new growth will cover it over coming years

Back to rain after a nice Easter break. Minimise the amount of kit getting wet with a fell in one. Tidy job to end the week.

A recent Scots pine removal in Wrecclesham. A great shame as the tree had real amenity value and I was surprised it wasn’t protected. The tree was felled following an investigation from a a consultant finding Sparassis crispa causing heartwood decay. We left the stem slightly high but can already see the decay (discoloured wood). Interesting adaptive wood too showing a historic twist of the stem and possibly due to the fungi present.

Sometimes work just falls into place and had this “small” hedge to lower in yesterdays winds. Really pleased and much easier to now maintain.

Really looking forward to sharing this Beech removal with you. Tree over the property and had multiple Ganoderma brackets (a heartwood decaying Fungi). Stem was left high but would have been interesting to see the extent of decay. Massive thanks to the team on the merlo controls from and assisting me on the ground and popping up to make the Final Cut. Great work guys 👌

This is a job we completed back in October which I forgot I had photos of. A black pine in decline with an ugly top meant we called upon and the 25m MEWP. Reached with ease and didn’t hinder an already tight drop zone. Utilised the Stein 3001 bollard to lower down some larger lumps of timber ready for the avant. Great team work from all those involved 🙌🏻

Wet day today and the kit is drying by the fire but all worth it with the hedges coming up this good.

Always appreciate the time people take to leave a review and receiving this one this afternoon was a much needed pick me up for the day. Have a great weekend all 👍

A crispy dead weeping willow removal. Honey fungus was the culprit but likely sped up with the summers dry weather. Needless to say it wasn’t dry when we felled it and I had to track down the groundsman hiding under a tree and a tarp 😂.

Large Ash removal carried out over the weekend due to ash die back and it being a high traffic area into the village hall. Crown looking sparse with the obvious signs. Thanks to for the MEWP which could reach the entire tree from one location and arborline tree care for the avant meaning we could complete the tree in a day with minimal disruption. Wouldn’t be a big tree removal without finding a nail with the big saw 🤦‍♂️

Really pleased with this new hedge that has not had the top trimmed in 2-3 years. A new line set so future trimming will be that much easier. Have a great weekend all.

Myself and a group of other arborists are taking on a challenge to scale Snowdon as many times as possible in 24hrs in a relay style (1 goes up and down tagging in the next person). We are raising money for a local charity . The charity From Leia With Love is a baby loss charity that supports families through stillbirth, miscarriage and neonatal death. They make and provide angel baby gowns, knitted hats, booties, blankets, wraps and keepsakes for parents of stillborn babies in sizes ranging from preemies to full term. They make the gowns from wedding dresses that have been donated from the public. They also provide keepsakes, books and support information to families. Please do donate to the link in our bio or give them a follow on Instagram or Facebook for more information. You can also email them [email protected] thanks all