Climber high in a tall bare tree beside a garden fence, with a heap of cut branches on the lawn — Climber in the bare crown with cut branches piled on the grass below

Large leafless tree with spreading branches beside a wooden fence, a washing line crossing in front under blue sky — Tall leafless tree beside the fence before work, washing line passing close by

This job in Hawkesley involved a tall, leafless tree standing in the corner of a garden beside a wooden fence. In the photos a climber works up inside the crown, and the first photo shows branches already cut and piled on the grass below. The second shows the tree before cutting, with a washing line close to its branches.

Working inside a tall crown

In winter, with no leaves, the shape of a tree is easy to read, which makes it a good time for tree surgery. The climber goes up the trunk with ropes and works from the inside out, removing branches in small pieces so that nothing falls onto the fence or into the next garden. Cut wood is lowered or dropped into a clear area of lawn.

This is a job in progress, so the finished shape of the tree is not shown in these photos. What they do show is the stage where the branches are coming off in pieces and the crown is gradually being opened up. Cutting in small pieces keeps control of each branch, which matters when a fence and neighbouring gardens are close by.

What to plan for

A tree of this size needs clear space beneath it, so washing lines, plants and garden items are moved before work starts. The brash pile at the foot of the trunk in the first photo is the wood cut so far, and it is chipped or taken away when the job ends.

Check with the council whether the tree has a Tree Preservation Order or whether the garden is in a conservation area, and tell neighbours when climbers will be working near the boundary. Winter pruning also avoids the main bird nesting season. Tell us about any overhead cables or buildings nearby so the cutting plan can allow for them.