Great Oaks Tree Services

It’s been a warm spell in the UK lately 🌳☀️ And while most of us notice the discomfort, trees are experiencing it in a very different way. Hot, dry conditions don’t usually cause sudden, obvious damage. Instead, the effects tend to build quietly - slower growth, early leaf drop, and increased stress that isn’t always easy to spot straight away. Young and newly planted trees are particularly vulnerable. Without fully developed root systems, they struggle to access the moisture they need when the ground dries out. This is often where things start to slip - not at planting, but in the weeks and months afterwards, when conditions become more challenging. It’s something we see quite regularly on sites: the trees that establish well aren’t just the ones that were planted correctly, but the ones that are supported through periods like this. We support tree establishment beyond planting, helping ensure young trees are looked after during those critical early stages when weather can make a real difference.

Today marks 8 years of Great Oaks. We are not always the best at posting about what is happening behind the scenes, but this feels like a milestone worth marking. Over the last 8 years, Great Oaks has grown from an idea into a business we are extremely proud of. The last year in particular has been one of real progress, investment and ambition. We have exciting new contract wins to announce soon, continued investment into our staff, arboriculture teams and grounds maintenance teams, major upgrades to our website, and the purchase of our own farm now all but complete. The farm will open up new avenues for growth and forms a major part of our future plans. It gives us the opportunity to keep developing the business, create more capacity, strengthen our training provision, and build something long-term for Great Oaks, our staff, our customers and the wider industry. One of the biggest areas of growth for us is our training centre. Due to the demand we have received from individuals, businesses and organisations across the industry, we now have plans in place to expand our training provision throughout the UK. This growth will allow us to support more people entering the sector, help existing workers develop their skills, and provide businesses with access to high-quality, practical training closer to where they are based. We are passionate about raising standards in arboriculture, forestry, grounds maintenance and land-based industries, and the next stage of our training centre is a major part of that vision. A true thank you has to go to all of our customers, friends, commercial partners and clients who have trusted us from day one. Whether you gave us an opportunity in the early days, recommended us, worked alongside us, booked training with us, awarded us contracts, or simply supported the business as it has grown, we genuinely appreciate it. None of this happens without the hard work, loyalty and commitment of the people around us. Our team, our customers, our suppliers, our learners, and everyone who has supported Great Oaks along the way have all played a part in getting us here. We have never been a company that shouts too loudly about what we are doing. Most of the time, we just get on with the work. But 8 years in, we are proud of what has been built, grateful for the support we have received, and excited for what comes next. Here’s to the next chapter for Great Oaks. #GreatOaks #8Years #Arboriculture #GroundsMaintenance #Training #LandBasedTraining #BusinessGrowth

From the outside, vegetation clearance projects can look fairly straightforward. In reality, sites like this often involve much more than simply cutting back overgrowth. This embankment clearance project at Garstang required careful planning around access, terrain, surrounding infrastructure, and biosecurity due to the presence of invasive Himalayan balsam across the site. The goal wasn’t just to clear vegetation - it was to create safe access for inspections and surveys while carefully managing the risk of spreading invasive species further. It’s a good example of how the approach behind vegetation clearance can be just as important as the clearance work itself.

A construction site doesn’t usually start by looking like a construction site. More often, it starts looking like this: 🌿 Overgrown access routes  🌲 Self-seeded trees  🚧 Dense vegetation  🪵 Uneven, difficult ground And if that isn’t dealt with properly early on, it can quickly start slowing everything else down. Vegetation clearance is often one of the first major steps before development work begins - but there’s a lot more involved than simply clearing trees and brush away. Access, safety, surrounding areas, machinery, waste removal, and future site use all need to be considered from the start. See below our break down of what vegetation clearance before construction actually involves, and why the approach taken early can make such a difference later in the project.

On sites like this, access, surrounding space, waste handling, and safe working at height all need to be considered before work even begins. Using a MEWP/cherry picker gave safe access across the full row of trees, while on-site chipping helped keep the area clear and the work moving efficiently throughout the project. Every site comes with different challenges - especially when trees have become heavily overgrown or difficult to reach - which is why choosing the right approach early makes such a difference. 👉 If you’re dealing with large overgrown conifers or difficult-to-manage trees, it’s always worth getting advice before the problem becomes bigger.

Thought it was just overgrown vegetation? A lot of invasive plants don’t look like a major issue at first - until they start spreading, taking over access routes, or causing problems for planned work on-site. By that point, dealing with it properly becomes a much bigger job. That’s why identifying and managing aggressive vegetation early can save a lot of time, disruption, and unnecessary cost later on. We regularly help clear and manage difficult vegetation across commercial sites, development land, and overgrown areas throughout the North West. If you’ve come across something on-site that’s spreading quickly or becoming difficult to manage, it’s always worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later.

When trees are close to buildings, access is limited and there’s little room for error. That’s why preparation becomes such an important part of the job. Before any cutting begins, factors like: • Surrounding structures • Drop zones • Tree condition • Access routes All need to be considered carefully. Every site presents a different challenge and choosing the right approach early is what helps keep the work safe, controlled, and efficient. 👉 If you’ve got a tree in a restricted or built-up area, it’s always worth getting the right advice from the start.

From overgrown and enclosed… to light, open, and usable. A great example of how the right approach can completely transform a space. This space had become heavily overgrown at the back, blocking light and making the area feel closed in. By carefully reducing and reshaping the trees, we were able to open everything up while still keeping the natural structure in place. 💬 What the client said: “I couldn’t recommend Great Oaks Services more! All the team were very friendly and accommodating, especially Tom who talked me through the options and answered all of my questions. The back of our garden was a big mess and getting very overgrown, it was a big job but we couldn’t be happier with the result. It is so much brighter and has really opened up the space. We will definitely use again when the tree re-grows and needs another prune - thank you!” Every tree is different, which is why taking the time to understand the space and the client’s needs makes all the difference.