Tree Management Policy 2025 - Site zoning - occupancy zoning and mapping

Hart District Council shall divide its landholding into three occupancy zones dependent on how the land is used, frequency of use, value of property and the nature of the tree population. A suitably qualified person and/or other member of staff with a working knowledge of site usage shall be responsible for reviewing each site and plotting occupancy zones into a GIS-based mapping system.

The Council is responsible for a significant number of trees. To identify and manage the risk the Council will inspect its trees on a frequency determined by zones. The zones are categorised as high, medium and low according to the level of occupancy of people and/or value of property within striking distance of trees.

There are advantages and disadvantages for inspecting trees at different times of the year. For instance, during summer when foliage is fully developed it can be possible to assess the vitality of a tree’s crown, or more clearly see potential branch defects when a tree is leafless during the winter or see annual fungal fruiting bodies which predominantly appear in late summer and autumn. In high occupancy zones, the inspector will take account of the seasonal advantages and disadvantages and where necessary will adjust the inspection frequency.