18/09/2025
David Evans guides us through what a resilient, common-sense tree risk-benefit management strategy looks like, with case studies. Looking at some legal judgments and verdicts through the lens of reasonable, proportionate and reasonably practicable risk management.
Speaking truth to power: Why you need a tree risk-benefit management strategy
When you carry out an assessment about the risk from trees and branches falling, make your decisions under the protective umbrella of a tree risk-benefit management strategy.
A strategy that fulfils your duty of care by managing risk to a tolerable or acceptable level. A strategy that clearly defines what you’re doing and why. A strategy that insurers will underwrite and is cost-effective.
Not only does a robust strategy handle more than 95% of your risk assessments, it gives you the best chance of capturing red risks before they happen. In the extremely rare event that a green risk happens and a claimant considers legal or enforcement action, your best defence is the in-depth defence you get with your strategy. That’s because your strategy speaks truth to power. It speaks truth to the ultimate decision makers, like judges, coroners, and enforcement officers.
David is the Director of VALID, a not-for-profit that is dedicated to improving and sharing how we go about managing and assessing tree risk.
