Country Estate

Country Estate

Project:

Private Estate Supply

Client:

Country Estate, Dorset

Requirement:

Large specimen trees

Hillier Project Manager:

Jim Hillier, Kate Griffiths

Mature trees being planted in a private country estate
Mature tree being lifted by a crane to go on lorry
Strop being placed around the rootball of a semi mature tree

The Brief

The client that we were working with for this country estate project is a long standing customer of Hillier Trees. This is the fourth project that they have worked on with Hillier so they knew what it was that they wanted and were confident that we would have the right choice for them and would meet their requirements.

The client wanted to plant a number of large specimen trees in the country estate park including a combination of Birch, Maple, Walnut, Horse Chestnut, Hornbeam, Lime and Elm in sizes between 35-90cm.

Delivering the Project

We delivered the trees over a six week period with 10 deliveries in total. The estate that we were delivering to are experienced in tree planting so we were able to work with the local contractors to fit in with their schedules and make this as efficient as possible for them.

Lifting the Trees

The trees selected were of such a significant size that we had to hire a specialised spade to lift them. The spade consisted of eight prongs, each entering the soil separately. Once firmly in place, the tree is then carefully lifted and transported to the back of a lorry to go to the despatch yard. At the yard the tree is then placed on top of hessian and two cages. These protect the rootball and keep its shape and once the tree has been planted, the hessian and cage will biodegrade. The hessian is pulled up around the rootball and neatly wrapped, then the cages tightened around it – while one person could manage this task with smaller rootballs, many of these rootballs required three people.

Preparing the Tree for Delivery

After securely wrapping the rootball, the tree is tilted onto its side. Given its size, a crane is used to position the tree onto hay bales on top of pallets. Cherry pickers were used so that our team could reach the canopy to tie the branches. Each branch was drawn inward towards the main stem and secured with twine. This not only makes loading the tree onto the lorry easier but protects the branches during transportation.

Loading the Lorry

To transport these trees, a hi-ab crane is used for delivery. Upon its arrival, the trees need to be loaded onto the crane. To do this, a strop is placed around the rootball and main stem and a rope is fastened around a strong branch to guide the tree onto the lorry. Once securely loaded onto the lorry, the tree is strapped down and ready for delivery.

Spade lifting a mature tree out of the ground

Key Trees

Acer platanoides ‘Deborah’

This large Canadian variety thrives particularly well in urban settings, especially when surrounded by tall, sheer …

Aesculus indica

Aesculus indica, commonly known as the Indian Horse Chestnut, is a large deciduous tree native to …

Betula papyrifera var. kenaica

The Kenaica Birch, native to the coldest terrains of Alaska, stands out with its robust and …

Image coming soon

Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’

The ‘Fastigiata’ variety of Hornbeam boasts a more erect and upright structure compared to the species. …

Juglans regia

Juglans regia, also known as the Common Walnut, is a deciduous tree revered for its edible …

Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’

Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ is an American selection, introduced to the market in 1961 by Princeton Nurseries, …

View all Trees

Land Manager of the country estate said of the project;

The process has been smooth and efficient from the initial selection process, through billing and then delivery. Throughout we have been kept informed about the order, when and where the trees will arrive and if there have been any delays. I would very much recommend Hillier and the service they offer.