Longacre Tree Surgery

In 2017-2018 I (Martin oak) decided to start Longacre tree surgery LTD. I came from a back ground in Arb that spanned over 15 years, mainly working for commercial companies dealing solely with council contracts, I finished at one of the largest Arb companies in England, I started Longacre tree surgery as I felt this was a good way to progress in the industry,  I wanted to start a company that really provided an excellent service and provided job satisfactory for the people that were employed by Longacre tree surgery Ltd, we pride ourselves on being one of the highest wage payers in the industry as we feel this is the best way to look after our clients and our company will also be looked after.

2017-2020, I started with me and 1 other person, I purchased a chipper and a van also some saws and climbing equipment and started to put my company out there, we quickly grew from turning over £150k the first year to £400k by the end of the 2020, we was subcontracting some council work from  a Large Arb company and we had also gained some of our own commercial clients, from property management, Building contractors, to parish councils, learning how to organise work on larger scale. We now work with 3 Parish council, Adenham parish council, Broad oak parish council we have just set out a plan for a large arb passive survey for Ardeley Parish Council, we also work closely with Maylim a leading landscape company.

Towards the end off 2020 now with 5 regular staff  I realised the my skill set  was only going take this company so far. Plus at this stage I was still working each day climbing for Longacre, We employed Gary O’Sullivan- he at the time was a contracts and area manager for a large Arb company but wanted a new challenge, gary has been an integral part in the growth of Longacre that now turns over more than £750k per year. 

Gary s Qualifications:Certificate in Horticulture Grade Achieved:Pass City and Guilds Tree, Surgery for Craftsmen Grade Achieved:CreditNational Diploma In Forestry and ArboricultureGrade Achieved:Triple DistinctionRFS, Level 2 in Forestry and Arboriculture Grade Achieved:Merit/DistinctionInstitution of Occupational Safety and Health, (IOSH) Managing Safely course Charted Management Insitute (CMI), Certificate in First LineManagementCurrently studying for a NEBOSH qualification.Qualified LOLER Inspector, FAA Level 3 Award in Forestry  First Aid FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work Annual Continued Professional Development Record on request North East Surrey College of Technology, Epsom, SurreyJune 19921 Year Course, 1 Day Per Week Merrist Wood, Godalming  ,Surrey September 199510 Week Course: Sparsholt College, Sparsholt, WiltshireSeptember 2003 – June 20052 year National Diploma Merrist Wood, Godalming, Surrey20121 Year Course, 1 Day Per Week25 the February 201624 the August 201521st August 202321st August 2023Training Courses: Arboricultural Association Tree Pests, Diseases & DisordersArboricultural Association Arboriculturally KnowledgeArboricultural Association The AA Risk Assessment SystemArboricultural Association Report Writing.

I (Martin Oak) although highly qualified in the practical side of the industry am now more available to broaden my qualifications and have recently started my level 2 Isa in Arb and will be working towards my level 4 in the coming years. All of our staff receive continual personal development and every one is trained to highest grade and standard, to carry out each of there job rolls.

In 2021 our big break came, we were approached by islington council, they had some excess work they needed completing and asked us if we could help, the work they had was PFi ( properties of islington) we had the task of organising and visiting residential properties and using the spec provided by islington we had to complete various works on the trees located mainly in the back or front gardens, this job includes contacting council residents organising a date and times to visit the tenants , then once price was agreed with the council we set about  the work, work organising days with each individual tenant  to complete  the work and also sorting the parking restrictions needed, at the time the council was succeeding in only getting 38% of this work completed, since we have taken over the council have a 98% success rate in completion of work. This has prompted Islington to work with us more and more over the coming years and now we have successfully organised and completed over £400-£500k each year. (We can obtain any references from Islington council upon request).

In 2022 we became Arb approved, we also invested £180k in the company and Brought 3 new vans, 7.5 ton hiab lorry that can lift up to 3ton, a brand new 523 series avant low loader, 3 new chippers that, 1 x Forst track chipper, 2 x Bandit XG stump grinders, an FSI pedestrian stump grinder, a 2024 23m truck mounted cherry picker. We feel that investing in our company in brand new equipment insure that we can carry on the great service we provide and it makes us very reliable. 2024-2025 we will be granted our ISO accreditations and looking to build the company further by going.