BS 5837 guides
BS 5837:2012: guides to the tree survey standard
BS 5837:2012 is the British Standard for trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. It gives recommendations for surveying the trees on a site and protecting them during development. These guides explain the Tree Constraints Plan, the categories A, B, C and U, the survey report and the root protection area.
Updated
What is BS 5837:2012?
BS 5837:2012 is the British Standard Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. Recommendations.1
BSI published it on 30 April 2012.1 BSI lists it as current and under review.1
It gives recommendations and guidance on how trees and design, demolition and construction work relate to each other.2 It applies whether or not planning permission is needed.2
Councils use it for the tree information that goes with a planning application.2 We paraphrase the standard and do not reproduce it. Buy BS 5837:2012 from BSI for the full text.
Which BS 5837 guides are here?
- Tree Constraints Plan
What the plan shows, who needs it and when, and how it relates to the TPP, AIA and AMS.
- Categories A, B, C and U
What each category means, the sub-categories 1, 2 and 3, and the plan colours.
- Tree survey report
The sections of a report, the tree schedule, the method appendix and revisions.
- RPA calculator
The root protection area from the stem diameter, single or multi-stem, with the working.
- Tree protection fencing calculator
The fence line round the RPA, and the panels, feet and couplers to order.
- BS 5837 survey software
How Tree Atlas records the survey and produces the report and plan.
Where do these facts come from?
We paraphrase the standard and do not reproduce it. Buy BS 5837:2012 from BSI for the full text.
- 1BSI, BS 5837:2012 product page. Title "Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. Recommendations", published 30 April 2012, status "Current, Under Review". Checked 3 Nov 2026. knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/trees-in-relation-to-design-demolition-and-construction-recommendations
- 2Leeds City Council, Existing Trees and Development (Landscape Guidance No.1). Council guidance that reproduces Table B.1 of BS 5837:2012 (tree information at each planning stage) and sets out what Leeds asks for: survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, RPAs and the BS colours on plans. Checked 3 Nov 2026. leeds.gov.uk/docs/tree%20survey%20guidance%20note.pdf
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