Site Diary
Record a day on site while it is happening, because delay, weather and verbal instructions all become arguments later and are trivial to note now.
SI-05 2 pages
Garden and growing · GG-17
Tree Protection Zone Check During Building Work
A free printable tree protection check for building sites: each protected tree from the plan, every visit's fencing and ground check, and approved changes.
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2 pages. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.
Print it and write on it
Fill it in type and save
The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.
What this sheet is for
Show at every site visit that the fencing round each retained tree stayed put. A lettered key makes it quick to note exactly what was found inside a zone and who was told.
Who it is for
Site managers, project arborists, self-builders and homeowners with retained trees on a building job.
How to use it
- Copy each tree's number, protection radius and fence type from the approved tree protection plan.
- On each visit, tick the fence, signs and ground protection, and write the key letters for anything found inside a zone.
- Write the action taken and who was told on the same line.
- Record any agreed change to the fencing before it is made, with who approved it and their reference.
- Sign off when the fencing comes down after the final inspection.
What is on the sheet
2 pages, in this order:
Page 1
Printed under the title: Each retained tree listed once from the tree protection plan, then every site check of its fencing and ground, what was found inside the zone, and any change that was approved before it was made.
The plan sets the zone. Copy each tree's protection radius and fence type from the approved plan; no distance is set here. What is banned inside a zone, and who approves a change to the fencing, come from your permit's conditions and the rules where you are, so check them.
Write-on lines: Site · Planning or permit ref · Protection plan drawing no. · Project arborist · Arborist phone · Site manager · Fencing approved on
Trees protected — as shown on the protection plan
Also printed: Tree · Species · Radius · Fence type · Ground protection · Notes · as on the plan · as specified · where approved · access, works planned nearby
Site checks — tick what is right; write the tree no. against anything wrong
Also printed: materials or stock stored · vehicles or plant on it · spoil or topsoil heaped · washout: concrete, paint · digging or trenching · levels raised or lowered · fires, fuel or chemicals · fence moved, open or down · Date · Fence · Signs · Found · Ground · Damage · Action and who was told · initials · intact, in place · key letters · protection OK · bark, branches
Page 2
Also printed: Date · Fence · Signs · Found · Ground · Damage · Action and who was told · initials · intact, in place · key letters · protection OK · bark, branches
Approved changes — nothing moves until it is agreed
Also printed: Date · Tree · Change agreed · Approved by · Reference · Put back on · fence moved, work inside the zone · name · email, letter · date
Write-on lines: Fencing taken down on · After final inspection by · Signed
Questions
Why is no protection distance printed?
Because each tree's zone is set on its own approved plan, often from a calculation that depends on the tree's size and the site. Copy the radius from the plan for each tree, so the record matches what was approved rather than a general rule.
Who can approve a change to the fencing?
Usually the people named in your permit's conditions, such as the project arborist or the council's tree officer, but it varies. Check the conditions and the rules where you are, and write the approval reference in the changes table.
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