Mark Jones Tree Surgery

26/09/2025

26/09/2025

When it comes to tree surgery most people think of noisy chainsaws, chippers and trees toppling over. However, in truth, some of the best parts of tree surgery are actually pretty delicate and precise. It’s not just about power tools; it’s about knowledge, restraint, and precision. A good tree surgeon knows how to keep a tree safe and healthy while still respecting its place in the landscape. And this has been reflected in recent weeks being able to leave our subtle but distinct mark on some tricky reductions. Being restricted by planning permissions, real skill has been shown by the team all round to leave what can only be described as masterpieces.
Sometimes the hardest job isn’t felling a giant it’s making a thoughtful cut. 🌳

25/03/2025

Attacked from all angles! Today saw the removal of this relatively small but wood heavy beech (Fagus sylvatica). This tree had been affected by both human and natural factors. Starting below ground Meripilus (Giant Polypore) had taken a hold on the roots creating two major issues. Due to meripilus being a root eating fungus it severely compromises the stability of the tree putting it at high risk of falling over. The second problem being that if a tree has little to no root system then its ability to take on nutrients within the soil is compromised. Back above ground and into the canopy, improper pruning from previous works had also reduced the life span of the beech. It’s important to stress that particular trees, especially beech trees, should not be reduced heavily and definitely not pollarded! The combination of poor pruning cuts to the little growth left and pollarding cuts on large wood it’s clear that the knowledge of the past company was limited. With the lack of nutrients and the stress from poor practice unfortunately didn’t give this tree much chance of recovery. A special thanks to and their cherry picker for the help in dismantling the old, crispy tree safely to create a safe environment for the customer. 🌳

31/01/2025

A few weeks into 2025 and our biggest job of the year so far. This magnificent veteran beech tree (Fagus sylvatica) with multiple battle scars present made for a tough decision to reduce the tree down to a height that was not only practically but retained enough tree for nature to utilise. With a big 9 foot tall wound on the front of the main stem potentially caused by bonfires in the past and also suffering from heart-wood eating Ganoderma, there was high potential for failure. The team worked hard over multiple days to systematically dismantle the tree over many targets including sheds, a footpath and new builds. Despite the restrictions in the drop zone the garden was left in the clean and tidy manner that it was before the work started minus the few ton of wood that the client had asked to remain on site. 🌳

24/09/2024

24/06/2024

Sometimes to get the job done all you need is a 57 metre, lorry mounted cherry picker! With this one certainly coming into play for this recent job in Dover after a large oak limb shed off onto a dead ash tree, subsequently landing in and uprooting a sycamore! The result of this domino effect was three very unstable trees overhanging a shed and leaning towards a house whilst all on a very steep bank. With no other safe trees around for a climber to anchor into combined with the unpredictably from the mess of trees the big guns were called in. Using the machines huge outreach up and over the house a combination of the picker and tie off lines (used to stabilise the trees) were used to piece the trees down safely. Huge praise to for getting a machine out so quickly and to their driver Alex for the setup in bit of a squeeze then the smooth operations around the tree! 🌳

10/05/2024

Days like these are the ones that make you forget about those freezing, dark, wet and miserable winter work days and remember why we started tree work in the first place. Beautiful weather and fantastic trees. This rather prominent copper beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea) in required some subtle but significant work to get it back into shape, not only for the high aesthetics but also to keep it a more fitting size for its surrounding environment. It surprises many people that beech trees, even of this size, are rather sensitive to heavy works so good arboricultural practices and techniques are a must! And as renowned as this trade is for the love of a chainsaw, not a single saw was started here and the whole process was carried out using just our trusty Japanese steel hand saws! Top quality work from the lads who take great pride in all their work regardless of the challenge faced! A proper happy Friday!

09/05/2024

As tree surgeons we’re use to being in situations where our work isn’t the most straight forward, this could be working over a newly installed green house or having no external access to the tree, just for example. However this particular job couldn’t have been any more ideal! The removal of the aspen (populus tremula) was agreed due to its location in the garden significantly reducing hours of sun light onto a recently planted vineyard. With a large drop zone and being able to park our 4x4 and chipper as close as we liked the boys could work like a Swiss made timepiece, working safely and efficiently the large tree was dismantled without a hitch. We treated the remaining stump with eco plugs to stop any future regrowth and eliminating any future problems. Another job well done by the team at MJTS

06/10/2023

Being able to reduce the canopy of a tree, whilst trying to make it look like it hasn’t been touched, can be a tricky goal to achieve. However, this week the boys set out to do just that on this blue cedar (Cedrus Atlantica). Making the tree more size appropriate for its environment but retaining a natural shape to this rather charming tree. The second obstacle that had to be overcome was the insane amount of pollen this tree produced. We can all agree that we’ve never worked on something that was so dusty and as unpleasant as it was, thankfully no one on the team suffers from the affects of hayfever! Another good result for the MJTS team! 🌳

22/09/2023

Last week ended with what is known in the tree trade as a “rather crispy” walnut dismantle (Juglans Regia). This much loved tree of our clients had unfortunately succumb to the inevitable effects of honey fungus (Armillaria). This time last year this lovely tree was in full leaf and looked in good health but with the devastating fungus present a year on the only option was to reduce the tree to ground level. The customer was more than keen to keep the gnarly fork area as a place for nature in one of their domestic orchards. It also means that the sentiment the tree holds for them can remain for them to enjoy. Just another example of where our professionalism and expertise has left a customer happy and thankful, well done team! 🌳

23/08/2023

Last week saw us take on the task of heavily pollarding this very mature English oak (Quercus robur). This magnificent and massive tree had very unfortunately been victim to high winds and it’s co-dominate stem had failed leaving the remaining half very unbalanced. Also with a large cavity undermining the remaining trunk, the choice to pollard means that the tree can be retained for wildlife to still enjoy without the risk of further immediate failure. The mammoth task was undertaken with the help of our friends at and their tracked cherry picker to make light of what even we call, a big job! 🌳

13/07/2023

Taking pride in our work is what helps motivate us to continuously work to the high standards our customers expect and deserve. And this is certainly one to be proud of! The boys worked hard on reducing this copper beech (Fagus purpurea) so that the large tree was no longer so dominating of the space it is in, whilst allowing the tree to be retained. Safe to say the client was chuffed with the results! 🌳