About Hollins Tree Care
Four people, one van, and a habit of sweeping the drive twice.
14 years of tree work in Surrey gardens
Tom Hollins grew up in Shalford and spent his school holidays dragging brash for a local tree surgeon. After training in arboriculture at Merrist Wood College, he climbed for other firms for three years, then started Hollins Tree Care in 2012 with a second-hand chipper and an old van parked on his mum's drive.
Most of our work is in back gardens, close to houses, fences and greenhouses. That's why we climb and rig rather than drop trees in one piece, and why we spend as long clearing up as some firms spend on the job. We still take on the small jobs: a single fruit tree is as welcome as a row of poplars.
The people who'll be in your garden
No subcontractors. The four of us do every job ourselves.
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Tom Hollins
Owner and climberStarted the firm in 2012 with a second-hand chipper and an old van. Still comes out to price every job himself.
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Sam Okafor
Lead climberJoined in 2016. Does most of the big takedowns over houses, and is the calmest person on any job.
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Jake Pennington
GroundsmanRuns the chipper and the stump grinder, and won't leave until the drive has been swept twice.
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Lucy Hollins
Office and bookingsTom's sister. Answers the phone, books your visit and sends your written quote, usually the same day.
The paperwork, before you have to ask
We'll email you copies of any of these with your quote.
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NPTC chainsaw certificates
City and Guilds NPTC certificates for chainsaw use and felling (CS30 and CS31) for everyone who uses a saw.
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NPTC climbing and rescue
Every climber holds tree climbing and aerial rescue (CS38) and chainsaw use from a rope and harness (CS39).
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£5 million public liability
Cover for your house, your neighbour's property and anything else near the work. £10 million employer's liability too.
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Work to BS 3998
Pruning and reduction cuts follow BS 3998:2010, the British Standard for tree work.
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Registered waste carrier
We're registered with the Environment Agency to carry waste, and all chippings are recycled.
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First aid trained
Every member of the team holds a current outdoor first aid certificate.
Safe for you, your house and our team
- A written risk assessment for every job
- The work area roped off and signed before we start
- Branches lowered on ropes near buildings, never dropped
- Two people on site whenever someone is climbing
- Lawns protected with boards when we bring in machines
- The garden raked and the paths swept before we leave
Ask Tom for a fixed quote
Tom will come and look at the job for free and send you a written price. That's the price you pay, even if the job takes us longer.
