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Spring has finally arrived and so have the rogue tree surgeons warn Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service!

Warwickshire householders and landowners are advised not to employ door to door tree surgeons offering to carry out tree surgery work on their property.

Warwickshire County Forester Ken Simons said: “There have always been groups of people who travel the country in marked and unmarked vehicles, claiming to be tree surgeons.”

“In the last six months we have observed an increase in their number and this is reflected nationally.”

“Whilst some people may be genuine traders who are fully insured with trained and competent staff, many are opportunistic enterprises.”

“Across the region there have been reports of unscrupulous tree surgeons using the recent national publicity given about Ash dieback to misinform tree owners in order to carry out unnecessary work.”

“Such work has often led to a cost to the owner and the unnecessary felling of trees.”

“Any householder or landowner who is advised that he or she has a tree that is diseased or dangerous should seek a second opinion if they have not the expertise.”

“With regard to Ash dieback, there are no specific requirements to remove individual mature trees and in Warwickshire there have been no incidences of the disease affecting our woodland trees.”

Further information on Ash dieback can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

For more information on rogue gardeners etc. visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Consumers can make a consumer complaint by contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.

Follow Warwickshire Trading Standards at: www.twitter.com/warkstss

1) The Citizens Advice Consumer Service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.

Source: http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2013/04/18/dont-fall-for-ash-die-back-scam/