BUSINESS
How and when to use the
HELLIWELL TREE VALUATION SYSTEM The Helliwell tree valuation system can be used to place a monetary value on a tree or woodland area based on the visual amenity that it provides. We speak to tree care experts about the pros and cons of the Helliwell system The Helliwell system is useful when a client may need a tree or woodland area to be valued for use in a court case, for insurance claims or for a public inquiry. What makes the system stand out from other methods of valuation is that it was designed to be individual to the cost of growing and replacing the tree. he first stage to the elliwell tree valuation system is to score trees on a number of factors based on the visual amenity of the tree or woodland. The tree size needs to be marked on a scale of 0-8. The useful life expectancy, the importance of the position of the tree in the landscape, the presence of other trees and the relation to the setting should all be marked on a scale of 0-4. Finally, the tree’s form should be marked on a scale of 0-2. The system also previously included the historical association and exceptional rarity of the tree, however these are no longer part of the process. The second stage sees each of the factor scores multiplied together. The maximum combination would be 8 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 2 = ,0 6. All that’s left to do is convert the figure for the tree or woodland to a monetary figure. he current recommendation for the base rate of a point is £31.15 for individual trees and £124.59 for woodland areas, however other factors need to be considered, such as the effects
30 Pro Arb | September 2016
Helliwell.indd 30
the tree has on property, the area the tree is in and inflation rates. he conversion rate is not determined by the arborist making the valuation. Mark Chester, the owner of Cedarwood ree are spoke about the benefits of the system: “The biggest factor for the Helliwell system is that it provides a valuation for the visual side of trees which other systems have not arrived at yet.” Particularly useful is that the system recognises the fact that a tree in one location could have a completely different use and value to the exact same tree in a different place. The factors take this into account and the same tree could achieve different scores and appropriate valuations based on its value and location. However while Mark speaks highly of the system, he
It provides a valuation for the visual side of trees which other systems have not arrived at yet admits it is not without its drawbacks: “There are a lot of questions still to be answered about the system. It has not really been peer reviewed by arborists or economists, which can lead to a bit of confusion.” Dr Jon Heuch, principle consultant of Duramen, explained how results can be
confusing: “The Helliwell provides a simple system for establishing a monetary value, based on tree characteristics that many arborists can identify with. However, some
If two arborists assess the same tree using Helliwell they may come up with significantly different values parameters require a degree of judgment and experience. If two arborists assess the same tree using Helliwell they may come up with significantly different values. n part this is because of the large ‘steps’ between the given choices (0.5, 1 or 2) for some attributes.” It has also been argued that the Helliwell system does not reflect the cost of repairing a tree, Mark Chester explained: “A while back I had a client with a big yew tree which had to have a limb removed. A huge chunk of the tree had to be lost but obviously at the end of the day, the tree was still there. You have to really think about how you value what has been lost – it has to be proportional but also realistic. This is one of the situations where Helliwell doesn’t really help.” There are a number of alternative valuation systems if Helliwell does not meet the requirements for a valuation. Mark
WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM
08/09/2016 09:04