Most of our work comes from neighbours who watched us work next door. Here's what they noticed.
A fixed price, in writing
The price on your quote is the price you pay. Nothing gets added on the day.
We turn up when we say
You get a confirmed date and a text the evening before we arrive.
Spotless when we leave
Every branch, leaf and woodchip cleared. Logs stacked if you'd like them.
Properly insured and trained
Our certificates come with every quote, so you know you're covered.
Caversham, RG4
Crown reduction on a 120-year-old oak
The oak had grown out over the house, blocking light to the whole back garden and dropping branches onto the roof. It sits in a conservation area, so we gave the council notice first, then reduced the crown by around a third.
The job
30% crown reduction
Time on site
One day, two climbers
Paperwork
Conservation area notice handled
Waste
Two loads chipped and recycled
"We've got our garden back, and the tree looks better than it has in years."
Sarah M., Caversham
How a job works
Simple and clear, with no pressure at any stage.
Free site visit
We come out, look at the trees and talk through what you'd like done.
Written quote
A fixed price by email within 24 hours. Take as long as you need to decide.
The work
Our qualified team arrives on the agreed day with the right kit for the job.
Full tidy-up
Everything cleared and recycled. You'd never know we'd been.
What our customers say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by more than 120 local customers.
"Two huge leylandii taken down right next to the house. They laid boards over the patio and cleared up better than we'd left it."
★★★★★Pruning
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
★★★★★Emergencies
"A branch came down on our fence in the storm. They were here within two hours, made it safe and came back the next day to clear everything."
Example reviews for this demo website.
Recent work
A few jobs from around Reading and Berkshire. Tap a photo to see it bigger.
Do we cover your area?
We're based in Reading and work within about 20 miles. Check your postcode to find out in seconds.
Do I need permission to cut down or prune my tree?
Sometimes. If your tree has a Tree Preservation Order or you're in a conservation area, the council needs to approve the work first. We check this for every job and handle the application for you.
How much does tree work cost?
It depends on the size of the tree, the access and what needs doing. Pruning starts from around £250 and stump grinding from £90. Every quote is free, fixed and in writing. See our guide prices on the services page.
Do you take all the waste away?
Yes. Branches are chipped and taken away for recycling, and the area is swept and raked. If you'd like logs for the fire, we'll cut and stack them for you.
Are you insured?
Yes. We carry £5 million public liability insurance, and we send the certificate with every quote.
How soon can you start?
Most jobs are booked in within one to two weeks of you accepting the quote. Emergencies are dealt with the same day.
What's the best time of year for tree work?
Most work can be done at any time of year. Some pruning is best in late autumn and winter when trees are dormant, and we avoid disturbing nesting birds in spring.
Got a tree that needs sorting?
Tell us what's going on and we'll come and look at it for free. You'll have a fixed, written price within 24 hours.
Overgrown trees block light, drop branches onto roofs and cars, and cause rows with neighbours. Careful pruning fixes all of that and keeps the tree healthy for years.
A tidy hedge makes the whole property look cared for. We cut to a clean, even finish and can bring an overgrown hedge back down to a height you can manage.
When a tree or large branch comes down on a house, car, fence or road, it can't wait. Our emergency team is on call 24 hours a day across Reading and Berkshire.
Overgrown trees block light, drop branches onto roofs and cars, and cause rows with neighbours. Careful pruning fixes all of that and keeps the tree healthy for years.
Good pruning is about taking the right branches, not just the most. We reduce the crown evenly so the tree keeps its natural shape, cut back to healthy growth points so it heals properly, and never top a tree, which leaves it weak and ugly.
Every job is carried out to BS 3998, the British Standard for tree work. If your tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or sits in a conservation area, we check and handle the paperwork before we start.
What's included
Crown reduction
Crown thinning
Crown lifting over lawns, drives and roads
Deadwood removal
Pruning back from roofs, gutters and wires
Fruit tree and ornamental pruning
All cuttings chipped and removed
Site swept and left tidy
Signs you might need this
Branches are touching the roof, gutters or windows
The garden gets little light in summer
There are dead or snapped branches in the crown
A neighbour has complained about overhang
Nobody has looked at the tree in five years or more
What happens on the day
We look at the tree
A free visit to check its health and species, and talk about what you want from it.
We agree the cuts
You'll know exactly what's coming off before we start, and the price is fixed.
We prune and clear
Climbers work the crown while the ground team chips everything as it comes down.
Questions about pruning
Will pruning harm my tree?
Not when it's done properly. We cut to natural growth points and never remove more than the tree can cope with, usually no more than a quarter of the crown.
When is the best time to prune?
Most trees can be pruned at any time of year. Some, like birch and walnut, are best pruned in late summer or winter, and we work around nesting birds in spring.
Can I cut back my neighbour's overhanging branches?
You can usually cut back to your boundary, but you should offer the branches back and check the tree isn't protected. We can check that for you.
What customers say
★★★★★
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
★★★★★
"We manage a block of flats and use Oakleaf for all our trees. Reliable, insured, and they always send photos when the job's done."
Most gardens don't have room to drop a tree in one piece, so we dismantle it in sections. Our climbers cut each piece and lower it on ropes, controlling every branch so nothing lands on your roof, greenhouse or borders.
Where there's open space we fell straight. Either way, we chip the brush, cut the trunk into logs and clear the lot, unless you'd like the logs stacked for the fire.
What's included
Sectional dismantling with rigging
Straight felling where space allows
Conifer and leylandii removal
Boards over lawns, patios and beds
All timber and brush removed
Logs cut and stacked on request
TPO and conservation area checks
Stump grinding the same day if you want it
Signs you might need this
The tree is dead or has lost most of its leaves
There are large cracks, splits or fungus at the base
It's leaning more than it used to
Roots are lifting paths, walls or drains
It's simply too big for the space
What happens on the day
We survey the site
We plan the drop zones, rigging points and access before we quote.
We protect your garden
Boards and sheets go down over lawns, patios and beds.
We dismantle and clear
Section by section, then everything is chipped and taken away.
Questions about felling
Do I need permission to remove a tree?
Only if it has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area. We check every tree before we quote and can apply to the council for you.
How long does it take?
A medium garden tree usually takes a few hours. Large trees in tight spaces can take a day or two.
What happens to the wood?
Brush is chipped and recycled. Logs can be taken away, or cut to size and stacked for you to keep.
What customers say
★★★★★
"Two huge leylandii taken down right next to the house. They laid boards over the patio and cleared up better than we'd left it."
★★★★★
"Very professional from the first visit. The price on the quote was the price we paid, and the team were polite and careful throughout."
Our compact grinder fits through a standard garden gate, so we can reach stumps in back gardens without taking down fences. It chews the stump and main roots down below ground level, and we chase out surface roots running across the lawn.
We can leave the chippings as mulch, or take them away and back-fill the hole with topsoil, ready for seed, turf or a new plant.
What's included
Grinding 15–30cm below ground
Surface roots chased out
Narrow machine for garden gates
Chippings removed or left as mulch
Hole back-filled with topsoil
Single stumps or whole gardens
Signs you might need this
An old stump is in the way of a lawn or patio
New shoots keep sprouting from the stump
Fungus is growing on or around it
You're planning to build or landscape over the spot
What happens on the day
We check access
We measure the gate and check for buried pipes and cables first.
We grind it out
The stump and main roots are ground well below the surface.
We tidy up
Chippings cleared and the hole filled with topsoil.
Questions about stump grinding
Will the machine fit in my garden?
Our grinder fits through a gap of about 70cm, which covers most garden gates and side passages.
How deep do you grind?
Usually 15–30cm below the surface, deep enough for turf or planting. We can go deeper if you're building over the spot.
Can you remove the stump completely?
Grinding is the best option for most gardens. Digging out the whole root plate is possible, but it causes far more disruption.
What customers say
★★★★★
"Three old stumps ground out in under two hours. The machine fitted through our side gate and the lawn was barely marked."
★★★★★
"A branch came down on our fence in the storm. They were here within two hours, made it safe and came back the next day to clear everything."
A tidy hedge makes the whole property look cared for. We cut to a clean, even finish and can bring an overgrown hedge back down to a height you can manage.
We cut every type of hedge, from laurel, privet and beech to leylandii that has been left to run wild. For tall hedges we work from towers and platforms, so the top is as straight as the sides.
If a hedge has got out of hand, we can reduce its height and width in one visit, then keep it in shape with a cut once or twice a year.
What's included
One-off cuts and regular visits
Height and width reductions
Laurel, privet, beech, conifer and more
Tall hedges cut from towers
Hedge removal and replanting
All cuttings cleared away
Signs you might need this
The hedge is blocking light or the pavement
It's taller than you can safely reach
The sides are bulging into the garden or drive
A neighbour has asked for it to be cut back
What happens on the day
We agree the shape
Height, width and finish are agreed before we start.
We cut and shape
Hand tools and trimmers for a clean, even line.
We clear everything
Cuttings raked out of the hedge base and taken away.
Questions about hedges
How often should a hedge be cut?
Most hedges need one or two cuts a year, usually in early and late summer. Fast growers like leylandii may need more.
Can you cut during nesting season?
We check every hedge for active nests first. It's illegal to disturb nesting birds, so we'll delay the work if we find one.
Can you cut back a really overgrown hedge?
Yes. Most hedges can be cut back hard in one go. Conifers are the exception, as they won't regrow from bare wood, so we'll advise how far to go.
What customers say
★★★★★
"Our laurel hedge was nearly four metres tall. It's now a sensible height and perfectly straight. We've booked them for every summer."
★★★★★
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
When a tree or large branch comes down on a house, car, fence or road, it can't wait. Our emergency team is on call 24 hours a day across Reading and Berkshire.
Our first job is to make the site safe. We remove hanging branches, take the weight off anything the tree has landed on and stop further damage. Once it's safe, we come back to clear everything properly.
We deal with insurers and loss adjusters every week, so we'll take photos and write up a report you can send with your claim.
What's included
24-hour emergency phone line
Fallen trees and branches made safe
Hanging and split limbs removed
Trees cleared from roofs, cars and roads
Photos and reports for insurance claims
Full clear-up once it's safe
Signs you might need this
A tree or branch has fallen on a building, car or fence
A large branch is hanging or split
A tree is suddenly leaning after a storm
A tree is blocking a road, drive or path
What happens on the day
Call us
Ring the emergency line and tell us what's happened.
We make it safe
A team arrives, secures the site and removes the danger.
We clear up
We come back to clear the rest and help with your insurance.
Questions about emergency call-outs
How fast can you get here?
Across most of our area we can be with you within a few hours, often sooner. Call and we'll give you an honest arrival time.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many home insurance policies cover tree damage to your property. We provide photos and a written report to support your claim.
Is it safe to stay in the house?
If a tree has hit your home and you can hear cracking or see damage to walls or the roof, get everyone out and call us and the emergency services.
What customers say
★★★★★
"A branch came down on our fence in the storm. They were here within two hours, made it safe and came back the next day to clear everything."
★★★★★
"Friendly, quick and tidy. They even swept the road outside when they'd finished. Couldn't recommend them more."
Before any work, we check whether your tree has a Tree Preservation Order or sits in a conservation area. If it does, we write and submit the application to the council for you, then carry out the work once it's approved.
We also carry out tree condition surveys for homeowners, buyers, landlords and businesses, so you know which trees are healthy, which need work and which are a risk.
What's included
TPO and conservation area checks
Council applications submitted for you
Tree condition and safety surveys
Reports for house sales and mortgages
Advice for planning applications
Honest advice, even if no work is needed
Signs you might need this
You're not sure if your tree is protected
You're buying a house with large trees nearby
Your mortgage lender or insurer has asked about trees
You're planning an extension near a tree
What happens on the day
We check the records
We look up TPOs and conservation areas for your address.
We inspect the trees
A qualified arborist assesses health, safety and your options.
We report and apply
You get clear advice, and we handle any council application.
Questions about surveys & tpos
How do I know if my tree has a TPO?
Your local council keeps a register. We check it for every job, free of charge, before we quote.
How long does a TPO application take?
Councils usually decide within six to eight weeks. We keep you updated and book the work in as soon as it's approved.
What if I cut a protected tree without permission?
It's a criminal offence and fines can be large. It's always worth checking first, and we do that for you.
What customers say
★★★★★
"Our tree is in a conservation area and I had no idea where to start. They sorted the council notice and did the work as soon as it was approved."
★★★★★
"Two huge leylandii taken down right next to the house. They laid boards over the patio and cleared up better than we'd left it."
From Victorian terraces in the town centre to family gardens in Emmer Green and Earley, we work on every kind of property in Reading. Town gardens often have tight access, so we're used to dismantling trees in small spaces and carrying everything out by hand.
Being based in Reading means we can usually visit within a day or two, and we're never more than a short drive away if something goes wrong in a storm.
Caversham's large Victorian and Edwardian gardens are full of mature trees, from oaks and limes to towering conifers. We carry out a lot of crown reductions here, bringing light back into gardens without losing the character of the trees.
Parts of Caversham fall within conservation areas, so we check every tree before we quote and give the council notice where it's needed.
Pruning, felling, stump grinding and hedge cutting across Wokingham (RG40, RG41). Based just down the road in Reading, fully insured and NPTC-qualified.
Wokingham has grown fast, and newer estates often come with quick-growing hedges and trees planted too close to houses. We keep hedges in shape, remove trees that have outgrown their spot and grind out stumps so gardens can be landscaped.
We also look after older properties in the town centre and the villages around it, where mature trees need regular care.
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
★★★★★Hedges
"Our laurel hedge was nearly four metres tall. It's now a sensible height and perfectly straight. We've booked them for every summer."
Example reviews for this demo website.
Storm damage or a dangerous tree?
Our emergency team is on call 24 hours a day across Reading and Berkshire.
Pruning, felling, stump grinding and hedge cutting across Henley-on-Thames (RG9). Based just down the road in Reading, fully insured and NPTC-qualified.
Much of Henley is covered by conservation areas, so most tree work needs the council to be notified first. We check every tree and handle the paperwork, so riverside and town-centre gardens stay looked after without any risk of fines.
Larger riverside properties often have big specimen trees that need specialist climbing work, which our team does every week.
Pruning, felling, stump grinding and hedge cutting across Bracknell (RG12, RG42). Based just down the road in Reading, fully insured and NPTC-qualified.
Alongside homeowners, we look after trees for businesses, schools and managed estates across Bracknell, keeping paths, car parks and buildings clear and safe all year round.
For commercial sites we can work early, late or at weekends to keep disruption to a minimum, and we send photos and a report after every visit.
"We manage a block of flats and use Oakleaf for all our trees. Reliable, insured, and they always send photos when the job's done."
★★★★★Pruning
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
Example reviews for this demo website.
Storm damage or a dangerous tree?
Our emergency team is on call 24 hours a day across Reading and Berkshire.
Around Theale and the villages west of Reading, many properties have large gardens, paddocks and boundary trees. We handle bigger jobs here, from felling and boundary hedges to clearing storm damage after high winds.
Our tracked kit can reach the back of large plots without damaging lawns, even in wet weather.
Between Reading and Maidenhead, Twyford's gardens range from cottage plots to large detached properties. We prune fruit and ornamental trees, cut hedges and remove trees that have grown too big for their spot.
Many of our Twyford customers book us for a regular hedge cut each summer, so their gardens never get out of hand.
Tilehurst's hillside gardens often have tricky access and big trees on the boundaries. Our climbers reach trees that machines can't, and we take extra care on sloping sites.
We regularly reduce boundary trees here to bring back light and views, while keeping the privacy that makes these gardens special.
Oakleaf began in 2011 with one climber, one van and a chipper borrowed from a friend.
Back then, most of the tree surgeons we saw turned up late, left a mess and added extras to the bill. We built Oakleaf to do the opposite: give a fixed price, turn up when we say, do the work properly and leave the garden spotless.
Today we're a team of eight, with our own climbers, ground crew and stump grinding kit. Most of our work still comes from word of mouth, which is exactly how we like it.
1 for 1we plant a new tree for every one we remove
What we stand for
Safety first, every time
Every climber is NPTC-certified in chainsaw use and aerial rescue. We plan every job before we start and never cut corners to save time.
Honest advice
If a tree doesn't need work, we'll tell you. If it needs less than you thought, we'll tell you that too.
Care for the trees
We prune to keep trees healthy, recycle all our waste and replant wherever we can.
Respect for your home
Boards over lawns, sheets over plants, and a full sweep-up before we leave. We treat your garden like our own.
The team behind the work
Climbers, ground crew and an office team who answer the phone.
Our climbersNPTC-certified for chainsaw work and aerial rescue, with years of experience on large trees.Aerial workRopes and harnesses let us reach trees that machines can't, without damaging your garden.Ground crewChipping, rigging, clearing up and making sure the site is safe throughout.
Qualified and insured
Certificates are sent with every quote, so you know exactly who's working on your property.
£5m public liabilityPlus employer's liability for the whole team.
NPTC certifiedChainsaw, climbing and aerial rescue tickets.
BS 3998 standardAll work to the British Standard for tree work.
Licensed waste carrierGreen waste recycled, never fly-tipped.
First aid trainedEvery team member, on every job.
Fully risk-assessedWritten risk assessments for commercial sites.
Want to work with us?
Get in touch for a free visit and a fixed price. No pressure, just honest advice from a local team.
"Two huge leylandii taken down right next to the house. They laid boards over the patio and cleared up better than we'd left it."
★★★★★Pruning
"Clear quote, turned up exactly when they said, and the oak looks fantastic after the crown reduction. We can actually see the sky from the kitchen now."
★★★★★Emergencies
"A branch came down on our fence in the storm. They were here within two hours, made it safe and came back the next day to clear everything."
★★★★★Surveys & TPOs
"Our tree is in a conservation area and I had no idea where to start. They sorted the council notice and did the work as soon as it was approved."
★★★★★Hedges
"Our laurel hedge was nearly four metres tall. It's now a sensible height and perfectly straight. We've booked them for every summer."
★★★★★Stump grinding
"Three old stumps ground out in under two hours. The machine fitted through our side gate and the lawn was barely marked."
★★★★★Felling
"Very professional from the first visit. The price on the quote was the price we paid, and the team were polite and careful throughout."
★★★★★Pruning
"We manage a block of flats and use Oakleaf for all our trees. Reliable, insured, and they always send photos when the job's done."
★★★★★Hedges
"Friendly, quick and tidy. They even swept the road outside when they'd finished. Couldn't recommend them more."
Example reviews for this demo website.
Join our happy customers
Get a free visit and a fixed, written price within 24 hours.
Tell us about the job and we'll call you back within 24 hours to arrange a free visit. No obligation and no pressure.
1The job
2Location
3Your details
What do you need?
For a dangerous or fallen tree, don't wait for a callback. Call 0118 000 0000
Where's the job?
Your details
We'll call you back within 24 hours. Photos help, but they're not essential.
G
4.9 on GoogleFrom 124 local reviews
£5m
Fully insuredPublic liability cover
NPTC
Qualified climbersChainsaw and aerial rescue
BS
Work to BS 3998The British Standard for tree work
24h
Emergency call-outsDay or night, all year
Privacy policy
How Oakleaf Tree Care collects, uses and protects your personal information.
This is an example privacy policy for a demo website. Each client site gets its own policy, written for their business.
Who we are
Oakleaf Tree Care ("we", "us") provides tree surgery services in Reading and Berkshire. We are responsible for the personal information you give us. You can contact us at [email protected] or on 0118 000 0000.
What we collect
When you contact us through this website, by phone or by email, we may collect:
Your name, phone number, email address and postcode
The address where the work is needed
Details and photos of the job you'd like done
Notes from our calls and visits
How we use it
We use your information to reply to your enquiry, arrange a visit, send you a quote, carry out the work and keep records for accounts and insurance. We rely on your request for a quote, and on our legitimate interest in running our business, to do this.
We will only send you marketing messages if you've agreed to receive them, and you can opt out at any time.
Who we share it with
We never sell your information. We use trusted service providers to store enquiries and send text messages and emails on our behalf. They only use your information to provide that service to us.
How long we keep it
We keep enquiry details for up to two years after our last contact with you, and job records for six years for tax and insurance purposes.
Your rights
You can ask to see the information we hold about you, ask us to correct it or ask us to delete it. To do this, email us at the address above. If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
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Caversham, RG4
Pruning & crown reduction in Reading
Tree felling & removal in Reading
Stump grinding in Reading
Hedge cutting & reduction in Reading
Storm damage & emergencies in Reading
Tree surveys & TPOs in Reading
