We're updating our open access Tree Risk-Benefit Management Strategy templates to better explain why when the Likelihood of Occupancy is Very Low, the risk from tree and branch failure is Acceptable.

This follows the update to our Process Map with the new Occupancy - Very Low category pointing to Acceptable Risk.

A shout out to the Visitor Safety Group (VSG), and Kerry Kirkpatrick, who kindly shared a pdf version of their publication , which is available from their website.

At the moment, you can only get a hard copy, but this might change soon.

The VSG is very much at the forefront of looking at the benefits you get from risks in the natural environment, and how Duty Holders can manage those risks to Acceptable levels.

Zones of Very Low Occupancy will appear in the appendices of the Government, Landowner, and School Strategy templates as we upgrade them over the next week.

This is what Zones of Very Low Occupancy looks like as a standalone document.

You can use this to back up occupancy zoning.

One of its roles is to help the ultimate decision makers like Judges, Coroners, and Enforcement understand the risk-benefit balance where occupancy is Very Low.

It also includes some important guidance on how Validators make decisions where when they carry out Detailed Assessments.

If you want to know how we do this, come along to one of our Tree Risk Training Workshops.

Dates for the rest of the year in the UK, Australia, and North America are all up on the Training Calendar.