Expert witness / litigation Simon frequently acts as an Expert Witness in civil and criminal cases concerning trees. In the past this would always involve being instructed by one party or the other, but more recently he has also been instructed as a Single Joint Expert under the new Civil Procedure Rules introduced by Lord Woolf. He has also given evidence at public inquiries and inquests.   Click for larger image     Tree related legislation     Many trees are legally protected, typically by Tree Preservation Orders [TPOs] or if they are growing in designated Conservation Areas, but there are numerous other restrictions that can affect them either directly or indirectly. For instance the Countryside and Wildlife Act protects all bats and many of the birds that nest or roost in trees. This can restrict pruning and felling unless suitable measures are taken. This is an area where sound professional advice is becoming increasingly necessary.