Ross Webster Tree Services vs Oakdale
Specialist arboricultural contractor - tree surgery, vegetation clearance and emergency response across North Yorkshire, Teesside and the North East.
Overall: Ross Webster Tree Services 171 – 159 Oakdale
Verdict
The honest read
Our pick
Ross Webster Tree Services wins this comparison - but not everywhere
Ross Webster Tree Services leads on the weighted total (171 vs 159) because it publishes the compliance picture that matters: NPTC qualifications, £10M public liability, BS3998 standard work, site-specific RAMS and BS5837 survey expertise. Oakdale (NE) Ltd is a credible firm with real strengths - emergency response, experience depth, lawn care, pest control, small garden & general maintenance - and for those specific needs it deserves a serious look.
Where Oakdale leads
- Emergency response - Emergency response listed as core service
- Experience depth - Established 2000
- Lawn care - Grounds maintenance offered
- Pest control - Not stated
- Small garden & general maintenance - Grounds maintenance offered
Where Ross Webster Tree Services leads
- Public liability insurance - £10M public liability, certificate on request
- BS3998 working standard - BS3998 standard stated for pruning and maintenance
- Site-specific risk assessments (RAMS) - Site-specific RAMS before arriving on site
- TPO & conservation-area handling - BS5837 survey-for-planning service; TPO/conservation-aware
- Free, itemised written quotes - Free written quotes; no hidden costs
- Tree surveys & reports (BS5837) - BS5837 surveys for planning, mortgage and safety reports
- Waste removal & tidy finish - Waste removed and site cleared as standard
- Straight advice & communication
Level on: nptc / city & guilds qualifications; north yorkshire coverage; reviews & reputation; scheduled maintenance plans; firewood supply; fencing & landscaping.
Scores
Ross Webster Tree Services vs Oakdale, factor by factor
Each firm's own published information, scored 1–5 and weighted ×3 / ×2 / ×1. Notes under each score are the firm's own claims or the gap in its published material.
| Score summary | Our pick Ross Webster Tree Services | Oakdale |
|---|---|---|
| Safety-critical (weight ×3) | 102 / 105 | 87 / 105 |
| Important (weight ×2) | 64 / 70 | 60 / 70 |
| Adjacent services (weight ×1) | 5 / 25 | 12 / 25 |
| Overall | 171 / 200 | 159 / 200 |
| What we score | Our pick Ross Webster Tree Services | Oakdale |
|---|---|---|
| NPTC / City & Guilds qualifications Chainsaw and tree-work competence recognised by NPTC / City & Guilds (the industry standard). | NPTC qualified | All arborists fully trained and certified |
| Public liability insurance Current public liability cover - £5M is a sensible floor for tree work; £10M is better near buildings. | £10M public liability, certificate on request | Full public liability - level not published |
| BS3998 working standard Work carried out to BS3998 - the British Standard for tree work. | BS3998 standard stated for pruning and maintenance | Professional contractor standard implied by commercial work |
| Site-specific risk assessments (RAMS) A written risk assessment and method statement prepared for your specific site before work begins. | Site-specific RAMS before arriving on site | Commercial highways/infrastructure work implies method statements |
| TPO & conservation-area handling Understanding of Tree Preservation Orders and conservation-area rules, including applying to the council for consent. | BS5837 survey-for-planning service; TPO/conservation-aware | |
| Emergency response A credible emergency service for storm damage, fallen trees and dangerous branches - ideally with a clear phone process. | Emergency response listed as core service | |
| Free, itemised written quotes A free quote, in writing, itemised enough that you know what you are paying for. | Free written quotes; no hidden costs | |
| North Yorkshire coverage Genuine, local coverage of your part of North Yorkshire - not just a listing page claiming it. | North Yorkshire, Teesside, North East - highways, estates, private land | |
| Reviews & reputation Verifiable, recent reviews - ideally with volume - on Google or Checkatrade, or named customer quotes. | ||
| Experience depth Years in business and the range of work done - dangerous removals, conservation areas, commercial sites. | Established 2000 | |
| Tree surveys & reports (BS5837) Ability to provide tree surveys and reports for planning, mortgage, insurance or safety purposes (BS5837). | BS5837 surveys for planning, mortgage and safety reports | Consultancy-adjacent arboricultural services |
| Scheduled maintenance plans Ongoing, scheduled tree and hedge care - not just one-off jobs. | Scheduled 6/12-month maintenance plans, no contract | Grounds maintenance arm |
| Waste removal & tidy finish Branches, timber and chippings removed - and a registered waste carrier if waste leaves your site. | Waste removed and site cleared as standard | Site clearance and vegetation removal as core services |
| Straight advice & communication Honest advice - including when work is not needed - and clear communication from quote to completion. | ||
| Lawn care Whether the firm offers lawn care or turf services alongside tree work. | Not offered - tree-care specialist | Grounds maintenance offered |
| Pest control Whether the firm offers pest control services. | Not offered - tree-care specialist | Not stated |
| Small garden & general maintenance Whether the firm takes on small garden jobs and general maintenance. | Not offered - tree-care specialist | Grounds maintenance offered |
| Firewood supply Whether the firm sells firewood from removals. | Not offered | Not a stated service |
| Fencing & landscaping Whether the firm also does fencing or landscaping. | Not offered | Not a stated service |
Profiles
The firms, on their own evidence
Ross Webster Tree Services
North Yorkshire & County Durham · rosswebstertreeservices.co.uk ↗
- NPTC qualified; £10M public liability; site-specific RAMS before arrival
- BS3998 standard pruning and maintenance work
- Constructionline Gold - verified supplier for commercial buyers
- Free written quotes, no hidden costs, waste removed and site left tidy
- BS5837 tree surveys for planning, mortgage and safety reports
- Scheduled tree maintenance plans (6 or 12 monthly), no contract
- Covers North Yorkshire, County Durham and national sites
Established: Years of hands-on experience (Exact start date not published on site.)
Sources: rosswebstertreeservices.co.uk · checked August 2026
Oakdale (NE) Ltd
Cleveland & North Yorkshire · oakdaleltd.com ↗
- Established 2000; bases in Cleveland and North Yorkshire
- Commercial contractor for highways, infrastructure and estates
- Tree felling, pruning, stump removal, crown thinning, deadwood removal and emergency tree work
- Grounds maintenance alongside arboriculture
- Covers York, Scarborough, Whitby, Northallerton, Thirsk, Middlesbrough and the wider North East
Established: Established 2000
Sources: oakdaleltd.com · checked August 2026
Get a Ross Webster Tree Services quote
Free written quotes, NPTC qualified, £10M public liability, site-specific RAMS. Covers all of North Yorkshire and County Durham.
Ross is the best - when it comes to tree removal, tree surgery, pretty much anything to do with cutting a tree down, you can be sure he knows the answer. Google review
Get a Oakdale quote
Verify current services, insurance and availability directly - details change.