Tree Moving
As the UK’s leading tree moving contractors, Nature First Ltd have the experience and capability ensure that your transplanted trees continue to thrive in their new location.
Whether it is an 85cm diameter tree spade for lifting trees in the nursery of Europe’s largest tree spade with a massive 3m diameter rootball weighing nearly 12 tonnes, you can rely on Nature First to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Specialist equipment designed by Nature First’s tree moving experts can be used to move even the largest trees.
Below is a list of tree size and recommended rootball size. Naturally, the larger rootball that you dig, the less stress caused to the tree when transplanting. Economics and logistics then become a factor, by using our recommendations below, we have experienced a success rate of over 95% when transplanting unprepared trees using our mechanical tree spades.
| Tree Size | Tree spade/Rootball Size |
|---|---|
| up to 20cm girth | 85cm |
| up to 35cm girth | 1.1m |
| up to 45cm girth | 1.6m |
| up to 80cm girth | 2.1m |
| up to 150cm girth | 3.0m |
If there is the opportunity to undercut the tree roots at least one growing season before transplanting, the above tree sizes can be increased. The girth is measured as the circumference of the tree 1metre above ground level.
Nature First have tree spades in the following sizes:
| 85cm diameter | Mounted on skid steer loader or tractor 3 point linkage |
| 1.1m diameter | Mounted on JCB 3CX or 4CX excavator |
| 1.6m diameter | Mounted on Bedford TM 4X4 17 tonne truck fitted with low ground pressure tyres or Volvo loading shovel |
| 2.1m diameter | Mounted on Foden 6X6 28 tonne truck |
| 3.0m diameter | Mounted on 10X8 38 tonne truck |
Nature First transplant trees throughout the UK and Europe. Contact us today for a site visit and consultation.




