Not every tree stands conveniently beside a wide driveway. Many of the most challenging removals Plumridge Tree Experts undertakes involve trees in locations that seem impossible to reach — rear gardens accessible only through the house, properties on steep embankments, trees surrounded by walls, hedges and other trees. We call this difficult-access tree felling, and it is one of our specialities.
What counts as difficult access?
Any situation where standard equipment — aerial platforms, large chippers, trucks — cannot reach the tree. Common examples in the Brussels area include:
- Locked rear gardens with no vehicle access, only a narrow passage beside the house.
- Walled properties where gates are too narrow for machinery.
- Steep slopes or embankments, common along the Senne valley and in hilly communes like Watermael-Boitsfort and Linkebeek.
- Trees in courtyards surrounded by buildings on all sides.
- Trees in dense woodland where other trees block access.
- Protected sites where heavy machinery would damage sensitive ground (historic gardens, waterlogged soils).
- Trees overhanging railways, waterways or motorways requiring specialist coordination.
How we solve difficult access
Rope-access climbing
Our primary technique for difficult-access sites is professional tree climbing. Our arborists ascend the tree using ropes and harnesses, then dismantle it from the top down. No crane needed, no wide road access required. All the climber needs is the tree itself.
Advantages:
- Works anywhere the tree stands — no vehicle access required.
- Minimal ground disturbance — no heavy machinery on lawns or soft ground.
- Can reach trees surrounded by other trees, buildings or walls.
- Quiet compared to crane or platform operations.
Spider crane
For very large trees or situations where the trunk sections are too heavy to lower by hand, we deploy a spider crane — a compact, tracked crane that can:
- Fit through passages as narrow as 80 cm.
- Traverse soft ground, gravel and slopes with rubber tracks.
- Lift several tonnes, enabling swift removal of heavy trunk sections.
- Set up in confined spaces where a conventional crane would never fit.
Manual extraction
In the tightest situations, branchwood and trunk sections are cut into manageable pieces and carried out by hand. This is labour-intensive but sometimes the only option — and our team is equipped for it.
Helicopter extraction
In extreme cases — trees on inaccessible hillsides, island locations or above critical infrastructure — helicopter extraction is available. Plumridge coordinates with specialist aviation operators for these rare but sometimes necessary operations.
Handling the green waste
Difficult access affects not just the felling but also the removal of timber and branchwood:
- On-site chipping: where a chipper can be positioned nearby, we chip branchwood into a manageable volume for removal.
- Hand-carry: for sites with no machine access at all, our crew carries material out piece by piece.
- Compact tracked dumper: a small tracked vehicle to transport wood through narrow passages or over rough terrain.
- Wood left on site: if you have space, we can cut trunk sections into firewood lengths and stack them in your garden.
Difficult access and stump grinding
Stump grinding in difficult-access locations requires a narrow-access stump grinder — a machine slim enough to fit through a garden gate (as narrow as 70 cm). Plumridge has this equipment available. Where even this is not feasible, we can treat the stump chemically to prevent regrowth.
Regulations and permits
The same regulations apply regardless of access difficulty:
- Brussels-Capital Region: planning permission for standard trees (circumference > 40 cm at 1.50 m).
- Walloon Region (CoDT): permits may be required depending on the classification of the land.
- Nesting period restriction: 1 April – 15 August.
Difficult access does not exempt you from obtaining a permit. However, if the tree poses an immediate danger, emergency provisions allow removal without prior authorisation.
Case examples
- A 30-metre poplar in a rear garden in Ixelles: no vehicle access, neighbours on three sides. Fully dismantled by climbing, all wood carried out by hand through the house.
- Three storm-damaged oaks on a slope in Watermael-Boitsfort: spider crane deployed on soft ground to lift trunk sections over a garden wall.
- A dead ash in a walled courtyard in Saint-Gilles: climber-only operation, branchwood chipped on the street-side using a crane to pass sections over the wall.
- A leaning beech above a railway embankment in Linkebeek: coordinated with Infrabel for track closure, crane-assisted removal from the track side.
Why choose Plumridge for difficult-access felling
- Problem-solvers: no site is too awkward. We find a way.
- Experienced climbing team: our arborists are skilled rope-access professionals.
- Specialist equipment: spider cranes, narrow-access grinders, tracked dumpers.
- Fully insured: even the most complex jobs are covered.
- Transparent pricing: we explain any additional costs upfront — no surprises.
- Multilingual: English, French and Dutch spoken.
Get a free assessment
Have a tree in an impossible spot? Call Plumridge. We will find a way to remove it safely.
📞 +32 2 372 0452 — Describe your situation and we will arrange a site visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does difficult access make the job more expensive?
It can, because the work takes longer and may require specialist equipment like a spider crane. However, climbing-only operations in restricted spaces are often comparable in cost to aerial platform jobs. We always quote after seeing the site.
Can you access a tree only reachable through my house?
Yes. We regularly carry equipment through houses to reach rear gardens. We protect floors, walls and doorways with sheeting and padding. It is more common than you might think in Brussels’s terraced streets.
How do you remove the wood if there is no vehicle access?
We cut it into manageable pieces and carry it out. For larger jobs, a tracked mini-dumper may be used. If you prefer, we can leave firewood-length logs stacked in your garden.