To equip yourself for carrying out a site survey, you will need:

• a clipboard with a pad of large paper
• a 30 m (100 ft) tape measure
• a 60 m (200 ft) (or sufficiently long length) reel of string
• some skewers (tent pegs or metal skewers)
• some bamboo canes
• a compass

On the pad, draw a very rough outline plan of the house and boundaries of the garden; this will enable you to mark on the actual measurements at the appropriate points. Whilst it does not need to be to scale, it does need to show every detail, such as an angled wall, a chimney breast or porch. Front and back gardens should be plotted on separate sheets of paper.

Start with an outline of the house at the bottom of the sheet. Include any projections, such as a bay window or conservatory, the position of items such as an oil tank or garage, and any existing terracing or paths.

Next, draw in the boundaries of the plot, and show the angle of the plot in relation to the house. Note down what the boundaries are made from.

Now, mark in any existing large shrubs or trees, identifying the species if possible, and giving a rough indication of their height and spread.