I've got two 14 metre Leylandi (I know, I know, I didn't plant the damn
things) at the end of my small garden. I want them chopped down to a more
manageable 5 metres. I'm in the process of getting quotes from local tree
surgeons. The one I spoke to this afternoon plans to climb them, presumably
using climbling gear, and segment them from the top. As my garden is small
and access is difficult, this seems reasonable.

Are there any questions I should be asking apart from the obvious
(insurance, cost, time, removal of wood). Does the plan to retain the bottom
5 metres as a screen sound reasonable, providing it is regularly trimmed?
Any rough guides on cost?

Thanks,

Simon