Conservation Area Tree Checker
Even where there is no Tree Preservation Order, trees in a conservation area can still be protected. Check a postcode against available public data, and read what the conservation-area rules usually mean before you prune, pollard or fell.
SL8 5PJ
2 TPO zones nearby- Closest TPO zone
- within 100 m
- Conservation area
- In report
- Listed buildings
- In report
How it works
How to check if a tree has a TPO.
01Search the postcode
We find the location and plot every published TPO zone nearby on a map.
02Read the distance
Zones are shown by distance, not yes or no. Anything within 100 m deserves a closer look.
03Confirm with the council
Your Local Planning Authority has the final word. Get it in writing before work starts.
Reading a result
A blank result isn’t a clear one.
A Tree Preservation Order protects a named tree, group or woodland, and you need written consent before pruning, felling, topping, lopping or uprooting it. Every published TPO zone near your postcode is drawn on the map with its distance from the property.
Trees in a conservation area can be protected even where no TPO is shown, and council coverage of the national dataset is uneven — so your Local Planning Authority must confirm the status of any tree before work begins.
What a conservation area is
A conservation area is a part of a town or village that a council has designated because of its special architectural or historic interest — somewhere whose character is worth protecting. There are thousands of them across the UK, covering everything from historic town centres to leafy residential streets.
Trees often make a big contribution to that character, so they get extra protection within the boundary. The boundary itself is defined by the council, which is why two neighbouring houses can sit under different rules.
Why trees in conservation areas matter
In a conservation area, most trees above a certain size are protected even without an individual TPO. Before carrying out work, you generally have to give the council written notice — often six weeks' notice — so it has a chance to consider the tree and, if it wishes, make a TPO to protect it.
That notice period exists so valued trees are not removed quietly. Skipping it, like breaching a TPO, can be a criminal offence.
TPO vs conservation area
The two protections overlap but are not the same:
- A TPO names specific trees and requires you to apply for consent before work.
- A conservation area protects trees broadly within its boundary and usually requires you to give notice before work.
- A tree can be covered by both, one, or neither.
Because the routes differ, it is important to check which applies to your address rather than assuming. Our guide on TPO vs conservation area explains the differences in more detail.
What to check before pruning, pollarding or felling
Before any tree work in a place that might be a conservation area:
- 1Use the checker above for a first look at available public data.
- 2Confirm with the Local Planning Authority whether the property is inside a conservation area boundary.
- 3Ask what notice or consent the proposed works need.
- 4Allow time — notice periods can be several weeks.
- 5Get written confirmation before booking the work.
Remember this is guidance only. Conservation area boundaries may not appear fully in the public data we search, so the council is always the authority.
Property report
Need a record you can hand over?
Run a free check, then download a dated PDF report for the address — nearby TPOs plus conservation areas, Article 4 directions and listed buildings, ready to share with a tree surgeon, solicitor or the council.
Property report
Instant PDF£12.99one-off · no account
- Nearby Tree Preservation Orders
- Conservation areas & Article 4 directions
- Listed buildings within 150 m
- Dated PDF, ready to share
Common questions
Before you pick up the saw.
Do I need permission to cut a tree in a conservation area?
Usually you must give the council written notice — often six weeks — before working on most trees in a conservation area, even without a TPO. This lets the council consider protecting the tree. Confirm the exact requirement with your Local Planning Authority.
Are small trees in conservation areas protected?
Conservation area protection generally applies to trees above a certain trunk size, so very small trees may be exempt. The thresholds and exceptions are set in law and applied by the council, so check the specifics with your Local Planning Authority before assuming.
What happens after I give notice?
The council can either allow the notice period to pass — after which you may carry out the described work — or make a Tree Preservation Order to protect the tree, in which case you would need to apply for consent instead. Wait for the position to be clear before working.
Does 'no TPO found' mean a conservation area tree is fine to cut?
No. A tree can be protected by its conservation area even with no TPO. Never treat a nil TPO result as permission. Always confirm both TPO and conservation area status with the council before tree work.
