Conservation Area Tree Checker

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.

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.

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.

Before any tree work in a place that might be a conservation area:

• Use the checker above for a first look at available public data.
• Confirm with the Local Planning Authority whether the property is inside a conservation area boundary.
• Ask what notice or consent the proposed works need.
• Allow time — notice periods can be several weeks.
• Get 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.