Know the rulesbefore the saw.
Guides to tree protection rules
Plain-English explanations of the rules that apply before you work on a tree — what a Tree Preservation Order covers, when you need consent, and how to apply for it.
- ✓ 22 guides
- ✓ Plain English
- ✓ 2–3 minute reads
All guides
Twenty-two short reads, no jargon.
- 01Basics · 3 min
What Is a Tree Preservation Order?
What a TPO means, why councils make them and what work they restrict. - 02Basics · 2 min
TPO vs Conservation Area: What's the Difference?
How the two protections differ, and why “no TPO found” isn’t the whole story. - 03Basics · 3 min
Which Trees Are Protected in the UK?
There's no list of protected species. The four ways a tree is protected, and how to check yours. - 04Basics · 2 min
Are Oak Trees Protected in the UK?
No species is protected automatically. When an oak is, and the wildlife rules that always apply. - 05Basics · 2 min
Tree Preservation Orders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
TPOs exist across the UK under different laws. How each nation compares, and who to ask. - 06Tree work & consent · 2 min
Can I Cut Down a Tree in My Garden?
The checks to make on TPOs, conservation areas and boundaries first. - 07Tree work & consent · 3 min
Do You Need Planning Permission for Tree Work?
Not planning permission, but four other permissions that can apply to tree work. - 08Tree work & consent · 2 min
Can I Prune a Protected Tree?
When pruning needs consent — even for minor work. - 09Tree work & consent · 2 min
Can I Pollard a Tree with a TPO?
What an application involves and when emergency work may apply. - 10Tree work & consent · 2 min
How to Apply for TPO Works Consent
What the application needs — description, photos, plans — and how long it takes. - 11Tree work & consent · 2 min
How Much Does TPO Consent Cost?
The application is free. What you might pay for instead, and what skipping it costs. - 12Tree work & consent · 2 min
Building Near a Protected Tree
Root protection areas, what the council expects and how to build close to a tree. - 13Enforcement · 2 min
What Happens If You Cut Down a Protected Tree?
An unlimited fine, and each tree counts separately. What happens next. - 14Enforcement · 2 min
Do I Need a Solicitor for a TPO?
Usually not. When legal advice is worth paying for, and when to get it straight away. - 15Tree work & consent · 3 min
Can I Remove a Dead Tree with a TPO?
The dead-tree exemption, and the five working days’ notice you still owe the council. - 16Neighbours & property · 3 min
Can I Cut Branches Overhanging My Garden?
Your common-law right to the boundary — and the TPO check to do first. - 17Basics · 2 min
How Long Does a TPO Last?
No expiry date — orders from the 1950s still bind. How removal works. - 18Neighbours & property · 3 min
How to Get a TPO Put on a Tree
Anyone can ask, and there’s no fee. What makes a strong request. - 19Neighbours & property · 3 min
Buying a House with Protected Trees
A TPO binds the property, not the seller. What to check before you buy. - 20For Business · 3 min
TPO Checks for Tree Surgeons
The offence covers whoever does the work. What to check before you quote. - 21For Business · 3 min
Tree Preservation Orders for Conveyancers
Where TPOs surface, the enquiries to raise, and an early answer for clients. - 22For Business · 3 min
Protected Trees for Landscapers & Garden Designers
Roots, root protection areas and what to check before you design or dig.
Showing 22 of 22 guides.
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