Protected Tree Checker

"Protected tree" is the everyday way of describing a tree the law restricts you from cutting or damaging without permission. In England and Wales there are two main ways a tree becomes protected: a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), or being inside a designated conservation area.

You do not have to own a special property for this to apply. Ordinary garden trees, street trees and trees on building plots can all be protected. The protection is about the tree's value to the area, not the size of the property.

A Tree Preservation Order names specific trees, groups or woodlands and requires the council's consent before most work. A conservation area is a broader designation covering a neighbourhood of special architectural or historic interest — and most trees within it are protected too, usually requiring you to give the council written notice before working on them.

The practical upshot: a tree can be protected even if it has no TPO of its own. Checking for one without the other can give you false comfort.

Working on a protected tree without the right consent can be a criminal offence, and the person who carries out or arranges the work is the one who carries the risk. A reputable tree surgeon will expect you to have checked — and many will check themselves before quoting.

A few minutes spent checking now can save a great deal of cost, delay and worry later. It also protects a tree that may be valued by neighbours and the wider community.

If the checker suggests records may be nearby, or you simply are not sure, take these steps before any work:

• Confirm with the Local Planning Authority for the address — usually the district, borough or city council.
• Ask specifically about both TPOs and conservation area status.
• Request written confirmation of what applies.
• If the picture is unclear, request a manual protected-tree check.
• Only proceed once you know what consent, if any, is needed.