[Closed] Removing a Tree

check whether there's a TPO on it.

If it's in a conservation area (which you say not), there's automatically a requirement to ask the council. If it's not, there could be a separate one. Don't ask the council - as it may alert them you want to do something. Our council has a GIS site that shows all TPOs etc.

in reality, if it's a crappy conifer, there probably won't be, and even if you ask the council they won't care. But be 100% sure about the conservation zone

As Petec said; check if there is a Tree Preservation Order on it, unlikely if you planted it only 20 years ago. If there is you will need the councils permission.  Also check if you are in a conservation area; if so you need to give the council 6 weeks prior notification, they can only stop you removing it if they put a TPO on it. Highly unlikely as the legal process costs a fair few quid, after 6 weeks you can take it down.

If neither apply you can remove it with no consents required.

Also - wait til the end of nesting bird season (31st October I think).

You can cut trees down during nesting season but my understanding is you’d need to have the tree officially checked by an ecologist or other suitably qualified person beforehand to ensure it is free of nests. That’s how we’ve always done it down here anyhoo. Your tree is unlikely to have a nest in it but it’s always better to be cautious about anything wildlife related IMO.

Our neighbour applied for planning to remove a Sycamore in her garden (we're in a Conservation area, so planning have to be notified). Next day they applied a temporary TPO to it, which then became permanent at the next planning meeting. They obviously don't want any more trees cut down.....

Tell them the tree is from Sheffield, they live cutting those ones down.

It's not nesting season! 31st July more like. And the officious checking is not a legal requirement though disturbing nests is an offence, not that anyone is likely to know.

If there's no conservation area (and no TPO which seems a strong likelihood) then crack on. Despite us being in a national park/conservation area the tree man was basically uninterested in random garden conifers though a big mature sycamore was another matter (permission still given as it was causing damage/danger).

If it's less than a certain size (3 inches at 5 ft height rings a bell) then it doesn't count at all but anything close to 20y is likely to exceed that threshold unless you've kept it seriously well pruned.

There will possibly be a pigeon's nest in it as they breed all year round. Recipes are available online. Also, a lot of trees died this year in the drought... Didn't they?!

It’s not nesting season! 31st July more like.

I must have confused it with slow worms - we had looong summer down here a few years ago and the little bastards wouldn’t go to sleep well past when they were supposed to.

I’d probably say August for birds though, to be on the safe side (some companies just don’t risk it).

phone the council, ask for the tree officer, ask if it has a TPO or other protection preventing removal.  it is simple to check and the consequences of removing a TPO'd tree are very severe, £10s of thousands.  You'll probably be fine, but check yourself, don't leave it to the tree guy (you are both liable if it is removed when protected)

And get the lack of TPO in writing!

if there is one thing ive learned fromthe local authorities, is don't talk to them about anything unless you really dont want to do something.  As said up there, they are officious b'stards especially the tree people, talk to them about a tree and a TPO will appear and they will swear blind there is nothing you can do about it (this is wrong by the way i later found out).  Local authorities are a bunch of lying bullying a'holes.  Cut the tree down, no-one will care, you just might need to do it yourself (easy), or get a gardener who isn't on the official tree surgeon list for the local authorities (this is why they ask in case they get struck off from lucrative work).

Personaly I would just cut it down without telling anyone. The LA are a bunch of jobsworths who seem to do nothing more than create issues to justify their own jobs.

If the tree wasnt pine and was there before you then I would leave it alone.

As said up there, they are officious b’stards especially the tree people, talk to them about a tree and a TPO will appear

Personally I think this is a good thing, far too many trees get cut down and gardens paved over, making towns completely sterile environments....

If your in a conservation area all trees with a trunk over 150mm in diameter are treated as if they have a TPO anyway.  If its below 150mm dia it isn’t a problem if it is talk to the tree officer.  Yes there are officious ****** out there but most are straight forward.  As planning departments are so understaffed the main problem is getting through the ranks of box tickers to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about.

far too many trees get cut down

but there is a difference between a crappy conifer and an oak. Or beech, or lime etc

far too many trees get cut down and gardens paved over, making towns completely sterile environments….

I couldn't agree more. Once the tree has gone the area will be completely dug over and replanted with plants and shrubs to encourage bees and other insects.

footflaps

Member
Our neighbour applied for planning to remove a Sycamore in her garden (we’re in a Conservation area, so planning have to be notified). Next day they applied a temporary TPO to it, which then became permanent at the next planning meeting. They obviously don’t want any more trees cut down…..

We called the council to check if there was a TPO on some large trees outside our office (in a listed building) which needed work. Sure enough the man from the council came, took one look, and slapped a TPO on them.

Only slight issue was they cocked up the paper work and long story short we now have a TPO on some massive leylandii trees.

Our neighbour applied for planning to remove a Sycamore in her garden (we’re in a Conservation area, so planning have to be notified). Next day they applied a temporary TPO to it, which then became permanent at the next planning meeting. They obviously don’t want any more trees cut down…..

If it is in a conservation area there is a blanket TPO, so no slapping needed.

If the tree wasnt pine and was there before you then I would leave it alone.

The tree is a pine (read the OP, I'm assuming he or she knows a pine from a not-a-pine tree).

retro83

Member

footflaps

Member

Our neighbour applied for planning to remove a Sycamore in her garden (we’re in a Conservation area, so planning have to be notified). Next day they applied a temporary TPO to it, which then became permanent at the next planning meeting. They obviously don’t want any more trees cut down…..

We called the council to check if there was a TPO on some large trees outside our office (in a listed building) which needed work. Sure enough the man from the council came, took one look, and slapped a TPO on them.

Only slight issue was they cocked up the paper work and long story short we now have a TPO on some massive leylandii trees.

Sounds like Mole Valley..

Edit to add, the same LA refuse to let someone prune a tree that has dead branches hanging over a road, yet say its their responsibility to make sure its safe.. The LA are massive aholes...

There isn't half some bollocks on this thread.

1 no permission is needed to cut off dead branches

2 there's no blanket TPO in conservation areas

In reality noone gives a toss about sensible pruning of domestic trees, though felling is another matter.

Captain I think you'll find the tree officer at Mole Valley has different thoughts on the process, even when provided with an expensive arborgolgists report.  L<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">A 's are not consistent in their approach.. Their view being you have to prove to us its dead before you touch it (and then we'll dismiss the expert advice) and we won't come out to check it... I as well as a number of my neighbours have issues with the tree officer..   And then you have the local tree wardens.... </span>

Conversely, nice healthy tress on council land causing no bother are lopped down because they can't afford the upkeep.. 🙄

well you'll find ****s in all walks of life but if you cut off a dead branch when the tree's in leaf (so it's obvious that it really is dead) then there's not a whole lot they can do about it except huff and puff.

there are ****y tree officers, but most are sensible.