Tree preservation orders

Our Tree and Landscape Team is responsible for Tree Preservation Orders - TPO's - Conservation Area legislation regarding trees and the hedgerow regulations and complaints made under the high hedges legislation. We also act as advisors to the Development Management Department and Policy Planners where development proposals are likely to impact on publicly significant and/or protected trees.  

 

 

Any tree can have a Tree Preservation Order, as long as we think it's under threat and it has public interest i.e. the tree/s can be clearly seen from a public place such as a road or a footpath.

 

We can place a TPO on an individual tree, group of trees or a woodland to prevent felling or inappropriate work being carried out. We routinely make TPO's when we become aware of trees under threat on proposed development sites. We now also survey and assess areas of the Borough and make strategic TPO's where possible to include publicly significant, historic or veteran status trees. 

 

 

Ask us by phoning 0118 974 6464/ 9746477/9746767 and speaking to a member of our Tree and Landscape Team. You can also email the team direct using the following: treesandlandscape@wokingham.gov.uk

 

Our Tree and Landscape Team can tell you if a tree is covered by a TPO or situated within a Conservation Area. All the Borough's TPO's are mapped on our Geographical Information System - GIS - and are constantly updated.

 

 

You have to apply in writing to us. We can supply an application form for you to complete. The statutory target for determining TPO applications is 8 weeks. When we get your application we will arrange a visit within this time  to look at the tree and talk to you and then make our decision.  

 

Usually if you get permission to fell a protected tree we will make it a condition that you plant a new one in its place. You can appeal if you don't like our decision. 

 

Please note that with effect from the 1st October 2008, a new standard, mandatory application form for work to trees protected by a tree preservation order (TPO) will be adopted by all local authorities in England and Wales. An application made in any other manner will not be accepted by the local planning authority.  The new standardised form will replace the old version and can be downloaded from this page.

 

 

There are specific exemptions. You do not need permission to cut back or cut down for the following:

 

 

It would however be advisable to inform our Tree and Landscape Team first before pruning or felling any protected tree under one of the above exemptions, as 5 days written notice to the Council is also usually required.  

 

It is helpful if you can take photographic evidence of the tree as we may ask you to provide evidence of the tree's hazardous condition when felling a tree that is considered to be dead/dying or dangerous. These photos can be printed off or sent as an attachment to confirm the tree's hazardous condition. 

 

Please note that you are not required to complete a full tree work application form to undertake work to a protected under an exemption.

 

 

If your tree is in a Conservation Area you need to give us 6 weeks written notice before you carry out work to a tree. This only applies to trees that are over 75mm in diameter measured at 1.5 metres above ground level. If we don't want you to carry out inappropriate works to the tree in question we must make a TPO.

 

If you intend to fell any tree or trees that will amount to over 5 cubic metres of timber you may require permission - in the form of a Felling Licence - from the Forestry Commission. Felling Licences are not required to remove trees from gardens. For more information on Felling Licences, please speak to the Woodland Officer at the Forestry Commission on 01296 681381/681181.  

 

 

You can email: treesandlandscape@wokingham.gov.uk about specific tree issues in the Wokingham Borough or find out more from the links below: