Durham & nearby areas
Tree surgery and hedge cutting in Durham
Hedge cutting, tree work, stump grinding and overgrown garden clearances for homes in and around Durham. We’ll look at the job, check whether any tree is protected, and give you a clear price before anything starts.
Hedges · Trees · Stumps · Garden clearances
Talk the job through directly with the person doing the work.
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Protected trees
Check whether a tree is protected first
Much of central Durham sits inside the Durham City Conservation Area. It was first drawn around the peninsula in 1968 and greatly enlarged in 1980, and its 2016 appraisal covers Crossgate, Elvet, Framwellgate, Gilesgate and the Peninsula.
Trees in a conservation area are protected even without a Tree Preservation Order. For most work you have to give the council six weeks’ notice first. Trees under a Tree Preservation Order need the council’s consent before they are cut, lopped or felled.
The quickest check is Durham County Council’s protected trees page, which links to a map of Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas. The council says the map is for information, not the legal record, so confirm with its planning team if anything is unclear. Our protected tree check takes you to the right council for any postcode.
We’ll ask about this when you get in touch. Work on a protected tree should only go ahead once the notice period has run or the council has given consent.
Recent job
A conifer lowered in a Durham garden
The owner wanted this conifer much lower but still tall enough to keep the garden private. We reduced it from around 25 feet to roughly 14 feet and trimmed it to the agreed height. The fence, greenhouse and roofline behind it show the difference.
Our services
What we do in Durham
Hedge cutting and reductions
Routine trims, reshaping, and lowering hedges that have outgrown the garden.
Tree surgery
Pruning and crown work for trees you want to keep, and safe removal where one has to come down.
Stump grinding
Grinding old stumps below ground so the space can be used or replanted.
Garden clearances
Clearing heavy overgrowth while keeping the planting you want, with green waste taken away when agreed.
You don’t need to know the trade name for the work. Tell us what you want to change and we’ll explain the options. If you’re weighing up more than one price, our guide to comparing garden work quotes shows what to check.
Durham and nearby areas
Nearby
- Spennymoorincluding Croxdale and Tudhoe
- Ferryhillsee a hedge-side clearance there
- Sedgefieldhedges, trees and stumps
- Bishop Aucklandtree pruning and removals
Elsewhere in County Durham? Check your postcode or see all the areas we cover.
Useful answers
Before you get in touch
Do I need permission to cut a tree in Durham?
Only if it’s protected. A tree may be covered by a Tree Preservation Order, or be protected because it stands in a conservation area such as the Durham City Conservation Area. Check Durham County Council’s protected trees map first, or use our protected tree check, and we’ll talk it through before any work is agreed.
How much notice does the council need for a tree in a conservation area?
Six weeks, using a section 211 notice, for most work on a tree in a conservation area that has no Tree Preservation Order. The council can reply sooner. Trees with a trunk no thicker than 75mm, measured 1.5 metres above the ground, don’t need notice.
Are hedges protected in the same way?
Not usually. Government guidance says a Tree Preservation Order would not normally cover shrubs, but it can cover trees within a hedge, or an old hedge that has grown into a line of proper trees. If your hedge has trees in it, check before it’s cut.
Do you take the waste away?
Yes, when it’s agreed in the quote. We’ll say exactly what is going, whether that’s hedge cuttings, branches or clearance waste, so you aren’t left relying on the garden waste bin.
Can you quote for more than one job?
Yes. If you have hedge, tree, stump or clearance work in the same garden, put it in one enquiry and we’ll look at what can sensibly be done together.
Do I need to be home for the work?
We’ll agree that when booking. We need clear access and a way to contact you, so let us know about locked gates, pets and anything that must stay accessible.
5.0 from 43 Google reviews
More reviewsRead the reviews on Google“Sharp Hedges came out today, they did a great job reducing our hedge and tidying it up.”
“Only a small garden job for my tree but the service by Sharp Hedges Tree and Garden Services was first class!”
“Excellent service. From the initial call to completing the job in less than a week.”
Get a free quote
Tell us about the job in Durham
Send your postcode and a short description. Photos help but they’re optional. For most work we’ll arrange a free visit before giving you a price.
What happens next
- 1We look at what you send.
- 2We clarify the job and, for most work, arrange a free visit.
- 3You get a clear quote before you decide.
We’ll look at the job details and reply between 8am and 8pm. If we need a closer look, we’ll arrange a suitable time with you.
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