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Before tree work · England

Could your tree
be protected?

A clearer starting point for Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas. Find the right council, check its records and understand what to do next.

  1. 01
    Find your authorityStart with a full postcode.
  2. 02
    Check both protectionsTPOs and conservation areas.
  3. 03
    Plan the next stepConfirm what’s needed before work.

Guidance only — confirm with the Local Planning Authority before protected-tree work.

Your starting point

Find the right council check.

Official source links open in a new tab.

Choose a council without a postcode

Choose the authority responsible for the property. Near a boundary or inside a National Park, use the planning-authority finder to confirm.

Sources reviewed . Maps and records can change. If a link is unavailable, find the council’s tree-work route on GOV.UK.

Two checks. One careful decision.

What does protection mean?

In England, a tree can be protected by an Order, by its location in a conservation area, or both.

Specific trees

Tree Preservation Order

A TPO protects specified trees, groups or woodlands. Consent is generally needed before protected operations, including pruning or removal, unless a statutory exception applies.

Your next stepAsk the authority to confirm the Order and the consent needed for the proposed work.

A designated area

Conservation area

Trees can be protected here even without an individual TPO. Section 211 normally requires six weeks’ notice for relevant work to qualifying trees.

Your next stepCheck the boundary and ask whether a notice or TPO application is needed for this tree.

Exceptions and special situations exist. The authority should confirm the procedure for your proposed work. An online map does not replace the legal Order. Other controls, such as planning conditions, felling licences and wildlife protection, may also matter.

Read the full GOV.UK guidance for England

A useful enquiry starts here

Know the next step.
Then talk trees.

You can discuss the work with us while checks are underway. Sharp Hedges cannot override council requirements; any necessary consent or notice must be resolved before work starts.

Ask about your tree

What to give the council

  • The exact address and which tree you mean.
  • A photo or simple plan, if you already have one.
  • The work you are considering and why.
  • Any Order reference or previous council correspondence.

Keep the council’s response to share when discussing the job.

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