Printer friendlyTree Preservation
South Bucks District Council has responsibility for managing several hundred tree preservation orders, as well as conservation areas, covering thousands of trees. Large parts of the district are managed privately as estates controlled by the Forestry Commission, the Corporation of London and the National Trust. The Council is committed to preserving and enhancing this tree stock and to promoting better understanding of trees through education.
Tree Preservation Orders
Many trees on privately owned land are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is a special form of control that applies to certain trees. TPO’s are used to protect trees that are particularly attractive and contribute to the appearance of an area. It is illegal to cut down, prune, or otherwise damage a tree protected by a TPO without the Council’s consent. The unauthorised lopping or felling of a tree is a serious criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £20,000. The Council typically makes TPO’s when trees are under threat of being cut down or of being damaged. A TPO may apply to individual trees, groups of trees, woodlands or areas of trees.
If you wish to find out whether or not a tree is the subject of a TPO, or if you have a question about trees, protected or not, you can contact a member of our tree section:
Amenity Assistant 01895 837207
Arboriculturist 01895 837376
If you want to make an application to work on protected trees or trees in a conservation area, the best way is online at www.planningportal.gov.uk
If you are not able to access the Portal you can download and print paper copies of form 31 from our planning application page.
Alternatively, ring 01895 837200 and request that copies of form 31 be sent to you. Please remember that you will still have to supply paper copies of all the required supporting documents and copies of plans. You will also have to calculate the necessary fees.
These forms should not be used to send applications to other local planning authorities as their local requirements may differ.
Conservation Areas
A Conservation Area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve. Trees often make an important contribution to the appearance of Conservation Areas, and so are given special protection. Permission is required for the pruning or felling of a tree within a Conservation Area greater than 7.5 cm in diameter (as measured at 1.5m above ground level). The penalties for unauthorised felling or lopping of trees in Conservation Areas are the same as for trees protected by TPO.
If you wish to find out whether or not a tree is located within a Conservation Area you can contact a member of our tree section:
Amenity Assistant 01895 837207
Arboriculturist 01895 837376
Trees and Your Property
If you are the owner of land upon which a tree is growing, you are the owner of that tree and therefore legally responsible for it. This means that you are responsible for the safety of that tree, whether protected or not. It is advisable, therefore, to have your trees inspected from time to time. A good tree surgeon can do this for you, but for a more comprehensive assessment of your tree, you may wish to employ an Arboricultural Consultant. The Council can provide the latest edition of the Arboricultural Association list of approved Contractors and Consultants, or the Association can be contacted direct on 01794 368717. The Association also has a web site at www.trees.org.uk
Highway and Street Trees
For enquiries concerning Highway and Street trees, contact the County Council on 0845 230 2882
Trees on Beacon Housing Land
For enquiries concerning trees growing on Beacon Housing Association Land, contact the Association direct on 01753 606707
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