Felling trees in conservation area - any advice
Discussion
Hello
we want to fell 3 trees in our garden. We live in a conservation area and therefore need to give the local authority 6 wks notice of what we intend to do. Does anyone know if there is a standard format or wording that we should use? Any advice is really welcome from all tree/council buffs. Thanks, S
we want to fell 3 trees in our garden. We live in a conservation area and therefore need to give the local authority 6 wks notice of what we intend to do. Does anyone know if there is a standard format or wording that we should use? Any advice is really welcome from all tree/council buffs. Thanks, S
What trees are they? Are they definitely on your land? By that I mean, they may be on the Highways owned land, which fronts onto your property.. If so then you need to ask Highways about them..
Talk to the Council, specifically the Arboriculuralist there. Ideally they will want to see native trees replaced in kind or at least with something appropriate..
ETA : Depending on the Arb, they may well be quite relaxed about it and allow you to do quite a lot.. We were allowed to fell 3 Poplars and 7 Conifers + another 2 with no paperwork - although the initial 3 + 7 were on the Planning Application. We have been advised to not do anything to 5 Scots Pine trees tho!! Will replace with Cherry + possibly a couple of Crab Apples, but the Arb. was quite happy to take suggestions.. We did install a "native hedgerow" as well - 50% Beech, 25% Hazel, 12.5% Blackhorn and 12.5% Hawthorn.
Double staggered Quite a bit of digging 
If the trees are not necessarily native or of the conifer / leylandii (sp?) type then they're usually "happy" to see them go, to be replaced with something slower growing and of a more native nature.
As has been mentioned if you get a proper Tree Surgeon to do the work they will know / be known to the Arb.
We also had a couple of "self seeders" felled by a Tree Surgeon from the Highways chaps, nice and simple that was!
Talk to the Council, specifically the Arboriculuralist there. Ideally they will want to see native trees replaced in kind or at least with something appropriate..
ETA : Depending on the Arb, they may well be quite relaxed about it and allow you to do quite a lot.. We were allowed to fell 3 Poplars and 7 Conifers + another 2 with no paperwork - although the initial 3 + 7 were on the Planning Application. We have been advised to not do anything to 5 Scots Pine trees tho!! Will replace with Cherry + possibly a couple of Crab Apples, but the Arb. was quite happy to take suggestions.. We did install a "native hedgerow" as well - 50% Beech, 25% Hazel, 12.5% Blackhorn and 12.5% Hawthorn.
Double staggered Quite a bit of digging If the trees are not necessarily native or of the conifer / leylandii (sp?) type then they're usually "happy" to see them go, to be replaced with something slower growing and of a more native nature.
As has been mentioned if you get a proper Tree Surgeon to do the work they will know / be known to the Arb.
We also had a couple of "self seeders" felled by a Tree Surgeon from the Highways chaps, nice and simple that was!
Edited by eps on Tuesday 1st September 22:36
No standard wording but, as you live in a conservation area, ALL your trees ( over a certain trunk width, about 300mm from memory I think ) are automatically protected already by a tpo. I live in a conservation area and have approached two or three tree surgeons over the years - none of which would touch a tree without consent from the local authority's tree loving officer.
The fine is up to £10k per tree if they catch you chopping them down without consent- though I have never known anyone prosecuted in our area.
The fine is up to £10k per tree if they catch you chopping them down without consent- though I have never known anyone prosecuted in our area.
I have spent this morning going through the process of writing out a Planning Application for felling and the reduction in height of a number of trees situated in a conservation area.
My online searches first took me to my local council’s online web site, where searches of past applications came up with previous applications, which included copies of the applications, including plans together with Ordinance Survey Maps, and the council’s various telephone, email contacts for further advice.
Incidentally my local Aldi recently were selling Chainsaws for £49.95, with the winter coming and the costs tree surgeons charge, the chainsaw will soon pay for itself.
My online searches first took me to my local council’s online web site, where searches of past applications came up with previous applications, which included copies of the applications, including plans together with Ordinance Survey Maps, and the council’s various telephone, email contacts for further advice.
Incidentally my local Aldi recently were selling Chainsaws for £49.95, with the winter coming and the costs tree surgeons charge, the chainsaw will soon pay for itself.
We're just outside a Conservation Area, in an AONB. I recently cut down a Norway Spruce and ornamental Cherry that were where the double garage is going to go.
Before doing so I phoned the council tree officer (West Berkshire) and explained what I wanted to do. He was happy to see both go as "the Spruce is non-native, and fruit trees are not our concern". Neighbours were happy to see the spruce go too - no more needles everywhere!
Before doing so I phoned the council tree officer (West Berkshire) and explained what I wanted to do. He was happy to see both go as "the Spruce is non-native, and fruit trees are not our concern". Neighbours were happy to see the spruce go too - no more needles everywhere!
Another thing for you to consider before chopping down mature trees is clay heave.
What kind of soil is your house built on and how close to the house are they? If it is sandy or rock then ignore, but if it is clay then there is the potential for all that water that the trees currently use up causing problems with your foundations.
Only affects clay soils and is very dependant on the type of tree and distance from the house.
What kind of soil is your house built on and how close to the house are they? If it is sandy or rock then ignore, but if it is clay then there is the potential for all that water that the trees currently use up causing problems with your foundations.
Only affects clay soils and is very dependant on the type of tree and distance from the house.
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