Ancient Tree Forum

Is your local wood under threat?		Information Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are made by local planning authorities (LPAs) to protect trees for amenity, public enjoyment and their environmental benefit. They can apply to individual trees, groups or areas of trees, or whole woods. A TPO prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or destruction of trees without first obtaining permission from the LPA, unless the tree is dead, dying or dangerous, or in the way of development which has planning permission. Breach of a TPO is an offence carrying a fine of up to Ł20,000, or an unlimited fine in very serious cases which are committed to Crown Court. LPAs can also seek injunctions to stop work if there is a threat of contravention of a TPO. Trees in Conservation Areas are a special case and if over 7.5cms in diameter cannot be felled, lopped or uprooted without giving notice to the LPA, after which the LPA may put a TPO on the tree to protect it. Further information on TPOs is found in the leaflet Protected Trees: a guide to tree preservation procedures produced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. What you can do You can find out if a tree is covered by a TPO from the LPA. You can also check on a register of applications and decisions whether permission has been granted to carry out work. Many local authorities have a tree officer or forestry officer responsible for overseeing TPOs, who may be willing to help. If no TPO is in place and you are concerned that a tree or wood is under threat, you could ring or write to the LPA asking that it consider putting a TPO in place. An emergency TPO comes into effect immediately, lasting for six months while arrangements are made for a permanent order. This means you could request a TPO to protect a tree even if felling has begun. Ancient trees are often thought to be dying or dangerous if they have dead limbs or decaying trunks. There are skilled arboriculturalists with specialist experience dealing with ancient trees. Ensure that people advising on treatments to ancient trees have the appropriate experience. Often, ancient trees can be made safe without needing to remove the whole tree – a dead standing "monolith" can also be very valuable for wildlife.

Is your wood under threat?