Check before any tree work
- Tree Preservation Orders (England): ask your council whether a tree is protected. In a conservation area, you must give the council 6 weeks' notice (a "section 211 notice") before carrying out certain work on trees, unless an exception applies (GOV.UK). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own tree protection rules, so ask your council there.
- Felling licences (England): for trees above set diameters, you need a licence from the Forestry Commission to fell more than 5 cubic metres in any calendar quarter, and you can sell only up to 2 of those 5 cubic metres. Exemptions apply (Forestry Commission).
- Nesting birds: you must not harm nesting birds or destroy their nests. The main nesting season runs from 1 March to 31 August (GOV.UK).
- Bats (England): Natural England says cutting down or removing branches from a mature tree can affect bats, and offences can mean up to 6 months in prison or an unlimited fine (Natural England). In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ask NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales or DAERA.
What tree surgeons do
- Crown reduction, thinning and lifting.
- Sectional felling near buildings, lines and roads.
- Emergency storm damage work.
- Stump grinding, chipping and log splitting.
- Hedge cutting, laying and reduction, often with a tractor-mounted flail on long boundaries.
Trees near power lines
Never work near overhead power lines yourself. Contact your electricity network operator, who can advise or make the line safe.
Watercourses
If trees overhang a ditch or stream on your land, you may have to cut them back or remove fallen trees if they reduce the flow or cause flooding to others (Environment Agency).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to cut down a tree in my garden?
In England, check whether it has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area, where you must give 6 weeks' notice. In England, felling larger volumes of timber can also need a Forestry Commission felling licence.
When can I cut my hedge?
Avoid the main nesting season from 1 March to 31 August. It's an offence to harm nesting birds or destroy their nests at any time.
What is a section 211 notice?
In England and Wales, it's the notice you must give your council 6 weeks before doing certain work on trees in a conservation area, so the council can decide whether to protect the tree.