Planning your tree removal project

Planning a tree removal in your garden is more complicated than you’d think. With tree-cutting laws to abide by, this is one project you’ll want to know your rights from your wrongs. Which is where Checkatrade can help.

Read on as we guide you through the process in our tree removal planning guide – whether you’re hiring a professional tree surgeon or taking the project on yourself.

Why remove a tree?

There are plenty of understandable reasons why, sadly, sometimes a tree needs to be removed:

• The tree could be dead or diseased and is at risk of falling
• The tree is blocking sunlight in your garden or home
• It needs to be removed for building work or a garden redesign
• It’s been damaged in a storm and is posing a danger
• The roots are causing subsidence and structural damage to your home and compromising your home insurance policy
• The tree is growing close to power lines and could be a serious safety hazard

But, before embarking on any tree removal project, there is one vital question to ask…

Can I cut down trees without permission?

You don’t need permission to cut down a tree in your garden unless it’s protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or in a Conservation Area.

But it’s not quite as cut and dry as that. You must also avoid bird nesting season as nesting birds are legally protected.

Read on as we explain tree-cutting laws and more.

Tree-cutting laws

Unsure if a tree in your garden is protected? Then, you’ll want to do your research.

After all, cutting down a protected tree could result in a hefty £20,000 fine if you are convicted in a magistrates’ court.

So, before reaching for the chainsaw or hiring a professional tree surgeon, here are two important questions to ask yourself:

• Is my tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)? – this protects certain trees against removal
• Is my tree in a conservation area? – removing a tree in a conservation area is illegal without submitting written notice to your local planning authority

This brings us to…

How can you check if a tree is protected?

Contact your Local Planning Authority as a first port of call. There are several ways you can do this:

1. Contact the Local Planning Authority (LPA)

The LPA, usually part of your local council, is responsible for issuing TPOs. Contact them directly to ask about specific trees in your garden. Many councils have handy online resources to check maps or lists of TPOs.

2. Request a search of the Local Land Charges Register

A formal search can be conducted by the council. You might remember having this completed during the sale transactions of your home. But if you don’t have it to hand, request this search again to determine if any TPOs are affecting your land.

3. Check your property deeds

Still drawing a blank? Check your home’s deeds to see if there are any existing TPOs.

4. Speak to a tree surgeon

Leave it to a professional tree surgeon to help identify if a TPO is likely. Most experienced tree surgeons will happily contact the LPA on your behalf.

What to do if your tree is protected?

If you’ve discovered your tree is protected, cutting down your tree without permission would be very unwise.

To do any work on your trees (even pruning) you’ll need to contact – you guessed it – your Local Planning Authority (LPA) first. Furthermore, you’ll need to give notice six weeks before any intended work.

Your LPA will assess the request and determine if the work can proceed.

A professional tree surgeon will know the correct procedure. Learn about finding the best tree surgeon for the job in our handy guide.

Who needs to be informed?

If you’re planning a large tree removal project, informing your immediate neighbours is a common courtesy, even if the tree is not protected.

While they can’t legally stop the works (unless it’s a protected tree), it certainly helps with good neighbourly relations to keep them informed. A sudden change in their views could come as a nasty shock.

Also, your neighbours will want to take extra precautions to avoid the area when work is being carried out if the tree is close to their boundaries. Removing garden furniture or potted plants that could be damaged by falling branches is a good idea.

When can you cut down trees?

If wild birds are nesting in your tree, you should avoid cutting it down between March and the end of July. This is the primary bird nesting season in the UK.

Nesting birds are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 if the nest is in use. Anything you do that harms wild birds, nests, or eggs is an offence.

A professional tree surgeon can advise when tree removal work is best.

How to remove a tree?

Now that you’re sure you can cut the tree down, it’s time to start your tree removal project.

But this is one job you can’t afford to go wrong with. Tree removal is a dangerous task. If not handled correctly, it can easily damage your home and neighbouring properties or, worse, cause fatal injuries to you or your loved ones.

Here are a few pointers to help you decide whether this is a DIY project you feel confident taking on:

What you’ll need:

• Gloves
• Goggles
• Helmet
• Ear protection
• Protective clothing, including long-sleeved tops and bottoms
• Axe or saw
• A chainsaw, but remember these are dangerous tools, so you’ll need to be confident with using one

For a more in-depth look at the steps involved in removing a tree yourself, why not check out our handy guide?

You can also dive into the nitty gritty of tree stump removals.

When to hire a professional tree surgeon?

Have you ticked off all the permission boxes but still don’t fancy braving the job of felling a tree yourself? We don’t blame you.

Our Checkatrade directory can help you find a reliable and highly experienced tree surgeon. Simply enter your postcode below to find a professional tree surgeon near you.

How much does tree removal cost in the UK?

The average cost of tree removal in the UK is around £1,190 - £1,720 for a tree up to 50 feet when carried out by a qualified tree surgeon.

However, tree removal prices can vary hugely. So, it’s always wise to get a range of written quotes from tree surgeons before deciding who to hire.

It’s worth remembering that costs will be higher if you need emergency tree removal due to a storm or sudden tree felling. Most specialists will charge a call-out fee, especially if the job is outside working hours.

You can get a full breakdown of prices in our tree removal cost guide.

How long does tree removal take?

Professional tree surgeons usually work in teams for safety and efficiency. Time-wise, you’re looking at the following:

• A large, awkwardly placed or deep-rooted tree could take one or two teams of experts several days of work
• However, for a more straightforward, smaller tree removal, the job may only take a few hours

Other factors affecting the time could be:

• The type of tree
• Its condition
• Where the tree is positioned (eg, if it overhangs a public footpath or street, a team of experts may have to stop and start to allow access)
• How it’s disposed of (eg. if you want to chop it up where it falls to use as firewood, this will add to the time)

FAQs

What trees can be cut down without permission?

You can cut down a tree in your garden if it is not protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or in a Conservation Area. But don’t forget, if wild birds are nesting in your tree, you should avoid cutting it down between March and the end of July.

Can I cut down a tree in my garden (UK)?

If it’s a small tree and you’re an experienced DIY-er with all the necessary safety equipment, you can remove it yourself. However, we always recommend hiring a professional for larger, awkwardly placed, or deep-rooted trees.