Do I need permission to cut down my tree?
Tree Preservation Orders, conservation areas and felling licences, explained in plain English.
Most garden trees can be pruned or felled without asking anyone. But there are three things to check first.
1. Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)
A TPO protects a single tree, a group or a whole woodland. You need consent from Cornwall Council before cutting, pruning or felling a protected tree. The council aims to decide within 8 weeks. Working on a TPO tree without consent can lead to a large fine.
2. Conservation areas
If you live in a conservation area, you must give the council 6 weeks’ written notice before working on most trees. This gives them time to decide whether to protect the tree with a TPO.
3. Felling licences
In woodland, felling more than 5 cubic metres of timber in a calendar quarter usually needs a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. Gardens are exempt.
And don’t forget the birds
Active nests are protected by law. We check every tree for nests before we start, and plan heavy work outside the main nesting season where we can.
The easy option: we check all of this before we quote, and we can make the application for you.