Trees in Conservation Areas

Trees in conservation areas have special protection. Before you cut down, prune, or do any work on a tree in a conservation area, there are rules you need to follow.

The 6-week notice rule

You must give your local planning authority 6 weeks' written notice (known as a "Section 211 notice") before carrying out work on any tree with a trunk diameter greater than 75mm (about 3 inches), measured at 1.5m above ground level.

This applies to:

• Cutting down a tree
• Topping or lopping branches
• Uprooting a tree
• Wilfully damaging or destroying a tree

What happens after you give notice?

The council has 6 weeks to respond. They can either:

• Allow the work — by not responding or giving permission
• Make a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) — which permanently protects the tree and requires formal consent for any future work

If the council doesn't respond within 6 weeks, you can go ahead with the work.

Exceptions

You don't need to give notice for:

• Trees less than 75mm diameter (measured at 1.5m height)
• Dead, dying, or dangerous trees (but you should inform the council)
• Trees causing a legal nuisance
• Fruit trees being pruned for fruit production

Penalties

Illegally removing or damaging a protected tree can result in fines of up to £20,000 in a magistrates' court, or unlimited fines in the Crown Court.

Check if you're in a conservation area

Use our free postcode checker to find out if your property is in a conservation area and these tree rules apply to you.