What Are Tree Preservation Orders?

Any tree surgeon or tree surgery company operating around Oxford will need to be fully aware of the planning restrictions applied to trees with either a TPO or trees in a conservation area.

To work on a tree with a Tree Preservation Order, or TPO, there has to be a valid arboricultural reason for carrying out the works. This has to be submitted to the local authority (in this case Oxford or Oxfordshire) planning department or forestry officer or tree officer on a form produced for this purpose.

The information required includes the location of the protected tree or trees, usually shown on a simple plan drawing, the proposed works as recommended by an arboriculturalist or arboricultural contractor and the reasons for wanting to carry out the tree works. The planning department then has 8 weeks to come to a decision whether to allow the works to go ahead.

If you have a tree in a conservation area there is less need for a sound arboricultural reason for works to the tree and the planning department has 6 weeks to propose an alternative to the works you desire so the onus is on them to deliver a sound reason for not carrying out the works.

Whether your trees are covered by a TPO or are within a conservation area you do need to go through the procedures outlined by your local planning authority to avoid the penalties associated with pruning or felling protected trees.