The rules on tree felling: what you can and can’t do

Everything you need to know

Have you been looking for advice on felling a tree on your property? Then you have come to the right place. We are Elite Trees, the specialist providers of tree surgery Woodbridge property owners know that they can count on. Here’s everything you need to know about removing an unwanted tree.

Tree preservation orders

If you have been doing your research on cutting a tree on your property down, you have probably heard about tree preservation orders. What are they exactly? Well, to put it simply, a tree preservation order is put in place to protect a tree in the name of maintaining the appearance of a particular area. If a tree preservation order is in place, topping, looping and uprooting cannot be carried out – along with cutting the tree down. If a tree preservation order is in place on a tree on your property, you will need to obtain something called a felling licence. The process is relatively simple, and we can provide support.

Exceptions

Of course, there are instances where a tree preservation order will not be in place, and you will not have to seek permission from your local authority. These are as follows:

• Felling a tree in a garden, churchyard or a public open space
• Felling a tree that has a diameter less than 8cm at a height of 1.3m on the main stem. For reference, 8cm is around the same diameter as a tin of baked beans
• Removing a tree to prevent the spread of a quarantine pest or disease. This is actually required under a Statutory Plant Health Notice
• Up to 5 cubic metres of timber can be felled on a quarterly basis without a felling licence. If this amount of timber was piled up, it would be around the size of a small car.

Tree preservation laws are there to be taken seriously, and should not be broken in any case. If you aren’t sure whether your tree can be cut down without obtaining a felling licence, we do recommend reaching out to your local authority without delay. As the experts in tree surgery Woodbridge property owners recommend, we have extensive knowledge of the legislation surrounding the felling of trees in the UK, and will always work within them and provide professional advice.

When should a tree be cut down?

Once you have the go-ahead to fell your tree, the question is: when to do it? In theory, a tree can be cut down at any point during the year. However, if your own circumstances allow you to plan ahead, we do recommend scheduling the job during the dormant season. This is between late winter and early spring. Why should it be carried out then? Without their leaves, dormant trees are so much lighter and easier to work with. Your tree surgeon will be able to handle the branches quickly and efficiently at this time of year, meaning less time on site! Even if your tree is evergreen and doesn’t shed its leaves, carrying out the felling during the dormant season will help to protect other plants and trees in your outdoor space.

Of course, each tree is different. Our tree surgeons the experts in tree felling Ipswich customers trust, and will be able to come up with a plain that is tailored to suit your tree.

Find out more today

Want to find out more about the best tree felling Ipswich has to offer? Then get in touch with our team today! They will be able to answer any questions that you may have, and will arrange a visit to your property as soon as it suits you.

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