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Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)

A TPO is an order made to protect certain trees which have public amenity value and include criteria such as their intrinsic beauty, the special contribution they make to the landscape or street scene, or because of some other special quality, such as rarity or historic significance.

A TPO may cover any type of tree including single, group, area, woodland or hedgerow trees but not hedges, bushes or shrubs.

TPOs cannot be used to protect every tree in a neighbourhood nor stop approved building development or infrastructure improvements.

It is an offence to carry out work to a protected tree, or remove it, without our approval. You could be prosecuted and fined.

Apply or notify us about tree works

See A Guide to Tree Preservation Procedures (PDF 91.4KB).

Last updated 08 December 2023