Trees in conservation areas

What is a conservation area?

Most trees in designated conservation areas are automatically protected. This means that they cannot be felled or undergo maintenance without submitting a notification to the Council at least 6 weeks before any planned works.

Frequently asked questions

You can download a notification form from the downloads section on this page.

Submitting a 6 week notification to the Council is free of charge.

The Council will visit your property to make a visual assessment of the tree(s). The Council is unfortunately unable to make pre-arranged appointments to inspect the tree(s) subject of your notification. As it is a ‘notification’ and not an ‘application’, the Council cannot refuse permission/consent for you to carry out the proposed works to the tree(s).  However we will do one of the following:

  • Write to you to confirm that the works can go ahead; or
  • Impose a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the tree(s) subject of your notification.

It is a criminal offence to carry out works to trees in conservation areas without having submitted a 6 week advanced notification to the Council. The penalties associated with these offences are the same as those for trees subject of a tree preservation order.