Trees, Woodlands & High Hedges

The Tree & Woodlands Section of Bromsgrove District Council operates a tree service designed to protect trees and woodlands in the District and encourage their correct & sustainable management.

The Extent of the Service

The Section deals with the following areas:

• Dealing with applications to carry out works to trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders and Planning Conditions and those in Conservation Areas.
• Making and reviewing Tree Preservations Orders.
• Complaints about High Hedges under Section 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.
• Advice to District Council departments on the management of trees & woodlands on their land.
• Consulting on tree and woodland related matters as part of Planning Applications.
• Advice and enforcement of protection of trees during building works.
• Providing advice on tree surgeons regularly operating in the local area.
• The provision of leaflets and handouts giving more detailed help on tree matters.

Tree Preservation Orders

The Council has a duty under the Town and Country Planning Act to protect the environment within the district by placing Tree Preservation Orders on trees and groups of trees where it is in the public interest to do so. The Council regularly makes such Orders.

Conservation Areas

Trees in Conservation Areas benefit from automatic protection and any work to trees which is being contemplated within such locations should be referred to the Council before any work is undertaken.

It can be an offence to carry out any work to trees protected by a TPO or within a Conservation Area without the formal consent of the Council and there can be substantial fines of up to £20,000 where the law is contravened.

To find out if a tree is protected, please complete the protected tree enquiry form below, Please include as much information as possible, including a clear location / sketch plan clearly showing the position of trees in relation to named properties and roads. Please describe any works you wish to undertake and identify the species where possible.

- Protected Tree Enquiry Form 

Where you know that a tree is protected by a TPO or is in a Conservation Area, please read the guidance leaflets and complete the application form below:

- Tree Works Application / Notification Form 

- Guidance Note for Tree Works 

- Protected Trees: A Guide to Tree Preservation Orders 

- Tree Preservation Order Appeals: How the Process Works 

Please send all relevant forms to the address at the bottom of the page or e-mail to trees@bromsgrove.gov.uk

or online at the Planning Portal link:

Apply to carry out works to Trees Subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and/or Notification of Proposed Works to Trees in Conservation Areas (External Page)

Please contact us to discuss difficulties which arise involving protected trees.

People will, from time to time; want to undertake work on such trees, or to their property which could be damaging to adjacent trees. We would encourage individuals to contact us to see if suitable work can be agreed which removes/reduces a problem whilst ensuring the tree remains for the benefit of the public and the environment.

General Guidance Information

- Local Tree Surgeons and Consultants 

- Tree Work – Choosing your Arborist 

- Living with Trees 

High Hedges

From 1st June 2005, the Council is able to consider complaints about high hedges under new powers provided by Section 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The Council is only able to consider complaints that fulfil all of the following criteria:

• The complaint is being made as a last resort and sufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate this.
• The hedge is made up of a line of 2 or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs.
• The height of the hedge is at least 2 metres above ground level.
• The hedge is growing on land owned by someone else.
• The affected property is residential.
• The complainant is the owner or occupier of the property affected by the hedge.
• The complaint is purely in relation to problems directly caused by the height of the hedge.
• The correct fee for this service has been included.

Further information and publications regarding high hedges may be found on the website of Communities and Local Government or downloaded below:

- High hedges covering letter 

- FAQ on high hedges 

- General information on high hedges in Bromsgrove District 

- High hedge complaint form 

- High hedges guidance notes 

- High hedge reduced fee application 

Contacts

Please contact the customer Service Centre on 01527 881288  where we will attempt to resolve straightforward tree enquiries, if your request cannot be dealt with by a customer service advisor your call will then be logged and passed onto the Tree Officers, you can also contact the tree service by email on  trees@bromsgrove.gov.uk or in writing at:

Tree and Woodlands Section

Environment Services
Redditch Town Hall
Walter Stranz Square
Redditch. B98 8AH

Appointments can also be made to see a Tree Officer in person, please use one of the above methods to arrange an appointment

Answering your Enquiry

We will try to reply to your telephone calls as soon as possible. We are unable to guarantee how quickly we will investigate your enquiry. This will depend, in part, on the priority attached to it; that is, if a tree is a potential threat to life, we will give it immediate attention. Our response will also depend upon availability of staff and any other work priorities. However, we will try to deal with straightforward tree issues within 21 working days.