You cannot chop down a problem tree in the garden of your heritage property situated in a conservation area in Cheshire. You would have to notify the local council six weeks before you plan to cut down the tree. If you fail to do so, then you will face steep fines. To effectively navigate these tricky rules, even if you have a green thumb, shy away from the DIY approach and leave the pruning tasks to reputable tree surgeons in Cheshire.
Understanding the Legal Maze: TPOs and Conservation Zones
If you own a heritage property in Cheshire’s many conservation areas, then it is highly likely that the trees on your property will be protected by two legal safeguards, namely the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and Conservation Area status.
What is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?
A TPO is put together by Cheshire’s local planning authorities to protect trees, groups of trees, or woodlands proven to bring significant value to the local landscape. If such a tree, a group of trees, or part of the woodland falls under your property, then you cannot prune, lop, top, or uproot it without getting formal written consent from the council.
That Six-Week Conservation Area Rule – What’s That?
Even if a TPO does not protect the problem tree on your property, if it resides in a conservation area and has a stem diameter greater than 75mm, you have to submit a notice to the council. This notification gives the council six weeks to review your request. They will either allow you to proceed with pruning, lopping, uprooting, or topping the tree. Or they will formally object to the matter by bringing the tree under the TPO.
What Happens If You Ignore The Above Legal Shields?
If you modify a tree protected with TPO or one that is simply in a conservation area, then you are committing a serious criminal offence. You are deliberately destroying or damaging a protected tree. When caught, you will be prosecuted and fined an unlimited amount in a Court of Law.
What if the pruning was minor? That too will entail steep fines.
For the best results, avoid taking the DIY path or ignoring the rules.
How Professional Tree Surgeons Can Help You?
So, if a tree in your heritage property is threatening the wellbeing of your loved ones, your home or assets, do you have to bear the consequences silently?
No.
Just contact seasoned tree surgeons in Cheshire. They will determine, on your behalf, whether TPO protects the problem tree. Then they will manage the notification process and council application processes on your behalf, without charging you a single pound.
In short, with professional help, the paperwork needed to do the pruning will be flawless, your liability will be zero, and the problem trees in your property will receive the professional and precise restorative care they urgently need.
Bring Peace of Mind Back to Your Garden
The trees in the garden of your property are assets. Treat them like that. Avoid taking the DIY approach. That is not only dangerous for you, your property, and the trees, but it is also a surefire way to invite administrative scrutiny and steep penalties for taking the DIY approach to maintaining trees on properties located in conservation areas.
Leave tree pruning to the professionals. They have the skills, the right tools, and pertinent experience.
Additionally, remember paperwork or hefty fines should not keep you from dealing with a problem tree in the garden of your heritage property. Partner up with a reputable, fully insured, certified arborist like MH Treecare Ltd today. They can help protect your home’s kerb appeal, keep its green landscape healthy, and ensure every single cut made to the trees complies with the conservation area’s laws. It’s a win-win to call the professionals, don’t you think?