Trees and woodlands which contribute to the local environment can be protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Trees in Conservation Areas have similar protection. It is against the law to cut down or damage a protected tree.
You must give us notice and complete an application form if you plan to carry out any works to trees or woodland covered by a Tree Preservation Order. For trees in conservation areas, we must be given at least six weeks notice.
It is an offence to cut down or damage a protected tree.
Check if a tree has a Tree Preservation Order
If you have any questions you can contact us by:
- Email: EDAdmin@carlisle.gov.uk
- telephone 01228 817200.
Trees in conservation areas
Trees growing in conservation areas have protection from pruning or felling by virtue of their location within the conservation area. Before any works to trees in a conservation area can be carried out we must be notified of the intention to work on the tree(s).
This gives us six weeks to consider the proposed works, and if considered inappropriate place a Tree Preservation Order on the tree(s).
Notification should be made in writing and include the location of the tree(s) and a sketch plan showing the trees and surrounding buildings and roads, so that the trees in question can be easily identified, and an accurate description of the proposed works (photographs appropriately annotated can be used), your tree surgeon, or the Councils Planning/Landscape Compliance Officer will be able to advise.
Tree management
The management and maintenance of trees on council owned property, such as our parks and gardens, is managed by our Green Spaces Staff who check these trees regularly for damage and ensure they are in good health. They also prune trees when required.
If you are concerned about the health or safety of a tree on our land, telephone 01228 817200.
The planning system provides a number of safeguards that may affect an owner's ability to carry out works to trees and hedgerows, both of which make an important contribution to both the built and rural environment. They may be subject to planning conditions attached to a previous grant of planning permission that requires their retention, they may be in a conservation area or they may be the subject of a Tree Preservation Order.
Hedges
Hedges that are at least 20 metres in length, more than 30 years old and contain certain plant species are protected. It is against the law to remove or destroy such a hedgerow without permission from the council. This does not apply to garden hedges.
Further information on hedges is available from Natural England.
High hedges
If you are having issues with high hedges, please read the Over the Garden Hedge as your first port of call for advice and information about what the council is able to do.
If you have tried all options listed in the document and have still not resolved your dispute, you can report the issue to us by completing the high hedges complaint form.
We will not negotiate between the complainant and the hedge owner, but will decide whether the hedge affects the complainant's enjoyment of their property.
Application for hedgerow removal notice
If you disagree with our decision
If we decide the complaint is not valid and does not proceed with it there is no specific right of appeal.
If we adjudicate on the complaint then there is a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate if you disagree with our decision.
What happens once a decision on reducing the height of a nuisance hedge has been made
There will be a specified period of time in which the hedge owner must carry out the work required. Failure to carry out the work is a criminal offence and could result in prosecution.
What happens where a hedge is jointly owned but your neighbour does not maintain their side of it
You can only complain to the council about a hedge that is on land owned or occupied by someone else. In this example, the land where the hedge is growing is jointly owned by the person who would be making the complaint so you can't use the high hedges legislation to solve your problems. Depending on the terms of the party agreement, both neighbours might be entitled to cut the whole of the hedge - both sides and top. This may be detailed in your house/property deeds.