There are various ways that trees can be protected and various reasons why.
Tree Preservation orders or TPOs are made and managed by a local authority to safeguard individual or groups of trees so they are protected against felling or damage and are made by a local authority.
TPOs don’t give trees eternal protection, however. If, for example, planning permission has been granted that requires the removal of a protected tree the local authority can give written permission for the TPO to be removed.
Nevertheless, current planning policies provide some trees with protection as planning applications need to detail any trees that would be affected by a development.
In ancient woodlands trees have some protection and are given special considerations. A tree preservation order here would only be removed for a development in exceptional circumstances.
Similarly, because conservation areas are designated by a local authority, the local authority can give permission (with certain exclusions) for a protected tree to be removed.
To check whether a tree has a TPO, the local authority is the first point of contact. Some may have maps that show local conservation areas and trees with TPOs, and they may even have a designated tree officer. Otherwise, government maps (different for each devolved government) show broader site designations that may protect trees even if they aren’t shown individually.
If an individual wanted to protect a tree, then again, their first stop would be the local authority tree officer. Having applied and been successful, if no objections are raised after 6 months, the TPO becomes permanent. Within 6 months, the TPO may still be subject to modification or termination.
However, this doesn’t mean that TPO protection can’t be removed – for example if the tree is dangerous or dying, or a planning permission application is granted that includes the tree’s removal.
