The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Report suspected unauthorised work on a protected tree to the local planning authority responsible for the site. The route depends on whether the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), is in a conservation area, or is being felled under circumstances that may require a Forestry Commission licence. A tree being rare does not, by itself, establish that it has legal protection.
Choose the right reporting route
| Situation | First contact | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Suspected unauthorised work on a TPO tree | The local planning authority (LPA) for the site | A TPO generally requires the LPA’s written consent for specified work, subject to exceptions. The LPA handles enforcement. GOV.UK guidance. |
| Work on a tree in a conservation area that is not already covered by a TPO | The LPA for the site | Specified work generally requires six weeks’ advance notice under the section 211 procedure, subject to exceptions. Report suspected breaches to the LPA. GOV.UK guidance. |
| Suspected felling that may need a Forestry Commission licence | Check the Forestry Commission’s Land Information Search and public register; contact its Operational Delivery team for the area if concerns remain | Permissions, exceptions, and infrastructure authorities’ powers may apply. See the Forestry Commission reporting guidance. |
Report suspected unauthorised work to the local planning authority
Find the council or national park authority responsible for the site and use its current planning enforcement or tree-protection reporting route. Local forms and contact details differ, so check the authority’s website rather than assuming a neighbouring council is responsible.
A TPO is an order made by an LPA in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands in the interests of amenity, according to government guidance. The order identifies the tree, group, or woodland it covers. If work is underway, give the authority the location and timing promptly and ask it to assess the situation; do not state as fact that an offence has occurred before protection status, permissions, and exceptions have been checked.
Understand the difference between a TPO and a conservation-area notice
TPO: written consent is generally required
A TPO prohibits cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilfully damaging, or wilfully destroying a protected tree without the LPA’s written consent, subject to exceptions set out in the rules. If you suspect work is taking place without consent, report it to that LPA.
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Conservation area: advance notice generally applies
For a tree in a conservation area that is not already covered by a TPO, specified work generally requires six weeks’ notice to the LPA under section 211, subject to exceptions. This notice process is distinct from applying for consent under a TPO. Report suspected unauthorised work to the LPA for the area.
Check whether felling may involve Forestry Commission licensing
Some felling may require a Forestry Commission licence. Use its Land Information Search and public register to check for relevant information before reporting. A missing or unclear result alone does not establish that felling is illegal: permissions or statutory exceptions may apply.
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If felling appears connected to highways, energy networks, or railways, check with the relevant authority or operator whether the work was authorised. Infrastructure bodies may have powers to fell trees or authorise felling. If concerns remain after these checks, contact the Forestry Commission Operational Delivery team responsible for the area, following its reporting guidance.
Give the authority useful, specific details
Include what you know, and distinguish direct observations from assumptions. Useful details include:
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- The full site address or a precise location, such as a map reference or clear description of where the tree stands.
- A description that helps identify the tree, such as its species if known and its position on the property.
- What work you saw or discovered, and whether it is ongoing or has already happened.
- When the work took place or when you observed it.
- Any known TPO, conservation-area, or felling-licence information, while making clear if you are uncertain.
For a request to protect a currently unprotected tree, explain why it merits protection. For example, Merton Council’s TPO guidance asks for the property address, species, the tree’s location within the property, and reasons for preservation. Other authorities may request different information.
If the tree is rare but not known to be protected
“Rare” is not itself a protection category in the cited government guidance. Ask the LPA to check whether the tree is covered by a TPO or lies in a conservation area. If you believe an unprotected tree should be preserved, contact the LPA to ask it to consider making a TPO; provide the location, species and reasons for protection. A request does not mean an order has been made.
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When the correct route is unclear
Protection controls and felling-licence questions can overlap. Send the location and factual description to the LPA and ask whether a Forestry Commission report is also appropriate. Avoid confronting workers or making public accusations based on an unverified assumption about the tree’s status or permissions.
Quick Recap
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