Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)
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Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) were introduced in the late 1940s to enable Local Planning Authorities to protect important trees.
Since 1948 the Town and Country Planning Act, has made provision for the legal protection of important amenity trees and woodlands by Tree Preservation Order. Often referred to as TPOs, orders can be made on single trees, groups of trees, areas of trees or whole woodlands. The Authority has a duty to make TPOs if it is felt that the loss of trees would be detrimental to the local amenity. TPOs are more commonly imposed in urban environments but are not restricted to any particular setting.
TPO controls prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without prior consent from the Local Planning Authority.
The Authority's policy is only to make new TPOs where it is considered that trees are under a direct threat of premature removal.
Pruning or cutting down protected trees without prior consent can result in prosecution and a maximum fine of £20,000 for each offence. There may also be a requirement to replace felled trees. So, before undertaking any works to TPO trees you must submit a written application to the Authority, see Tree Work Applications.
There are currently more than 300 TPOs in the Park.
Current legislative controls of amenity trees are contained within the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and details can be found at the Department for Communities and Local Government.
