TPO & Conservation AreaTree Work in St Helens

Is your tree protected?

Many trees in St Helens, Knowsley, Liverpool and West Lancashire are legally protected, either by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or because they stand in a Conservation Area. Carrying out work on a protected tree without the right consent can lead to prosecution and a fine, and the responsibility usually falls on the tree owner as well as the contractor.

The good news is that protection rarely means nothing can be done. Councils regularly consent to sensible, well-specified work. The key is checking first and applying properly. We prepare and submit those applications in-house, so you do not have to.

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)

A TPO is made by the local planning authority to protect a specific tree, group of trees or woodland that is important to the local area. Once a tree is covered, you normally need the council's consent before cutting it down, topping, lopping, uprooting or damaging it, including most pruning and reductions.

You can usually find out whether a tree has a TPO by contacting your local council. We check this as part of quoting for any work.

Conservation Areas

Trees in a Conservation Area are protected even without a TPO. Before carrying out most work on them, you normally need to give the council six weeks' written notice. This gives the council time to decide whether the tree should be protected with a TPO.

Daniel has experience working in Conservation Areas and will tell you what notice or consent the job needs before any date is booked.

Nesting birds and wildlife

Wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law. During the nesting season, trees and hedges are checked before work begins, and the job is rescheduled if an active nest is found. Bats and their roosts are also protected, and some older trees provide roosting sites.

We also have experience working on SSSI-designated ground, where extra care and permissions apply.

How we handle the paperwork

When you ask us to quote, protection is part of the plan from the start:

• We check whether the tree has a TPO or sits in a Conservation Area.
• Daniel specifies the work clearly, to British Standard 3998.
• We prepare and submit the application or notice to the council in-house.
• Work is booked once consent is given or the notice period has passed.
• Everything is chipped on site and recycled, and the site left clean.

Exemptions

Some work on protected trees can be exempt, for example where a tree is dead or has become dangerous. Exemptions are narrow and the rules are strict, so we always recommend checking with the council first. If in doubt, ring Daniel and he will talk you through it.