Trees and hedgerows

Some trees and hedgerows are protected. You need our permission before you do any work on them

Trees can make a significant contribution to the quality of a conservation area.

For those not covered by a separate Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you must give us six weeks' notice of the intention to do any works (including topping, lopping, felling or up rooting) to them. 

Protected trees

Trees can be protected in three ways:

1. Protection by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
2. Protection by virtue of being located within a Conservation Area
3. Protection by virtue of a condition(s) being attached to an earlier planning permission relating to the site.

So before doing any work, you should contact our Development Control team to clarify whether the tree(s) are affected in one or more of these ways.

There are over 400 Tree Preservation Orders that are in force in North West Leicestershire, which you can view on our Tree Preservation Orders March 2023 (Word Document, 0.1 Mb)

For consent to carry out works to trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order or within a conservation area, you can download the relevant form (PDF Document, 0.54 Mb) and Tree Guidance Note (PDF Document, 0.18 Mb), or apply online via the Planning Portal.

If you consider that a tree is worthy of protection, please write to us identifying the tree(s) in question and outlining why you consider it should be protected.

The Forestry Commission regulates the felling of trees in woodlands and it is an offence to fell trees without a licence if an exemption does not apply. More information can be found on the Forestry Commission's website. 

The Government's website provides further advice on tree protection issues - including a guide to tree preservation procedures

Hedgerows

Under the terms of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, you also need our approval for the removal (in whole or in part) of hedgerows where they are on, or run alongside:

• agricultural land
• common land
• land used for forestry
• land used for the breeding or keeping of horses, ponies or donkeys
• a Local Nature Reserve or Site of Special Scientific Interest (details of LNRs and SSSIs can be viewed on the Natural England website).

This is simply a general guide to the circumstances in which approval is required. Further advice is  on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.

To apply to carry out work to a hedgerow the relevant form, download and complete a Hedgerow Removal Notice and guidance notes.

High hedges

Some high evergreen hedges can cause problems to neighbouring properties by way of overshadowing etc. There is legislation to deal with this issue; details can be viewed on the Government's website.

Tree information

The Woodland Trust site contains a wide range of information on trees, including a Guide to Native and Non-Native Trees.