Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) in Worcestershire — What You Need to Know

Most of the customers I quote for in Evesham have no idea whether the tree they want reducing is protected or not. Usually it isn't — but when it is, the stakes are high. Fines for unauthorised work on a TPO tree start at £2,500 and can go much higher. Here's a straightforward guide to how the system works in Wychavon and Worcestershire.

What a TPO actually is

A Tree Preservation Order is a council-issued legal protection on a specific tree, group of trees or area of woodland. It means you can't cut down, top, lop, uproot, or damage the tree — or even cut back "more than minor" branches — without written permission from the local planning authority.

For most of the villages around Evesham, the relevant authority is Wychavon District Council. Malvern Hills and Worcester City each have their own.

How to check if your tree is protected

Wychavon publishes an online map of TPOs. Before any work starts — particularly on a mature, prominent tree — it's worth a check:

1. Search "Wychavon interactive mapping" or go to wychavon.gov.uk
2. Turn on the "Tree Preservation Orders" and "Conservation Areas" layers
3. Zoom to your property and look for coloured overlays

If you're inside a Conservation Area (common in the historic centres of Evesham, Pershore and Broadway) then all trees over 7.5cm trunk diameter are automatically protected — even without a specific TPO.

What counts as "work"

TPOs cover more than just felling. The following all need permission:

• Felling (obviously)
• Topping or lopping
• Crown reduction of more than a minor amount (rough rule: more than 25%)
• Uprooting — including roots on neighbouring property
• Any work likely to destroy the tree

What doesn't normally need permission: removing deadwood, cutting back a small amount to clear a window, or removing a tree that's a genuine immediate danger (but you need evidence for this — see below).

Applying for permission

For TPO trees, you submit a "Works to a Tree Subject to a TPO" application (Section 211 notice for Conservation Areas). It's free to apply. The council has up to 8 weeks for TPO trees, 6 weeks for Conservation Areas. A decent tree surgeon will help you write the justification — "to reduce weight on a long lateral overhanging the garage" lands better than "because it's too big."

A good rule: if in doubt, apply. The application is free, the fine for not applying isn't.

The emergency exception

If a tree is an immediate danger — storm-damaged, heavy lean, visible fracture — you can do the minimum work necessary to make it safe. But you must give the council 5 days' notice in writing (photos and a tree surgeon's report help). Don't use this as a shortcut.

How I handle TPOs for customers

When I quote on any mature tree in Evesham, Pershore, Broadway or the surrounding villages, I check the council maps first. If it's protected, I'll tell you up-front, help with the application, and won't touch the tree until permission is in writing.

If you're planning work on a big tree and want a second opinion on whether it's protected, drop me a message and I'll have a look.