You are responsible for maintaining trees on your property and making sure they are safe. You can find a list of qualified tree surgeons on the Arboriculture Association’s website.

Before carrying out any work on a tree in your own garden, check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area.

We have a hedge and tree policy which states that unless a tree or hedge is causing an extreme hazard to the public, we have to give the land owner notice to carry out the work themselves which can take up to 10 weeks or longer in total. Once this process is complete we will take appropriate action and recover any costs from the landowner.

Vegetation that affects street lights and signs must be cleared by the owner of the land where the vegetation is growing.

If the Council owns the land, we will clear the vegetation. When vegetation from private property covers a lamp column head, column base, or sign, the property owner is responsible for cutting it back. This also includes any vegetation that obstructs the safe passage of pedestrians or vehicles along the highway.

It is a criminal offence to disturb an active nesting site. 

Most birds nest between 1 March to 1 of August, this is known as Bird Nesting Season. However this is only a guide and a visual survey should be carried out before any work commences.