Protected Trees: TPO and Conservation Area Tree Work in Slough
Pruning, reducing or felling a protected tree in Slough, South Bucks or Datchet, with the right council found and the paperwork in before any cutting.
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Protected Tree Work Around Slough: Start With the Right Council
Slough Tree Surgeons arranges protected trees (tpo) across Slough and the surrounding South Bucks villages, carried out by NPTC-qualified, fully insured tree surgery teams.
The rules are national: a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) means you need the council's written consent before cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilfully damaging or destroying the tree, and government guidance says cutting its roots needs consent too. Trees in a conservation area are protected even without an order. What changes around Slough is who you deal with: within a few miles you can cross three councils, each with its own maps, contacts and conservation areas.
Slough Borough Council covers Slough, Langley, Cippenham, Upton, Colnbrook and part of Wexham. Buckinghamshire Council covers Burnham, Taplow, Farnham Royal, Farnham Common, Stoke Poges, Iver, Iver Heath, Denham and Gerrards Cross. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead covers Datchet. We find which applies to your tree and check its TPO and conservation area status before quoting. This page is general guidance, not legal advice, and the council's decision always comes first.
Checking and Applying, Council by Council
Slough: the council's Slough Maps service shows protected trees and conservation areas (sometimes unavailable, so contact the planning team if unsure). Slough has five conservation areas: Colnbrook, St Bernard's School, St Mary's Church (Langley), Sussex Place/Clifton Road and Upton Park/Upton Village. TPO applications go through the Planning Portal and the council aims to decide within eight weeks; for a conservation area tree give six weeks' written notice through the Portal or by email to planning@slough.gov.uk.
Buckinghamshire: use the protected tree map for the former Chiltern and South Bucks area (guidance only). The council lists twenty conservation areas in South Bucks, including Burnham, Denham, Farnham Royal, Iver, Gerrards Cross, Stoke Green, Stoke Park, Stoke Poges West End, Taplow Village and Taplow Riverside. Apply through the Planning Portal or the paper form; allow eight weeks for a TPO decision and six weeks for a conservation area notice. Its tree lines are 01895 837210 and 01494 732950.
Windsor and Maidenhead: Datchet is one of the Royal Borough's 27 conservation areas. For TPO questions the tree team is on trees@rbwm.gov.uk or 01628 683800. Give six weeks' written notice for work on a conservation area tree with a stem over 75mm across at 1.5 metres.
Whichever council you are in, the Planning Portal confirms there is no fee for a TPO application or a conservation area notice. Send a sketch map, the tree type and condition, a description of the work and your reasons. In a conservation area the council can let the work go ahead or make a TPO, and if six weeks pass without an order the work can be done within two years of the notice. No notice is needed for a tree whose stem is 75mm or less across at 1.5 metres, and consent is not needed where work is necessary to carry out a full planning permission. If consent is refused, an appeal must reach the Planning Inspectorate within 28 days.
Dead or Dangerous Protected Trees
Government guidance asks for five working days' written notice before cutting down a dead protected tree. If a tree poses an immediate risk of serious harm, only the work needed to make it safe should be done and the council told in writing as soon as practicable. Slough says the owner must be able to prove the tree was dead or dangerous, so keep photos. A replacement tree is normally required. Working on a protected tree without permission is a criminal offence, with a fine of up to £20,000 in the magistrates' court and an unlimited fine in the Crown Court. Where the council wants more evidence, a tree survey can support the application. For tall conifer screens, see leylandii and conifer removal.
How Our Team Handles Protected Trees
- Right council, status checked
We find which of the three councils covers the tree, and check its TPO and conservation area status before quoting.
- A clear written specification
"Reduce the crown by up to 2m" is something a tree officer can assess; "cut back" is not.
- Help with the paperwork
Support with the TPO application or six-week notice, including the sketch map and photos.
- Approved work only
Work carried out to the approved specification only, and the site cleared afterwards.
Protected Trees (TPO): Common Questions
How do I find out if my tree has a TPO near Slough?
First work out which council covers you. In Slough, Langley, Cippenham, Upton and Colnbrook, use Slough Borough Council's Slough Maps or ask its planning team. In the South Bucks villages, use Buckinghamshire Council's Chiltern and South Bucks protected tree map, which is for guidance only. In Datchet, contact the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's tree team on trees@rbwm.gov.uk or 01628 683800.
Does it cost anything to apply for work on a protected tree?
No. The Planning Portal states there is no fee for TPO applications or conservation area notices, whichever council you apply to.
How long does permission take?
Allow up to eight weeks for a decision on a TPO application. For a tree in a conservation area, you must give six weeks' written notice before the work. If the council does nothing in that time, the work can go ahead within two years of the notice.
What if a protected tree is dead or dangerous?
Government guidance asks for five working days' written notice before cutting down a dead protected tree. Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, only the work needed to make it safe should be done, and the council told in writing as soon as practicable. Keep photos as evidence, and expect to plant a replacement.
Protected Trees (TPO) Across the Area
Our teams carry out protected trees (tpo) in Slough and these nearby towns.
Related Services
Tree Removal
Safe felling and sectional dismantling of dangerous, diseased or unwanted trees, with the site left clear.
Crown Reduction
Shorten and reshape a tree that has outgrown its space while keeping its natural shape and health.
Crown Thinning
Selectively remove branches to let light and wind through the canopy without changing the tree's size.
Crown Lifting
Remove lower branches to raise the canopy and clear paths, roads, windows and driveways.
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