If you’ve ever tried to prune, cut down or even tidy up a tree in your garden and been told “That tree’s protected,” you’re probably dealing with a Tree Preservation Order – or TPO.

But what exactly is a TPO, and what does it mean for you as a homeowner or property manager in Manchester?

Let’s break it down.

What is a Tree Preservation Order?

A Tree Preservation Order is a legal protection placed on specific trees or woodland by the local council. It’s designed to stop people from chopping down, damaging or working on trees that have significant value to the local environment or community — whether that’s for their beauty, size, age, wildlife habitat, or just how they shape the local landscape.

TPOs can apply to individual trees, groups of trees, or entire woodlands. And once a TPO is in place, you can’t:

• Cut down the tree
• Uproot it
• Prune it
• Remove a branch
• Damage the roots
• Or do anything that might harm the tree

…without getting written permission from the council first.

How Do I Know If a Tree Has a TPO?

The best way to check is to contact your local council — for most of our clients that’s Manchester City Council, Stockport Council or another Greater Manchester borough. You can often search online via the council’s website or ask the planning department directly.

If you’re buying a property, it’s something that should be flagged in the conveyancing process.

At Woodfelder Tree Care Limited, we’re happy to help check for TPOs if you’re not sure. We deal with these all the time and can often get a quick answer.

Can I Still Work on a Tree With a TPO?

Yes — but only if you get permission first.

We regularly submit applications on behalf of our clients. Once the application is in place, the process takes a minimum of 8 weeks. If the council agrees that the work is necessary and appropriate — for example, if a branch is overhanging a roof, or if the tree is diseased — they’ll usually give consent.

We’ll never carry out work on a TPO tree without approval. It’s not worth the risk — doing so can result in unlimited fines for both the contractor and the landowner.

We have years of experience writting planning applications that the council’s planning department will approve.

What About Conservation Areas?

Here’s another catch: if your property is in a conservation area, all trees over a certain size are automatically protected, even if there’s no specific TPO.

You still need to give the council six weeks’ notice before doing any work. Again, we can take care of this for you and have years of experience making successful applications.

Our Advice: Don’t Panic — Ask

TPOs and planning applications for conservation work can sound scary, but in most cases they’re nothing to worry about. With the right approach — and a bit of patience — you can still get sensible, necessary work done on protected trees.

At Woodfelder Tree Care, we’ve submitted heaps of successful TPO applications across Manchester and Stockport. If you’re unsure what you can and can’t do, just give us a shout. We’ll offer honest advice and handle the paperwork.

Need help with a protected tree?
📞 Call Leo and the team at Woodfelder Tree Care Limited – Manchester’s most reliable tree surgeons. We’ll make it simple.