If you live in one of Greater Manchester’s many conservation areas — like parts of Didsbury, Chorlton, Heaton Moor or the Heatons — you might be surprised to learn that even fairly routine tree work can require council permission.

At Woodfelder Tree Care, we regularly help customers navigate this process. So here’s a straightforward guide to what the rules are, how to apply, and what to expect.

What Is a Conservation Area?

A conservation area is a part of the city or town that’s been given special status by the council due to its architectural or historic importance. In practice, this means there are tighter controls on changes to buildings — and trees.

All trees in a conservation area that are over 7.5cm in diameter (at chest height) are automatically protected. That means you can’t prune, fell, or remove them without notifying the local authority first.

What Work Requires Permission?

If you’re planning to:

• Do any pruning to the tree

• Remove a tree completely

• Fell a dangerous or dead tree

• Carry out major tree pruning or crown reduction

• Tidy up overhanging branches from a protected tree

…you’ll almost certainly need to submit a formal notice to the council before doing anything.

This applies whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, school, or commercial property manager. It doesn’t matter if the tree was self-seeded or planted long ago — if it’s in a conservation area, it’s covered.

The 6-Week Notice Period

Before carrying out any tree work in a conservation area, you must give the council six weeks’ written notice. This allows their tree officer to assess the tree’s value and decide whether it should be subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

If they don’t respond within that timeframe, the work can usually go ahead — but you must wait the full six weeks.

Exceptions: The 5-Day Notice for Dangerous Trees

In urgent situations, you may be able to bypass the six-week notice period by using a 5-day notice — but this only applies to dead or dangerous trees where there’s an immediate safety risk.

This could include:

• A tree with major limb failure over a footpath or road

• A tree that’s clearly dead and at risk of collapse

• Sudden damage from a storm

• Advanced disease like Ash Dieback with visible structural risk

In these cases, the council still needs to be notified in writing, and we must provide clear evidence — usually photos and a detailed description of the hazard. If time allows, we’ll also speak directly to the tree officer.

You must not proceed without submitting the 5-day notice — it’s not a get-out clause, it’s a structured exception for safety-critical cases.

What Does the Application Involve?

When we handle a standard conservation area application, it includes:

✅ A clear site map or sketch plan showing the tree’s location
✅ The species of tree (e.g., Silver Birch, Sycamore, Beech)
✅ A detailed description of the proposed work, including the reason
✅ Photos, especially for diseased or damaged trees

We make sure everything is written in the language the councils expect — precise, objective, and professional. That way, there’s less back and forth, and the work can be scheduled promptly once approval comes through.

Our Conservation Area Expertise

We’ve submitted hundreds of successful conservation area applications across Manchester and Stockport — from light pruning jobs to full removals of failing trees in sensitive spots like schools, churches and listed buildings.

We also have strong working relationships with tree officers across Greater Manchester, and that makes a real difference. We understand what information they need and how to present it properly. In trickier cases, we’ll often call the officer first, walk the site, and agree on a sensible approach before the paperwork even starts.

That professional trust helps get applications approved quickly — and it means we can often flag risks early before they become emergencies.

Can Tree Work Be Refused?

In some cases, yes — particularly if the tree is healthy and considered to contribute to the local character. In that case, the council may place a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on it. This doesn’t mean work is impossible, but it does add an extra layer of regulation and delay.

We’ll always give you an honest view of what’s likely to be approved — and what’s not worth pursuing.

Our Advice?

Don’t guess. Get advice early. Trying to rush tree removal in Manchester’s conservation areas can lead to fines and delays. Let professionals like us handle the paperwork — we know the local councils, and we’ll make the process smooth and stress-free.

Whether it’s tree pruning in Manchester to keep a garden tidy, tree felling in a school playground, or general tree services across Manchester’s conservation zones, we’ve got it covered.