In 2016 the Council adopted its revised tree policy “A Tree and Woodland Framework for Telford and Wrekin.” The document describes how the Council manage its trees and details the works which the Council will undertake upon trees within the resources available.

The Council will undertake the following works:

• fell or prune trees in a dangerous condition
• fell dead trees in high amenity area and leave dead trees within habitat areas until no longer safe to do so
• prune trees physically touching a dwelling house to provide a minimum clearance of 1m from the property
• prune trees blocking a footpath or road junction to retain visibility around junctions, streetlights, road signs and traffic lights
• take appropriate action in cases of subsidence once a full tree and soil report has been received from an insurance company
• investigate reports on unauthorised works to our trees and seek to prosecute where relevant.

Report a problem with a Council owned tree

The Council won't undertake works to trees on the basis of:

• blocking views from windows
• reducing the height of trees
• fell, prune or reduce a tree due to branches overhanging a garden or dwelling house
• prune, reduce in height or fell a tree to improve TV and satellite reception
• removing shade to solar panels
• fell, prune or reduce a tree due to issues related to season matters such as honeydew or sticky residue, pollen, shading of properties, leaf, blossom seed etc., or to increase light generally
• fell, prune or reduce a tree due to perceived pests including, bees, wasps, flies or other wild animal
• fell, prune or reduce a tree due to medical reasons.

Property owners have a legal right, (common law right) to prune trees encroaching onto their property. These trees can be council or owned by your neighbour.

You can remove any part of the tree from the point where it crosses the boundary onto your property. Pruning or removing more than this is illegal and you could be liable for prosecution under criminal damage and trespass laws. You cannot enter private land to gain access to a tree for pruning. 

Before you prune a tree you should always check the tree is not covered by a Tree Preservation Order.

We recommend you consult a professional tree surgeon to prune anything larger than that which can be cut using loppers.

Any pruning from the tree must be disposed of either via garden recycling bins or through the Household Waste sites. If pruning’s are placed onto Council land you will have committed a fly tipping offence and may be prosecuted.

Trees on private land are the responsibility of the land owner and not Telford & Wrekin Council. The Council has no powers to intervene in disputes regarding private trees.

The information on this page is designed to provide you with some useful information about your rights and responsibilities in respect of trees and high hedges on private land.

Overhanging branches

If there are trees or branches that overhang onto your property; you have the right to remove them. It doesn't matter if the tree belongs to the council or if it is your neighbour's, if any branches cross onto your property you can cut them down to your boundary. You do not however have any legal right to cut or remove any part of a tree that does not overhang your property; as doing so could lead to prosecution.

You should talk to your neighbour before doing any work and you should offer the cut branches to them. You have a legal obligation to offer cuttings (not leaves) back to the land owner. In all likelihood your neighbour won't want them back so you should consider disposal of the branches when you cut them down.

If you want to gain access to a tree that is on land that you do not own, you must always get the landowner's permission beforehand.

You are strongly advised to consult a professional tree surgeon for guidance on how best to cut back overhanging branches, unless you have the tools and the work is safe enough to be done yourself.

Before you prune a tree you should always check the tree is not covered by a Tree Preservation Order.

There is no general law or legal right to a view or light. You can exercise your right to remove the overhanging branches but you cannot reduce the height of a tree that you do not own.

If there are trees or branches that overhang onto your property; you have the right to remove them. It doesn't matter if the tree belongs to the council or if it is your neighbour's, if any branches cross onto your property you can cut them down to your boundary. You do not however have any legal right to cut or remove any part of a tree that does not overhang your property; as doing so could lead to prosecution.

You should talk to your neighbour before doing any work and you should offer the cut branches to them. You have a legal obligation to offer cuttings (not leaves) back to the land owner. In all likelihood your neighbour won't want them back so you should consider disposal of the branches when you cut them down.

If you want to gain access to a tree that is on land that you do not own, you must always get the landowner's permission beforehand.

You are strongly advised to consult a professional tree surgeon for guidance on how best to cut back overhanging branches, unless you have the tools and the work is safe enough to be done yourself.

Before you prune a tree you should always check the tree is not covered by a Tree Preservation Order.

In law there is no legal right to a television signal or satellite reception. If your signal is being interfered with because of a tree or high hedge then contact your satellite or television provider and they will be able to suggest an alternative solution to the problem.

Powers exist under the Highways Act to require the owner to remove or cut back a tree or hedge if it:

Report a tree blocking a road or path

Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives local authorities powers to deal with complaints about high hedges came into operation in England on 1 June 2005.

The role of the Planning team is to adjudicate on whether the hedge is adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of their property. Complaints will only be investigated by the Council if you have done everything you reasonably you could to settle your dispute yourself before making a formal complaint.

More information on high hedges is available.

In some cases a tree may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order if the tree is protected then you will need to get consent from the Planning Team before any work is carried out.