Tree Preservation Orders (use them )

[nightshade]

The trees that you take for granted, you know the ones, along your road or in a neighbours garden or in nearby parks or where you like to walk.
They are all at risk! Use the TPO's and give them a chance of surviving the developers, I missed some on a trading estate they were there on the Sunday, gone by the Wednesday, four healthy mature trees to provide two extra parking spaces

[The Woodman]

Good advice nightshade, but not always 100% guaranteed in my experience.

A tame arbourists report stating that the tree has a fungal infection that may lead to it becoming dangerous can overturn the TPO. I recall two instances where seemingly healthy trees were felled because the owner desperately wanted rid of them.

In another case, a fine yew in the middle of a pub car park with a TPO just "died" mid summer, very quickly, foliage turned brown etc. Result - quick removal and more parking space.

[nightshade]

There is a disused factory in Bristol, the report says no trees no bats but a quick survey shows the presence of both

[cutecoot]

Another problem seems to be that developers sometimes are willing to pay the cost of the fine in order to remove a tree that has a TPO on it. That happened in the village were I used to live in Sussex, so a TPO does not necessarily guarantee the tree won't be touched, but obviously helps.

[Fauna]

I once worked for a small landscaping buisness that got most of their work from large property developers. We where doing some soft landscaping work near Cardiff for one of these developers, there was a very large and impressive beech tree on one of the plots with TPO. One of the machine drivers working on the groundworks, for another gang, was told to damage the roots. Eventually in the future it would have to come down (was told by the gang that they where often instructed to do this).

[nightshade]

Everything now has a price BUT if you place TPO,s on trees that you can monitor the fact of a TPO can be raised at meetings before the developer gets the go ahead. If you want green corridors you are going to have to be prepared to fight for them.
I would like to see a system of marking the trees to show they have orders on them (some sort of cold brand?) and only trained and qualified people to be allowed to remove trees if absolutely necessary.
THEY ARE YOUR TREES AFTER ALL look after them or lose them

[acherontia]

Wish I'd known this before they massacred scores of mature trees to buil a vast industrial/housing estate not far away.
The land was owned by the MOD which had a ROF underground - above was green fileds/marsh.trees and it was packed with wildlife as there was very little human interference. This year we went there to record this atrocity (for OH's) course) and it was heartbreaking to see the skylarks clinging on to a piece of land that was marked with builders pegs.
I wouldn't care but around 50% everything that has been built there is unbought or up for sale again and many units are unrented. Hopefully they'll stop the build now.

OK - so they plant trees back - where they want them but how long till they mature?

I think I'll put a TPO on my Willow tree - one or two neighbours keep complaining because it drops leaves in the street and is touching my telephone wires!! For crying out loud - why didn't they choose a back street terrace somewhere and not a village property?

A

[hobble]

I have been a Tree Warden now for the last 15 years, it is a voluntary position and I am often called by the general public who have any tree concerns.
On my way around during the day it gives me the opportunity to check any tree work that is going on and the ability to present myself as the Local tree Warden, to check any work is legitimate etc.
I know where the conservation areas and the TPO trees in my Parish.
I agree developers will always find a way round cutting down TPO trees all they need is a dodgy Tree Company to ask for a few back handers to produce dodgy reports etc. Or they just cut them down having costed the fines into their build.
I believe the Tree Warden Scheme is country wide and is well worth becoming involved, you can do as little or as much work as you wish, I for one just keep my ears and eyes open, read local planning apps and advise people if they need any help either with TPO's or trees in general.
Anything I do not know I them pass over to the Local Tree Officers.
Cornwall needs all the Trees it can grow!! Even if they bend over because of the wind!!

[nightshade]

I had a phone call from a friend of my in-laws he had applied for permission to demolish an old store building and remove a large plane tree that was there. Was there anything he needed to do as regards the tree or any wildlife that may be using the building?
HE had made his application, spoken to the planners but _no one_ had mentioned or checked TPO's or Bat roosts

[The Woodman]

Why aren't the planners following PPs9, nightshade?

All British bat species are classified as European Protected Species. EPS surveys are recommended by Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS 9) and guidance under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.