Trees and Hedges

The trees and hedges of the Wyre Forest district are important to the character of the area and form part of the attractive natural environment in which we live and work.

The Council has an important role to play in protecting important trees by making Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). This might include Areas or Groups of important trees or individual specimens. You will need permission from the Council to carry out any works to a tree which is the subject of a TPO. You can find out whether a tree is protected by contacting the Council on the number below by emailing or by completing a Service Request.

All trees in Conservation Areas with a diameter of more than 75 mm (at 1.5m above the ground) are also automatically protected and you must give notice to the Council of any works you intend to carry out to trees in Conservation Areas (a Section 211 Notice). The Council must notify you within 6 weeks if it intends to make a Tree Preservation Order.

The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 give protection to certain hedgerows and require you to submit a Hedgrow Removal Notice for those hedges which meet the specified criteria, before any removal can take place. 

Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 came into effect on 1st June 2005 and enables disputes over High Hedges to be referred to the Council to act independently if all other attempts to resolve the matter have failed.

You can find out more about trees and hedges in our Frequently Asked Questions. For practical advice when developing near trees see our leaflet Guidance Notes for the Protection of Trees on Development Sites  (849K) and for advice regarding works to trees see out leaflet A Guide to Tree Works  (1122K).

To submit an application for TPO works or a Hedgerow Removal Notice Go to the planning application forms page