Whose trees are these anyway?

Tuesday, 13 September 2011 00:00

We are often asked who has the responsibility for trimming or cutting back trees on residential parks. Sometimes parks have rules which deal with whose obligation it is, but most of the time it comes down to how long the trees have been there, whether they add to the pleasantness of the park, who planted them, who has looked after them in the past, and so on.

Clearly park owners who own "Oak Tree" or "Elm" or "Yew Tree" park would not want their residents hacking away at the lovely old trees that give the parks their names, and indeed some trees may have Tree Preservation Orders on them which require a formal application to the local planning authority to work on trees protected by an Order. More information on Tree Preservation Orders, the procedure and impact of getting it wrong can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/tposguide

Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule about which trees must be looked after by the park owner and which by the resident. If you are being pressed by residents to look after trees that you think should be their responsibility, or if your residents have cut down trees or hacked away at bushes and trees that you think they should not be allowed to touch then why not ask us which of you is responsible? Call one of our dedicated Parks team on 01392 207020 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for an informal chat about your own situation.