About this reference
This page brings together the key rules, thresholds, and penalties for businesses that manage or work with trees and hedgerows. Use it as a quick lookup when you need to check a specific requirement. For detailed guidance on each topic, follow the links to the relevant guide pages.
Felling licence requirements
You usually need a felling licence from the Forestry Commission before felling growing trees in England. The main exemption is the quarterly volume allowance.
Tree Preservation Orders
Trees protected by a TPO cannot be cut down, topped, lopped, uprooted, or wilfully damaged without the consent of the local planning authority. Penalties are severe.
Hedgerow removal
Removing or destroying a hedgerow in the countryside requires a formal notice to the local planning authority, unless an exemption applies.
Trees in conservation areas
Trees in conservation areas have additional protection under the planning system, separate from both felling licences and TPOs.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Official guidance
Tree felling licence overview (Forestry Commission) (opens in a new tab)
Forestry Commission
Tree Preservation Orders guidance (opens in a new tab)
MHCLG
Hedgerow regulations guidance (opens in a new tab)
Natural England
Natural Resources Wales forestry (opens in a new tab)
naturalresources.wales
Scottish Forestry felling permissions (opens in a new tab)
forestry.gov.scot
Tree Consents | Historic England (opens in a new tab)
Historic England