Trees may be protected under the Town and Country Planning Act by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).
You can check the protection status of a tree online or use this form to check the status of a tree or to request a copy of a TPO.
A TPO makes it an offence to wilfully damage or destroy a protected tree. If you wish to prune any living part of the tree or to cut the tree down you require the council's written permission. A TPO can protect a single tree, a group of trees, woodland or a defined area.