Applying To Carry Out Tree Works
If the tree is on council owned land:
You can apply to us to request work to the tree by completing and returning a Tree Work Request - Council Land form to us. If you are unsure whether the tree lies on council land please contact us.
If you are living in a council owned property you will need to discuss with your housing officer any works that you wish to carry out. Please contact Poole Housing Partnership 
on 01202 264444.
The next step
If you have made an application, you will receive a letter from Leisure Services confirming that your request is being assessed.
We aim to assess the work and instruct a contractor, if appropriate, within a period of twelve weeks. Occasionally, high volumes of applications will extend this period.
If your application is unsuccessful
If, after assessment, we decide the work is not appropriate then you will be notified in writing.We will have assessed your application against the list of our responsibilities. However under certain circumstances you are still entitled to arrange for work to be carried out by a private tree surgeon which is detailed below.
If the Council are unable to do the work, can I get it done myself?
In common law, a property owner can cut back overhanging branches to the boundary of his or her property. We will usually have no objection to property owners carrying out tree work or engaging a contractor at their own expense, provided that:
- access is not gained onto the neighbouring land or to a tree within that land. If access to our land or to a tree on that land is required, our permission must be sought.
- the tree is not situated in a Conservation Area or protected by a Tree Preservation Order; contact Planning Services 01202 633321 to check.
- any work done to a tree is not detrimental to its health or stability; please obtain advice from a qualified tree surgeon.
- any tree work undertaken is carried out in accordance with current best practice as defined in British Standard Recommendations for Tree Work 3998:1989.
- you notify us of the proposed work and commencement date.
If the tree is on private property:
If the tree is on private property and is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or lies within a Conservation Area, you will need to complete and return a Tree Work Request - Private Land form. If you are unsure whether the tree is covered by a TPO or another restriction, please check our TPO page for further information and guidance.
Once we receive your application we will check that you have supplied all the required information and that it follows the guidance notes supplied with the form. Having confirmed that the application is valid, an arboricultural officer will then visit the site and assess the appropriateness of the work being proposed.
Following assessment, one of the following decisions will be made and issued:
- Grant with Conditions
- Split Decision
- Refusal
This decision will be supplied within eight weeks of our receipt of your application and in the event of a Split Decision or Refusal, full reasons for the decision will be supplied. If you are unhappy with the decision you have 28 days to appeal. Please visit the Planning Inspectorate website for further details.
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