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Quick question re tree pruning ( regarding permissions)
Desi_in_London
Posts: 731
I'm hoping some of you will have experience of this.
I am in a conservation area in London , and have a small courtyard at the back which has a border round the edge , which prior occupants saw fit to plant with shrubs and trees ( far too close together for eventual size) . The aspect and surrounding building structures mean these mostly grow spindly and tall towards the light. But they are still trees.
Some are exempt from council notification for any pruning ( because they are below the 75mm diameter threshold) . However, there are 3 holm oaks which are , variously , 75-125mm diameter at "regulation" height. These are planted no more than 60/70 cm from each other and the canopy of leaves growing into each other causes fungal disease etc, as well as blocking light.
I don't think holm oaks like hard pruning anyway ( please tell me if i am wrong) , i know from the government website that dead material can be removed without permission, but do I need to notify council even if what I ( and/or a qualified gardener - its too piffling a job for a tree surgeon) am doing is basically removing crossing ( but non-dead) small 1 inch type branches or just thinning out twigs to give a better shape?
I know the council will not withhold permission ( no TPO on anything , not viewable from a public space, and there is no cost involved of doing the notification, and plenty of others have had them done)- while I do not want to break any rules , it seems like a waste of council employee time - especially these days- to notify what amounts to a light trim rather than a complete change of hairstyle , especially if it needs to be done a twig or two at a time every few months ( which would be my preferred approach, especially for stuff I feel competent doing).
Any thoughts appreciated.
I am in a conservation area in London , and have a small courtyard at the back which has a border round the edge , which prior occupants saw fit to plant with shrubs and trees ( far too close together for eventual size) . The aspect and surrounding building structures mean these mostly grow spindly and tall towards the light. But they are still trees.
Some are exempt from council notification for any pruning ( because they are below the 75mm diameter threshold) . However, there are 3 holm oaks which are , variously , 75-125mm diameter at "regulation" height. These are planted no more than 60/70 cm from each other and the canopy of leaves growing into each other causes fungal disease etc, as well as blocking light.
I don't think holm oaks like hard pruning anyway ( please tell me if i am wrong) , i know from the government website that dead material can be removed without permission, but do I need to notify council even if what I ( and/or a qualified gardener - its too piffling a job for a tree surgeon) am doing is basically removing crossing ( but non-dead) small 1 inch type branches or just thinning out twigs to give a better shape?
I know the council will not withhold permission ( no TPO on anything , not viewable from a public space, and there is no cost involved of doing the notification, and plenty of others have had them done)- while I do not want to break any rules , it seems like a waste of council employee time - especially these days- to notify what amounts to a light trim rather than a complete change of hairstyle , especially if it needs to be done a twig or two at a time every few months ( which would be my preferred approach, especially for stuff I feel competent doing).
Any thoughts appreciated.
Kindness is always the right choice.
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