Trees
It is estimated that there are some 40,000 trees in the streets and open spaces of Stevenage!
Council responsibility
We are responsible for the efficient management of trees in our ownership. This includes the application of tree preservation orders and the protection of other trees on council owned land.
We are not usually able to get involved in a dispute that involves a private tree affecting another property or piece of land. Under some circumstances we may take action against the owner of a tree that is causing obstruction of a Council owned footpath or road, or is likely to be a danger to the public.
Please use the link below should you wish to make a report/request or require more information about trees within flat blocks, hostels and sheltered housing units owned by Stevenage Homes Ltd.
Pruning works to trees
Works will be carried out to improve the condition, appearance and safety of the trees.
To report a problem, or request works, to a tree growing within the grounds of a Stevenage Homes Ltd property please complete the online report form.
To report a problem, or request works, to a tree growing on Council land please complete the online report form. Your request will be investigated within 4 weeks of your report, and where necessary a team will usually carry out works within 13 weeks of the inspection.
Tree removal
Requests for tree removal will usually involve consultation with all residents, whose environment the tree is part of. Exceptions to this are where works will be of benefit to remaining trees, or where a tree is shown to have contributed to property damage.
To request a tree to be felled please complete the online report form. Your request will be investigated within 4 weeks of your report. Most trees will be felled during the winter months, November – March.
Wherever possible all trees felled will be replaced with either:
- A more suitable tree in the same locality, or
- A suitable tree in a nearby location.
New tree planting
To request a new tree to be planted please complete the online request form. If your request is agreed, planting will be carried out during the winter, November - March.
Protected trees
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are designed to protect important trees that make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the area.
Trees that grow in Council owned property or on public open spaces are also protected as they are deemed as Council Property. Anyone willfully damaging these can be prosecuted.
The benefits of trees
The trees are a highly visible and important part of the town's landscape, which apart from their value to the appearance of the town have many other benefits:
- Value to local wildlife
- Ability to act as sight and sound screens
- Ability to mitigate against the worst extremes of weather, keeping things cooler in summer, warmer in winter and acting as highly effective and long lived windbreaks.
- Giving a sense of continuity and place to our immediate surroundings due to their size and longevity.
- Cleaning pollutants from the air
- Producing oxygen
Advice for people wanting to carry out works to privately owned trees
- Always contact us to ensure that the trees are not protected by a Tree Protection Order, planning constraints or that the tree is within a Conservation area.
- Always employ a suitable trained professional tree surgeon, who is covered by Public Liability Insurance. (Always ask for proof).
- Never employ house callers or leaflet droppers claiming to be professional tree surgeons.
- Reputable tree surgeons will always have some form of professional identification and qualification proof. Always ask to see it.
- Reputable tree surgeons can be found in the Yellow Pages or contact us for further advice.
Tree Warden Scheme
This is part of the national Tree Warden scheme, which is organised by the Tree Council and sponsored by the National Grid. For further information visit the Tree Council website, see link below.
Anyone who is interested in trees, and woodlands and would like to play a part in their management and protection locally can join the Stevenage Tree Warden group.
Links to further information
- Stevenage Borough Council Street Tree Policy
- Tree Preservation Orders
- Tree Council Website - Information about the National Tree Warden Scheme