TPOs - What's the Fuss?

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) might sound like something only arborists and planning officers get excited about, but don’t be fooled—these legal tools are one of the quiet heroes of our local environments. They protect the trees that give neighbourhoods character, shelter biodiversity, and occasionally stop someone paving over an entire garden to squeeze in a double garage.

What Is a TPO, Exactly?

A TPO is a legal order made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands. Once in place, it becomes illegal to cut down, lop, top, uproot, or wilfully damage a protected tree without written permission. Think of it as a “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging from a branch, enforceable by law.

Introduced under the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and now governed by the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012, these orders are typically applied to trees with high amenity value, cultural significance, or environmental importance.

Safeguarding Biodiversity

Old or mature trees are more than decorative—they're ecological goldmines. A single oak can support over 2,300 species, from insects to birds to fungi. Hollow trunks, deadwood, and complex bark structures create mini-habitats essential for everything from bats to beetles.

By protecting these trees, TPOs help maintain local ecosystems and ensure that urban and suburban wildlife have somewhere to live that isn’t a drainpipe or wheelie bin. With biodiversity in steady decline across the UK, it’s a small but crucial line of defence.

Trees and Planning: Not Always a Peaceful Coexistence

If you’ve ever glanced at a planning application and noticed a mighty oak standing right in the path of someone's extension plans, you’ll understand why TPOs exist. Development pressure is one of the most common threats to established trees, especially in towns and villages where space is at a premium.

Without a TPO, even the most ancient, character-defining tree can be felled in a weekend. But with one in place, developers must work around it—often reconfiguring designs or taking extra measures to ensure root protection during construction. Yes, it adds paperwork. But it also adds long-term value to the community. After all, nobody ever wrote a love letter to a block of breeze blocks.

The Recreational and Aesthetic Argument

Let’s not overlook the obvious: trees are beautiful. They soften hard urban edges, mark the passing of seasons, and make ordinary streets feel like somewhere worth walking. Protected trees become fixtures in the lives of local residents—climbed by kids, photographed by dog walkers, admired by almost everyone (apart from those trying to get better signal for their Sky dish).

Research shows that green views and access to trees boost mental health and wellbeing. In a time when our collective stress levels are higher than ever, trees offer a kind of low-maintenance therapy. TPOs ensure we don’t wake up one morning to find our favourite view replaced with scaffolding and dust.

But Aren’t TPOs a Bit... Bureaucratic?

Possibly. But so are passports, and most of us agree they serve a useful purpose. TPOs may involve forms and permissions, but they strike a balance between personal land rights and the wider public interest. They don’t mean “never touch a tree” — they mean “don’t destroy it without a good reason.”

Anyone can apply to carry out work on a TPO tree by submitting an application to the local council. If the tree is dangerous, diseased, or dead, exceptions often apply. But there’s a process—and that process prevents impulsive decisions that would otherwise result in permanent loss.

Final Thoughts

Trees don’t have voices, voting rights, or a say in planning meetings. TPOs are how we speak for them. They’re not about freezing landscapes in time but about ensuring that decisions involving irreplaceable natural features aren’t made lightly—or with a chainsaw.

So the next time you see a tag on a trunk or a line on a planning map, know that you’re looking at more than red tape. You’re seeing a commitment to biodiversity, beauty, and a bit of long-term thinking in a world that often prefers the quick win.

And if that tree happens to be blocking the light in your conservatory? Well... maybe consider buying a nice lamp.