Trees and hedgerows in Christchurch

Types of trees

Trees in Christchurch are divided into 4 categories with different levels of risk and maintenance associated with them. These are:

• highway trees. Located adjacent to public roads either within pavements or adjacent verges/shrub borders and are under the control of Dorset County Council

• open space trees, found within parks, recreation grounds, open spaces and along the borough's coastline and are the responsibility of the council

• countryside site trees. These are trees found within the borough's woodlands, copses and countryside sites including Local Nature Reserves. They are also the responsibility of the council

• private trees. These grow on privately owned land and include trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or within conservation areas

Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas

Trees may be protected by TPOs or other legal procedures to make sure that they are not lost or damaged needlessly. TPOs prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the local authority's consent. The council can issue a TPO for specific trees. TPOs are managed by the Planning and Health department, for more information, use our tree enquiry form.

Highway trees

Highway trees are located on or adjacent to public highways including roads, pathways and roadside verges. For more information or for enquires about highways trees, use our tree enquiry form.

Open spaces and countryside trees

The Christchurch & East Dorset Councils tree strategy provides a framework to protect and manage trees in the area, where they fall within the council's control. The Tree Management and Inspection Policy has been established to meet both council's objectives to manage its trees. The strategy outlines the council's policies and aims to promote the important contribution of public and privately owned trees whilst ensuring sustainable management for the benefit of the community.

There is a separate tree work policy for CBC and EDDC. They both focus specifically on open space trees and outlines the council's responsibility to maintain trees in a healthy and safe condition and to ensure no legal nuisance is caused. For each policy there is a tree work request form that can be filled out and returned to the council. See the policy for each council:

• Christchurch Borough Council tree work policy (public trees)

For more information or for enquiries about trees on open spaces and countryside, contact us.