Trees and hedges

If you have a tree enquiry, the most important thing to establish is who owns the land the tree sits on. This is because it is the land owner who is responsible for the tree.

There are a number of different potential landowners, including:

  • a private land owner, if the tree is in someone’s garden
  • Essex County Council, if the tree is on a verge next to a footpath or road
  • us, if the tree is in a park or play area
  • the local parish council, if the tree is on other public land
  • a private management company, if the tree is part of a complex of flats
  • CHP, if the tree is part of a social housing property they own

If you want to find out who owns a piece of land, you can contact the Land Registry. They charge a small fee for this service.

We only hold records for the land that we own. 

You can also download our Tree Management Policy, which sets out our approach to managing trees on our land and our statutory responsibilities.

The policy:

  • acts as a source of information and reference about tree issues in our area
  • acts as a framework for decisions that will affect trees
  • supports our vision for our area to be at the leading edge for economic, social and environmental excellence in the heart of Essex

Type of tree enquiry

Check if a tree is protected A tree is protected if it is in a conservation area or is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Find out how to search our TPO listings.
Apply to work on a protected tree Find out how to apply to work on a protected tree, what happens after you submit your request, and how you can appeal a decision.
Overhanging trees or trees causing an issue If you have an issue with a tree, the first step is to find out who owns it. You can then approach the land owner to ask them to take action, such as cutting it back.
Request a new Tree Preservation Order (TPO) Find out more about the process of requesting a new Tree Preservation Order.
Complain about a high hedge You should try to resolve the problem with your neighbour before submitting a complaint to us.
Apply to remove a countryside hedgerow If you want to remove a hedgerow, you need to apply for planning permission from us through the Planning Portal.

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Last updated: 21 November 2022