Not sure if a tree is protected? TPO and conservation area status gets checked before any work starts.
A Tree Preservation Order, or TPO, is a legal protection a council places on a specific tree, group of trees, or area of woodland, to stop it being cut down, topped, lopped, uprooted or wilfully damaged without permission. Trees standing in a conservation area get similar protection even without an individual TPO, usually in the form of a six-week notice period before certain work can go ahead. Carrying out work on a protected tree without the right consent is a criminal offence, and can also mean paying to have the tree replaced. In Chesterfield itself applications go to Chesterfield Borough Council, but in some of the surrounding towns we cover the right authority is a different council entirely, which is exactly the kind of detail that catches people out. Before quoting any job, the surgeons we introduce check the TPO and conservation-area register for the property, so homeowners aren't left ringing the council themselves to find out whether consent applies.
Tree Preservation Orders in Chesterfield: how they actually work →
Council rules vary by town: see Dronfield, Clay Cross, Staveley for who covers TPO consent in each.
Last reviewed 2026-07-21.
Contact the planning department of the council covering the property and ask for a TPO search, or check their online map if they publish one. The surgeon you're introduced to should also check as part of quoting, but it's worth knowing yourself before you commit to a job.
It covers more than removal. Pruning, lopping, topping or root work can also need consent if the tree is protected, not just felling. Exactly what needs consent depends on the wording of the specific order.
No, and this is a common mistake. Chesterfield itself falls under Chesterfield Borough Council, but towns like Dronfield and Clay Cross are administratively part of North East Derbyshire District Council instead. Applying to the wrong authority means starting the notice period again once corrected.
Full or sectional tree cutting and removal for dead, diseased or unwanted trees, with all waste cleared from site.
Read more →Shape and thin a tree to reduce weight, improve light, and keep it healthy long term.
Read more →Grind a stump below turf level so the area can be reseeded, paved or planted straight over.
Read more →Boundary hedges cut back and shaped, including tall or overgrown leylandii.
Read more →Fallen or dangerous trees made safe quickly after high winds or storm damage.
Read more →Send a few details and we'll aim to connect you with a suitable local tree care professional, usually within one working day.