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Old 09-06-2003, 10:10 PM
Oliver Keating
 
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Ok, I live in London, and I have a small garden, with one enourmous tree in
it which blocks off 50% of the sunlight.

I was wondering what I can do about it, I have spoken to the neigbours, they
are quite happy for me to do something as it might improve their light too,
but where do you begin? Can you just chop off a few branches? Or does one
have to get a proper tree surgeon in?

And if so how do I find a good one? Any recommendations (Hammersmith)?

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Old 09-06-2003, 10:10 PM
Victoria Clare
 
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"Oliver Keating" wrote in
:

Ok, I live in London, and I have a small garden, with one enourmous
tree in it which blocks off 50% of the sunlight.

I was wondering what I can do about it, I have spoken to the
neigbours, they are quite happy for me to do something as it might
improve their light too, but where do you begin? Can you just chop off
a few branches? Or does one have to get a proper tree surgeon in?

And if so how do I find a good one? Any recommendations (Hammersmith)?


Any idea what sort of tree it is? Some take to pruning better than others,
though this isn't usually considered the best time of year for it.

Whether to get a tree surgeon in depends on what tools you have or can get,
how big the tree is, and how likely it is that you will saw your legs off
or drop a branch through someone's roof if you try to DIY, and your budget.

If the tree overhangs a bunch of other small gardens and houses, it may
well be worth getting a pro in, because you don't want to brain a neighbour
as you prune.

Victoria

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Old 09-06-2003, 10:10 PM
Paul Kelly
 
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"Oliver Keating" wrote in message
...
Ok, I live in London, and I have a small garden, with one enourmous tree

in
it which blocks off 50% of the sunlight.

I was wondering what I can do about it, I have spoken to the neigbours,

they
are quite happy for me to do something as it might improve their light

too,
but where do you begin? Can you just chop off a few branches? Or does one
have to get a proper tree surgeon in?

And if so how do I find a good one? Any recommendations (Hammersmith)?



Almost certainly the tree will be covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
which means you are not allowed to do anything at all to the tree without
the prior approval of the local authority.

All is not lost however, depanding on the type/state/position of the tree
the LA may allow removal but would almost cetainly allow lifting and
thinning of the crown. If it really is enormous, then you WILL need a tree
surgeon. the LA will have a list of competent surgeons in your area.

pk


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Old 10-06-2003, 02:21 AM
Essjay001
 
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Paul Kelly wrote:

Almost certainly the tree will be covered by a Tree Preservation
Order (TPO) which means you are not allowed to do anything at all to
the tree without the prior approval of the local authority.


Why would this tree "Almost certainly" be covered by a TPO? Is it because it
is in London or Hamersmith or just because it is in a small garden.



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Old 10-06-2003, 05:08 PM
Nick Gray
 
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"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Paul Kelly wrote:

Almost certainly the tree will be covered by a Tree Preservation
Order (TPO) which means you are not allowed to do anything at all to
the tree without the prior approval of the local authority.


Why would this tree "Almost certainly" be covered by a TPO? Is it because

it
is in London or Hamersmith or just because it is in a small garden.

Because most trees with a trunk over a certain diameter can have a TPO
applied to them - see
http://www.doeni.gov.uk/planning/Inf...let/treepo.htm

BTW That information is from 1997 - the fine is now £20,000!!

Cheers

Nick




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Old 10-06-2003, 05:44 PM
Paul Kelly
 
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"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Paul Kelly wrote:

Almost certainly the tree will be covered by a Tree Preservation
Order (TPO) which means you are not allowed to do anything at all to
the tree without the prior approval of the local authority.


Why would this tree "Almost certainly" be covered by a TPO? Is it

because
it
is in London or Hamersmith or just because it is in a small garden.



most trees in london as far in as Hammersmith will be covered. Conservation
area = automatic TPo on anything above a certain girth. Other areas - an
enormous tree is likely to have been done at some time.

Better to assume it has a TPO and check with the LA

On my neighbours Leylandii hedge (45 ft overgrown hedge) there were
individual TPO's on each tree!

pk


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Old 10-06-2003, 05:56 PM
Mike
 
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In article , Nick Gray
writes
"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Paul Kelly wrote:

Almost certainly the tree will be covered by a Tree Preservation
Order (TPO) which means you are not allowed to do anything at all to
the tree without the prior approval of the local authority.


Why would this tree "Almost certainly" be covered by a TPO? Is it because

it
is in London or Hamersmith or just because it is in a small garden.

Because most trees with a trunk over a certain diameter can have a TPO
applied to them - see
http://www.doeni.gov.uk/planning/Inf...let/treepo.htm

BTW That information is from 1997 - the fine is now £20,000!!

Cheers

Nick


Before we all go running around with our arms in the air yelling "Oh my
God. TPO don't touch it", trees with TPO's CAN be trimmed. We have just
had 109 Holmoaks, each with TPO's on, trimmed. We have also had the TPO
Officer down to our plot of land and said which trees have TPO's on and
must stay, and which ones have a TPO on and can be felled, not trimmed,
felled.

And as for trees with a certain diameter 'Automatically have a TPO on'
as implied, we have some pretty big ones which are coming down, 'with
the blessing of the TPO Officer'

BUT, get the TPO Officer in and then get it in writing as to what can
and cannot be done. And a copy of this notice 'must' be with everybody
on site when work is being done. I photocopied our OK so that the JCB
driver could have his own copy.

Another BUT, we had a sub committee meeting last night and arranged that
the big trees to be lopped, thinned, topped or felled 'must' be done by
competent contractors with the appropriate insurance.

Guideline form our TPO Officer on any old tree, "I want to see that it
will still be in good condition in at least 10 years time'. This was in
reference to some trees which are in a bit of a bad state and had
branches falling across others.

Mike

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forthcoming reunions.
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more





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Old 10-06-2003, 06:08 PM
Paul Kelly
 
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"Mike" wrote in message
...

BUT, get the TPO Officer in and then get it in writing as to what can
and cannot be done. And a copy of this notice 'must' be with everybody
on site when work is being done. I photocopied our OK so that the JCB
driver could have his own copy.

Another BUT, we had a sub committee meeting last night and arranged that
the big trees to be lopped, thinned, topped or felled 'must' be done by
competent contractors with the appropriate insurance.

Guideline form our TPO Officer on any old tree, "I want to see that it
will still be in good condition in at least 10 years time'. This was in
reference to some trees which are in a bit of a bad state and had
branches falling across others.



Quite correct, Mike. TPO officers are (generally) very helpful.
Trimming/crown lifting normally goes through almost on the nod. Removal -
for all but venerable ancient trees - will also be considered favourably if
the tree(s) are causing problems. But a quid pro quo will often be sought in
the form of new tree(s) planted to replace any removed.

but, as you say get the TPO officer involved as they sometimes come down
hard if the law is flouted.

pk


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Old 10-06-2003, 06:20 PM
Mike
 
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Default Annoying Tree

In article , Paul Kelly p.g.kelly@b
tinternetREMOVETHIS.com writes


as they sometimes come down
hard if the law is flouted.

pk



Unless it is the Council's own Estates Officer who has ordered a tree
(with a TPO) to be removed to make more car parking space in the
Council's Car Park ;-}

Slapped wrists only in this case, well it was a little tree, planted
about 6/7 years ago.

It's very interesting being on the 'outside' of the Council, but having
'inside' contacts ;-}

A case of 'Not what you know, but who you know' and once you have an
inside contact of one council it opens doors to other councils

;-) ;-) know what I mean.

Mike


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forthcoming reunions.
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more





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Old 10-06-2003, 06:56 PM
Mike
 
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Default Annoying Tree

In article , Paul Kelly p.g.kelly@b
tinternetREMOVETHIS.com writes


Quite correct, Mike.


I usually am otherwise the great net nanny picks me up and plasters it
all over the newsgroups that "Mike Crowe tells lies"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forthcoming reunions.
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more







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Old 11-06-2003, 08:20 PM
James
 
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Default Annoying Tree

My experience is that not many trees in this part of London have TPOs on
them, or indeed in much of London. They are not automatically subject to
them in Conservation Areas, and indeed have to meet certain guidelines
before they would even be considered. However, if it has one don't touch it
until you have obtained full permission.

If you wish to prune or remove a tree, or any plant with a girth of more
than 7 centimetres at waist height, you are still required to give notice to
the Council before you undertake any work, and they are at liberty - under
certain quite restrictive conditions - to refuse. Seven centimetres is
rather small and there is no distinction between a bush, shrub, tree, etc.
Be aware of this because nosey neighbours love to fuss about trees. If you
make tree officers nervous they may slap a TPO on the tree in order to avoid
the possibility of gung-ho action.

As far as friends in high places goes, that is not my experience. It is my
experience however that tree surgeons and garden contractors are more likely
to get what they want as they are independent of the property and have a
reputation to consider. As a contractor I wouild be bl***y stupid to wreck a
tree for a few hundred quid and get the Council on my back for ever and a
day, and a fine, and the awkardness of having to face the same rightfully
suspicious and indignant officers next time I wanted to work in that
borough. As such we tend to try to do things properly.

As far as costs are concerned, tree surgeons are expensive because they
carry risks and specialist insurance. If the tree is big they are your best
bet, if it is under 20-30ft then a garden contractor might be cheaper.

Hope this helps

James


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