Legal
TPO (Tree Preservation Order)
Definition
An order made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees or woodland. It is a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, or damage a TPO tree without the council's written consent. Fines can be unlimited in the Crown Court. TPOs are registered as local land charges.
Why it matters
If there's a large tree in the garden or on the boundary that you'd want to remove or cut back, check whether it has a TPO first. The local authority's tree officer can confirm. Ignoring a TPO can result in prosecution and a requirement to plant a replacement.
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