Removing tree ear marked for retention

[flanagaj]

There is a Cherry tree part way down the garden and it's been earmarked to be retained.  It's a nice tree and I'd like to retain it, but I think it's going to be a pain with regards to our proposed drainage field.  Am I best off waiting until the planning application has been approved before putting in an application to remove it.  We are in an AONB and I suspect I cannot just fell it without getting permission.  There is no TPO on it.

[nod]

Cut it down 

Who will know Or care 

[JohnMo]

We had to do a full tree protection plan, root protection etc. Got the boxes ticked, all the trees located on a map blah blah.

 

Once planning process was complete, no one cared less, not a single question ever asked again. It's all a tick box exercise. Once they the boxes ticked they move on to the next application.

 

Make up your own mind what you do. But I like @nod suggestion

 

[Russell griffiths]

AONB has no bearing on it. 

[flanagaj]

Cheers chaps.  I'll wait until they (fingers cross) approve and then I'll just fell it.  I'm sure a nimby neighbour will inform the council given the application has a tree protection measures document associated with it.

[MPH243]

Cut it down now otherwise they might put restrictions on it. 

If they ask say it was damaged in the last storm.

[Great_scot_selfbuild]

59 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

Cheers chaps.  I'll wait until they (fingers cross) approve and then I'll just fell it.  I'm sure a nimby neighbour will inform the council given the application has a tree protection measures document associated with it.

We have no TPOs and are not in a conservation area. Part of our planning application involved approval for the removal of 2 low grade trees. After our application was approved, my arboriculturalist informed us that all remaining trees are automatically protected as they are within the red line boundary and identified on the application. That said, I couldn't find this documented anywhere. I offer this information to help you weigh up your options.

[pritch]

I'd wait until your planning’s approved before taking it down. Once it's in the plans, it might be protected.

[flanagaj]

Worst case scenario if a non TPO tree was felled.  £1000 fine?  To add context, I need to get the drainage field to the right of the house.   It is a long run of 40 meters, but the tree root will no doubt make a conventional field difficult.

Edited February 28 by flanagaj

[shuff27]

I had a 5m tall almond tree growing right in the centre of the plot where my house is now situated.  I got my groundworker to dig it up with his jcb, move it with a sling & replant it in a large hole elsewhere on the plot.  It looked absolutely knackered - large vertical split on the trunk & many damaged branches.  I gave it a severe pruning and next spring it flowered beautifully (similar to cherry blossom) & now 2 years later it looks remarkably healthy.

[FarmerN]

Cherry trees do have a habit of suddenly dying, normal life span is 10-30 years I think.

Wet roots is a common problem.

Did yours die during this last wet winter ??!!

[Blooda]

What cherry tree?

[ToughButterCup]

Here's the West Lancastrian answer to your problem

Ring my nearish neighbour: outline the problem and 

• if you can understand the reply
• book a holiday
• leave your phone at home
• leave for your holiday
• my neighbour turns up at 08:00 on Sunday morning while you are away
• parks so his Land Rover's number plate is not visible
• fells the tree
• if small enough, he logs it and drives away with the trunk in bits in his trailer
• hope his LR doesn't break down 
• you come back from holiday and say
• Nowt-to-do-with-Me-Mate. I know Nuffin.

Problem sorted

 

Worst case: he gets busted by Mrs BizzyBody and he is

• hauled up in court
• pays the fine 
• smiles smugly
• because you reimburse his fine
• and he  uses the tree for next years firewood

Meanwhile at the inevitable sophisticated Christmas drinks parties you tell the story of how you have no idea what happened and that you have already plans to plant several replacement trees.

And everybody's happy: you all can piddle in peace and my mate keeps his feet warm for a month or two.

 

Whas' not to like? I tell ya - West Lancs: it's the new Wild West

[ProDave]

2 hours ago, flanagaj said:

To add context, I need to get the drainage field to the right of the house.   It is a long run of 40 meters, but the tree root will no doubt make a conventional field difficult.

Ignoring the tree you might have a bigger problem.

 

Is this foul drainage with a treatment plant or rainwater?

 

Check your local building regs.  Here in Scotland a drainage field must be 10 metres away from a road.  That is what scuppered us, but drainage to the burn came to our rescue. 

 

What is behind you?  A field?  Can you get permission to drain there?

[flanagaj]

11 hours ago, ProDave said:

Ignoring the tree you might have a bigger problem.

 

Is this foul drainage with a treatment plant or rainwater?

 

Check your local building regs.  Here in Scotland a drainage field must be 10 metres away from a road.  That is what scuppered us, but drainage to the burn came to our rescue. 

 

What is behind you?  A field?  Can you get permission to drain there?

I believe it's 2 metres.  The neighbour immediately next to us recently replaced theirs and building control didn't have an issue.  That would be a disaster and I don't want to consider that possibility.

[Great_scot_selfbuild]

On 28/02/2025 at 07:42, flanagaj said:

Worst case scenario if a non TPO tree was felled.  £1000 fine?  To add context, I need to get the drainage field to the right of the house.   It is a long run of 40 meters, but the tree root will no doubt make a conventional field difficult.

We have approval for our wastewater drainage field (percolated pipe etc.) to be installed using air spading of a trench through our RPZs. We're excavating the trench with air spading, protecting the roots with damp hessian while exposed and laying pipe and aggregate etc underneath before then back-filling. This may be an option for you to achieve both.

[Alan Ambrose]

For TPOs etc a tree is not a ‘tree’ until it’s a reasonable size. Can’t remember the exact dimensions, but the typical cherry tree is more like a large shrub. Cut it down or move it as you prefer.

[Russell griffiths]

24 minutes ago, Alan Ambrose said:

For TPOs etc a tree is not a ‘tree’ until it’s a reasonable size. Can’t remember the exact dimensions, but the typical cherry tree is more like a large shrub. Cut it down or move it as you prefer.

75mm diameter at breast height. A cherry tree is certainly not a large shrub. 

[Alan Ambrose]

Horticultural definitions aside, then less than 75mm diameter and it can be cut down or moved as you like.

[Russell griffiths]

Just now, Alan Ambrose said:

Horticultural definitions aside, then less than 75mm diameter and it can be cut down or moved as you like.

Yes, unless you are in a conservation area, then everything is covered. 

[flanagaj]

Unfortunately, it has a 16" diameter 

[marshian]

On 03/03/2025 at 20:38, flanagaj said:

Unfortunately, it has a 16" diameter 

 

Did have a 16" diameter.............

 

Surely it's already fallen down in the breeze last week????

[Cliffpope]

On 03/03/2025 at 20:38, flanagaj said:

Unfortunately, it has a 16" diameter 

 

You said you would like to retain it? That's a bit big for digging up and moving, but it can be done. There are specialists who can excavate a giant root ball and transport it to a new hole, but I'd imagine that would be pricey. It would be cheaper to buy a new one - you can buy quite large trees in pots.