Tree Preservation Orders

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) have been around since the late 1940s. They give Local Planning Authorities the power to protect trees that make a valuable contribution to the landscape and local communities.

A TPO helps safeguard important trees by preventing work from being carried out without permission. This includes:

• Cutting down
• Uprooting
• Topping or lopping
• Wilful damage or destruction

If a tree is protected by a TPO, you must get consent from the Local Planning Authority before carrying out any of these works.

TPOs can cover:

• Individual trees
• Groups of trees
• Larger areas
• Entire woodlands

Although they are often used in towns or villages, TPOs can be made anywhere when trees are important to the landscape or local character.
As the National Park Authority, we have a responsibility to put TPOs in place if we believe the loss of certain trees would harm the special qualities of the New Forest.

We may issue a new TPO if we think a tree is at risk from inappropriate work, or if losing that tree would reduce the public benefit it provides – whether that’s beauty, wildlife habitat, or a sense of place.