The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is responsible for protecting trees within the National Park.
If you’re looking for a map showing if your tree is protected, you can find this here:
If you’re looking for the tree works application or notification form, you can find these here:
Guidance notes on how to complete the application form
Application form to carry out works to a tree covered by a TPO
Notification form to carry out works to trees in a conservation area
Please note that the information provided on this page is designed to assist anyone who has queries on protected tree issues in the National Park and is for guidance only – it is not an authoritative statement of law.
With protected trees and all other issues concerning trees and woodlands, we offer and recommend personal contact and advice – our details on the contact us page.
When is a tree protected?
Trees are protected when they:
- Have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them.
- Are located within a Conservation Area.
- Are subject to planning conditions.
The Authority is able to make TPOs and to give or refuse consent for work to trees covered by a TPO.
Information about dead or dangerous trees can be found here
Additional restrictions may apply if you intend to fell more than five cubic metres of wood in any one calendar quarter (providing no more than two cubic metres is sold). If this is the case, you need to contact the Forestry Commission as well as the National Park Authority.
Protected trees
If you are considering doing any works to trees or woodlands in the National Park, you will first need to establish if they are protected. You can do this by clicking on the link to the web map here or by contacting the Trees & Woodlands team. We will be able to advise if the tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order or if it is located within a Conservation Area.
Full details of designations are available to view at our Grassington office during normal business hours.
Legal enforcement
We are committed to achieving National Park purposes through co-operation rather than through legislation. However in some cases legal enforcement is required, for example when work is carried out on protected trees without the necessary consent or notification. You can find out more about such enforcement by downloading and reading the following document:
Applying to carry out work
If you intend to carry out any work on protected trees within the National Park you will need to submit a completed application or notification form.
The law on Tree Preservation Orders is covered by Part VIII of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended and in the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012. Trees in Conservation Areas are protected by the provisions set out in section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. All applications now have to be on a standard Government form. You can download the forms and get further information on making applications below:
Before making an application or notification please read our guidance notes. Applications that include photographs, provide accurate tree locations, and give a full description of the proposed works can usually be dealt with more quickly.
Please contact us if you need any help with your application or need any forms in larger format
- Application form to carry out works to a tree covered by a TPO
- Notification form to carry out works to trees in a conservation area
- Guidance notes on how to complete the forms
Delegation notices for works to trees in the National Park
As of September 2017, the Authority now publishes a list of all delegations relating to works carried out to trees that are within a Conservation Area or that are protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
If you would like more information regarding a particular delegation, or information about works to trees that were carried out more than two years ago, please contact the Trees and Woodlands Team.