Tree management and pruning

We employ arboriculture experts to undertake scheduled surveys of all trees within our highways, allotments, cemeteries, parks and open spaces. 

These surveys are planned to take place at reasonable intervals to ensure that any work that is necessary to uphold the principals of the adopted Tree Management Policy (pdf, 226 KB) takes place within an appropriate timeframe.

Our surveys produce schedules of corresponding tree work, which takes place over the course of many months, allowing work on certain species to take place at the most appropriate time of year. Timings also take account of environmental conditions that affect our trees.

Survey and work timetable

Take a look at the tree survey and works timetable to check when the trees in your ward were last inspected or pruned, and when they are next due.

Inspection and tree work timeframes are an approximation and can be subject to change; we aim to carry out the majority of inspections and tree work within the specified timeframes. However, unforeseen delays can occur.

Some trees are inspected outside these timeframes if an issue arises in the meantime.

Our trees are inspected every three to five years, as per arboriculture industry standards but they do they do not always need pruning

Keeping streets clear from obstruction

The annual Clear Highways and Paths Schedule (CHAPS) has been introduced to keep public footpaths and highways free from obstructions. This includes:

• Removing or pruning any low branches that are over a public highway or footway to a suitable height
• Removing basal and stem (epicormic) growth
• Ensuring that all newly planted trees have their stakes adjusted and removed once the tree has become established and no longer requires support

Managing certain types of trees

We manage London plane trees and lime trees in particular ways.

London plane tree work

London plane trees are worked on during dormancy, when out of leaf and over the winter months. This is because the leaves of these trees are covered in trichomes (sometimes described as hairs) that act as a respiratory irritant, as well as being an irritant to the eyes.

If they are worked on when in leaf, London planes can be very hazardous for chainsaw operators, other arborist staff and members of the public.

Our borough-wide programme of re-reduction (often referred to as pollarding) is currently underway. Some of this work has already been completed.

We are limited to conducting this work before these trees come into leaf and have had to prioritise some roads above others because of risk reduction. See a list of the higher priority roads. All other roads have been deferred to the 2025/2026 winter period.

Lime tree basal growth

Lime trees tend to produce large amounts of epicormic growth at their base and stem during the summer months. This could begin to obstruct public highways or footways, so we remove basal growth (pdf, 443KB) from all Council-owned lime trees twice a year, round one takes place during May and June and round two takes place during August and September.