Doncaster Council

Trees

Trees are an important part of our heritage and play a vital role in creating and maintaining attractive environments in the Boroughs urban areas, villages and countryside.

In recent years there has been a growing interest in maintaining and extending 'urban forests' as the benefits of trees in urban areas become better understood and their benefits for a healthy and sustainable urban environment appreciated. Trees have numerous invaluable ecological and social benefits; including providing wildlife habitats, creating enclosure and privacy, reducing noise, screening and absorbing developments, trapping dust and greenhouse gases, and enhancing areas of degraded land. There are also less tangible benefits of trees in urban environments: contact with nature and the seasons, peace and tranquillity, relief from stress and raising a sense of pride of place.

Management of the urban forest in Doncaster is split between two departments:

Sustainable Environmental Services are responsible for the operational management of Council owned trees in streets, parks and open spaces, council houses, cemeteries and leisure centres and for the long-term management planning and maintenance of 66 publicly accessible Council owned Woodlands within the Borough.

Please use the contact details at the top of the page for help on any of the following:

• to report the need for work on Council owned trees - both routine work (e.g. overhanging branches) and dangerous / damaged trees,
• to request an inspection and / or advice on a Council owned tree or a privately owned tree that is not subject to statutory protection,
• to request the planting of trees on Council land,
• to submit a compensation claim for damage caused by a Council owned tree,
• to request general advice on the planting and maintenance of trees,
• to submit a complaint in relation to a 'high hedge' (part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003)

Sustainable Environmental Services also co-ordinate emergency works to trees during periods of inclement weather. During office hours contact Customer Services. Out of office hours please contact the Council's 24 hour Emergency Number (01302) 341628.

Environmental Planning (Trees) are responsible for the statutory protection of trees, mostly on privately owned land, and advising on the development of land with trees present. Please contact us on (01302) 734948 for help on any of the following:

• to check whether a tree is subject to statutory protection (i.e. subject to a Tree Preservation Order, planning conditions or is within a Conservation Area),
• to request an inspection and / or advice on a privately owned tree that is subject to statutory protection, or to report the need for work - both routine work (e.g. overhanging branches) and dangerous / damaged trees,
• to submit an application to work on a protected tree,
• to request the making of a Tree Preservation Order,
• to report unauthorised works to protected trees or hedgerows or to check whether consent for work has been granted,
• to submit a compensation claim for damage caused by a protected tree where consent for works has been refused or granted subject to conditions,
• for advice on selecting a tree work contractor,
• to request advice on trees that are or may be affected by development,
• to request general advice on the planting and maintenance of trees,
• advice on the Hedgerow Regulations 1999 and advice on hedgerow planting and management.