Trees and the law

A brief outline of some of the legal matters relating to trees:

The law relating to the use of land in the United Kingdom is complicated, and may differ across national boundaries. Rights and responsibilities between various government departments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities are not uniformly applied, and may change. Scotland has a different legal system to the rest of the UK.

• For advice relating to amenity trees or trees on public land, your best point of inquiry is normally through the tree officer at your local authority.
• For advice relating to trees on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, species or habitat protection, contact the nature conservation agency for England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• For matters relating to commercial forestry, felling licences, control of deer or disease, contact the local office of the Forestry Commission for England, Wales and Scotland, or the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland.
• For individual cases involving trees and private property, for example relating to boundaries, seek advice from a solicitor.