Emergency felling license

[mitchel]

I have 15 trees on a small woodland along side of an a busy A road and 15 trees have been condemned by the council. I have 4 months to sort them otherwise they will and bill my customer.

 

How easy is it to get a felling license quickly the trees either have Dutch elm or ash dieback. there are others in the woodland that will need taking down at same time due to the same diesease. Obviously just that council man obviously doesnt leave his 4x4 while surveying.

[swinny]

Is the woodland tpod? 

 

Inn4 months you've 2 calender quarters so can you not get it done in that period at 10 cube for the 2 calender quarters? 

 

Take pics of the trees and email and or speak to forestry commission persion they may email you back and give you exemption.

 

Thats how id try to do it any how

[GarethM]

If the council have said they are unsafe, they'll be a official letter.

 

So wouldn't it be sensible to speak directly with the tree officer as they would be the one also granting you or even their own tree team permission ?

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, mitchel said:

I have 15 trees on a small woodland along side of an a busy A road and 15 trees have been condemned by the council. I have 4 months to sort them otherwise they will and bill my customer.

 

How easy is it to get a felling license quickly the trees either have Dutch elm or ash dieback. there are others in the woodland that will need taking down at same time due to the same diesease. Obviously just that council man obviously doesnt leave his 4x4 while surveying.

As has been said speak to the tree officer at the local authority; as if they are requiring you to feel the trees for public safety it may be that a felling license is not needed.  Or indeed if the trees are under a certain size.

[daltontrees]

The law on this is clear once you know about it. You do not need a felling license for felling trees "in compliance with any obligation imposed by or under an Act of Parliament...". That would include road safety legislation.

 

Get something in writing, anything, from the Council that says the trees have to go, and keep a copy. Then fell them. Do not apply for a license. Do not wait.

There are addiitonal exemptions for "the prevention of danger" and for "the felling of any tree of the genus Ulmus which is affected by the disease in elms caused by the fungus Ceratocystis ulmi and commonly known
as Dutch elm disease to such an extent that the greater part of the crown of the tree is dead". Again no license is required.

 

All this assumes you are in England and Wales. Different law in Scotland. Very different in Ireland.

[woody paul]

I was told by woodland officer last year council order over powers felling licence as long as you have paper chain. 

Near me there's a lot of 28 day notice being given on trees fell by highways, must have new policies. 

[daltontrees]

53 minutes ago, woody paul said:

I was told by woodland officer last year council order over powers felling licence as long as you have paper chain. 

Near me there's a lot of 28 day notice being given on trees fell by highways, must have new policies. 

The Council can order works under Highways Act, it qualifies the works for exemption under the Forestry Act 1967. Joined up.

[Amarus]

On 23/11/2025 at 13:54, mitchel said:

 15 trees have been condemned by the council. I have 4 months to sort them 

+

 Obviously just that council man obviously doesnt leave his 4x4 while surveying.

 

What exactly have you been provided in writing and by whom? 

Whilst county highway departments have some statutory powers/exemptions you need to be absolutely certain you are covered by one of these too if you are going to fell the trees. "Someone said" is not exactly that. 

 

Once you have the letter/report then you know where to start. Just watch out for the small print as most highway reports explicitly exclude trees under 15cm dbh. Might not be a problem for you with only 15 trees but these smaller trees could quickly exceed the 5m3/calendar quarter allowance in a woodland.  

 

Your biggest concern should be, however, the timescale given to you. I suggest reading the felling regs exemptions here especially 2.5 which states:  

 

"The danger exception could be said to apply only where there is an immediate risk of serious harm and urgent work is needed to remove the risk."

 

4 months is not an immediate risk based on my limited understanding of the relevant arb terminology.

 

I have been repeatedly told by the FC (cannot find online guidance, sadly) that in their world immediate means remedial action is required in less than 3 months (exclusive) i.e. measured in days and must be supported by either a qualified arborist report and/or very clear photos of showing the danger.  In any other cases (3 months or over) there is enough time to get a licence. 

I would also refer to the ash guidance by the FC offering more details under point 4.4. (especially the last sentence under this point:) ON 46a