Tree Felling In Oxford
JW Tree Surgery offers a professional tree felling service for domestic customers throughout Oxford and the surrounding areas. As skilled Tree Surgeons, we carry out tree felling safely, methodically and with full regard for your property and the ground around it.
What Tree Felling Actually Involves…
Tree felling is the process of cutting a tree down so that it is removed from its position entirely. Whilst the term is sometimes used loosely to mean any kind of tree removal, in practice the method used depends almost entirely on the size of the tree, its location and the space available around it.
In open areas with sufficient clearance, a tree can sometimes be felled in a single controlled cut, with the direction of fall planned carefully in advance to avoid any risk to fences, structures or adjacent planting. This is the most straightforward scenario and can be completed efficiently when conditions allow.
Sectional Felling: The Method Used In Most Oxford Gardens
For the majority of domestic tree felling jobs in Oxford, where gardens are overlooked, access is restricted or there are buildings and boundaries in close proximity, sectional felling is the appropriate method. This involves working from the top of the tree downwards, removing the canopy and main stem in sections rather than allowing the whole tree to fall at once.
Ropes and rigging are used to control the direction and speed at which each section is lowered to the ground, preventing any risk of impact damage to fences, garden buildings, lawns or neighbouring property. It is a more time-consuming process than a straight fell, but it is the safest and most precise way to remove a tree in a confined or restricted space.
Reasons For Tree Felling
There are a number of situations where felling is the most appropriate course of action.
A tree that is structurally compromised, showing significant decay, has suffered storm damage or is leaning dangerously towards a structure presents a risk that other forms of tree surgery cannot resolve. In these cases, removal is the only safe option.
Trees that have outgrown their position and are causing ongoing problems, such as blocking light, lifting paving, damaging foundations or encroaching on a building, are also common candidates for felling.
Similarly, dead trees should be removed before they deteriorate to the point where they become unpredictable and difficult to work with safely.
Tree Felling & The Law: What You Need To Know
Oxford has a significant number of trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders, known as TPOs, as well as 18 designated Conservation Areas within the city boundary. These protections have a direct impact on what tree work is permissible without prior consent from the local planning authority, and this is something every homeowner should be aware of before any felling work begins.
If a tree on your property is subject to a TPO, written permission must be obtained from Oxford City Council before any felling can take place. Carrying out unauthorised work on a TPO-protected tree can result in a fine of up to £20,000 in a Magistrates' Court, or an unlimited fine if the case reaches Crown Court.
Trees within Conservation Areas also carry protection under section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and six weeks' written notice must be given to the council before works can proceed, giving them the opportunity to consider whether a TPO should be applied.
There is an exception for trees that are dead, dying or present an immediate danger, though the burden of proving that condition rests with the person carrying out the work. If you are unsure whether your tree is protected, Oxford City Council provides an online map where you can check whether a specific property or tree falls within a TPO or Conservation Area boundary. We are always happy to advise on this before any work is planned.
What Happens After The Tree Is Felled?
Once the tree has been brought down, all sections of the stem, main limbs, smaller brash and any other debris are cleared from site. Timber can be cut and left in log lengths for your use as firewood if you would prefer to keep it, or it can be chipped and removed along with the rest of the arisings. The stump will remain in the ground once felling is complete.
If you want the area to be fully cleared for replanting, turfing or landscaping, stump grinding is the logical next step. We offer stump grinding as a separate service and are happy to carry out both on the same visit where the job allows.