Tree works management

Where there is a clear and foreseeable threat to the personal safety of residents or visitors, or to property, that is directly related to the condition of a tree, we will take action to control that risk.

If the risk is an indirect consequence of a tree (for example, slippery leaves on the pavement in autumn) we will only prune the tree in exceptional circumstances and if there is no other option available.

Unfounded or perceived fear of a tree or trees will not normally result in action to prune the tree.

Trees on council land

We will make sure that we maintain adequate clearance of the highway for the type of traffic using that highway. 

If you want to report low branches over the highway, you can contact the clean and green team. We will act on any problems as soon as possible

Trees on private land

If you want to report a tree that is on private land but is obstructing the highway, you can contact the community protection team. It is the landowner's responsibility to cut the tree back, and we can serve notice on the landowner requiring them to do so.  If they don't, we have the right to cut the tree back and recharge the cost.

Trees on council land

We will make sure that trees that we manage do not obscure road signs or prevent street lamps from lighting the highway.

The purpose of street lamps is to illuminate the public highway. If there is adequate lighting of the highway, we will not normally take action to improve the levels of lighting of private property.

You can contact the clean and green team if you notice any problems, and we will act as soon as possible.

Trees on private land

If you want to report a tree that is on private land but is obstructing street lighting, you can contact the community protection team. It is the landowner's responsibility to cut the tree back, and we can serve notice on the landowner requiring them to do so.  If they don't, we have the right to cut the tree back and recharge the cost.

We will normally only consider action where:

• the separation between the tree and the window of the nearest habitable room is less than 6m for trees with a height of over 12m, or less than half the height of the tree for smaller trees
• the separation between the edge of the canopy and a vertical line through that window is less than 2m.

A ‘habitable room’ means a dining room, lounge, kitchen, study or bedroom. WCs, bathrooms, utility rooms, landings and hallways are excluded.

Where a situation falls within these guidelines, we will prioritise cases according to proximity. We will also take the orientation of the affected window into account.

The results of any consultation exercise may modify decisions if it appears that any work would, by and large, be unpopular with the rest of the community.

There is no right to good reception, and in many cases it is possible to resolve issues of poor reception involving trees by finding an engineering solution. 

We will only consider requests to prune trees to improve reception where all the following conditions are true:

• you have made an efforts to find an engineering solution to the problem and have not been successful
• the work required is consistent with good arboricultural practice and will not unduly affect the amenity or health of the tree
• the work required can be executed within current financial constraints (see 'financial constraints' tab below)

Leaves, seeds and fruit

Leaves and seeds are carried freely on the wind and are largely outside the control of Walsall Council. 

Clearing of leaves from gutters and pathways and weeding of set seeds are considered to be normal routine seasonal maintenance which property owners are expected to carry out.

We will not normally undertake pruning to reduce the fall of leaves, seeds or fruit. 

Honeydew

As with leaves, honeydew is not controllable by pruning. Affected surfaces can be cleaned as part of routine maintenance.

We will not normally consider pruning alone as a way of solving problems with honeydew.

Wildlife

As with leaves and honeydew, the actions of a tree's associated wildlife, such as birds, squirrels and insects is considered to be beyond the reasonable control of the council. 

We will not normally consider pruning or other works to control any nuisance caused by wildlife.

Tree-related subsidence damage is a complex issue. We will consider each case individually.

We will need adequate assessment and monitoring to demonstrate that the tree is involved in causing damage. This evidence should be submitted in support of any request for action.

We will not consider requests for action based on an unquantified possibility of damage occurring at an unspecified point in the future, unless there are other overriding reasons to take action.

As with subsidence, we will consider cases of direct root damage on an individual basis.

We aim to strike a balance between the nuisance experienced by individuals and the benefits offered by the tree to the wider community.

Trees do not have the capacity to break into a sound drain, but they will exploit any existing fault. The removal of one tree will not prevent other vegetation from exploiting the same opportunity.

We aim to make sure that drains are watertight in order to prevent problems. As a result, we will not normally take action in response to complaints that council-managed trees are blocking drains.

We use our resources holistically, in keeping with management policies. In some cases, work cannot be justified on the grounds of priority. 

We understand that, in many cases, the problems of nuisance are of a real concern to you. In such cases, we will permit certain works to be undertaken at your expense, using approved contractors.   

For enquiries and further information, contact the clean and green team.

You can also download a tree work permit application form, which also has more information about the scheme.

Pre-damage checklist

Where the structure has not actually been damaged but where the implication is that future damage is likely.

Direct damage

Where the council have been notified in writing that a tree or shrub is liable to cause direct damage to a property or structure by root action and/or incremental growth, the council will require the following information to be submitted:

1. A detailed site plan is supplied, showing:

• all relevant features, e.g. trees, structures, roads and adjacent structures
• a north point
• the plan should be to scale or indicate critical measurements accurately.

2. An accurate tree survey is supplied, which identifies:

• the trees implicated identified to genus and specie level
• the dimensions of any trees, recording height, crown spread (measured at the four cardinal compass points), trunk diameter. Measurements in metres and accurate to +/- 5%,
• the age of the tree
• the distance of the implicated vegetation to the structure measured in metres.

3. Details of the structures affected:

• Age of the property/building/structure
• Type of construction, e.g. brick, wooden, concrete panel, etc.

Indirect damage assessment

Where the council has been notified, in writing, that certain trees/shrubs pose a future risk of indirect damage (by affecting underlying soil strata,) to a property or structure the following criteria must be met:

1. An accurate tree survey is supplied, which identifies,

• the trees implicated identified to genus and specie level
• the dimensions of any trees, recording height, crown spread (measured at the 4 cardinal compass points), trunk diameter. Measurements in metres and accurate to +/- 5%,
• the age of the tree
• the distance of the implicated vegetation to the structure measured in metres.

2. A soil profile sample taken in proximity to the building's foundation and accurately indicated on a 1:200 or 1:500 scaled map. The sample should indicate:

• the dept of the trial hole investigation
• the depth of the soil sample described
• the type of soil encountered, i.e. sand, clay, silt or any combination of these
• a horticultural assessment of the moisture content
• a record of any tree roots encountered and the depth they were found at. It is not required at this point to have a laboratory analysis of the root to identify the species.

3. Details of the structures, including:

• the age of the building
• the foundation depth
• the foundation type.

4. A detailed site plan is supplied, showing:

• all relevant features, e.g. trees, structures, roads and adjacent structures
• a north point
• the plan should be to scale or indicate critical measurements accurately.

Post damage checklist

In the event that the council receives written notification of a building or structure having already suffered damage, allegedly attributable to vegetation effect, then the council will require the following information:

Direct damage

1. An accurate tree survey is supplied, which identifies:

• the trees implicated identified to genus and specie level
• the dimensions of any trees, recording height, crown spread (measured at the 4 cardinal compass points), trunk diameter. Measurements in metres and accurate to +/- 5%
• the age of the tree
• the distance of the implicated vegetation to the structure measured in metres.

2. A detailed site plan is supplied, showing:

• all relevant features, e.g. trees, structures, roads and adjacent structures
• a north point
• the plan should be to scale or indicate critical measurements accurately.

Indirect damage

1. An accurate tree survey is supplied, which identifies

• the trees implicated identified to genus and specie level
• the dimensions of any trees, recording height, crown spread (measured at the 4 cardinal compass points), trunk diameter. Measurements in metres and accurate to +/- 5%
• the age of the tree
• the distance of the implicated vegetation to the structure measured in metres.

2. A soil profile sample taken in proximity to the buildings foundation and accurately indicated on an appropriately scaled map. The sample should indicate:

• the dept of the trial hole investigation
• the depth at which the soil sample described was taken
• a soil profile from a recognised laboratory indicating:
  • Soil type
  • Liquid limit
  • Plastic limit
  • Plasticity index
  • Moisture content
• a professionally analysed record of any tree roots encountered indicating the genus of the tree the roots are from, their condition, and the depth they were found at.

3. Details of the structure(s) affected, including:

• the age of the building
• the foundation depth
• the foundation type
• a crack monitoring record
• a level survey indicating distortion patterns
• the date that damage was first noticed and any remedial measures taken
• a building history indicating any modifications and/or extensions, including extensive landscape works.

4. A detailed site plan is supplied, showing:

• all relevant features, e.g. trees, structures, roads and adjacent structures
• a north point
• the plan should be to scale or indicate critical measurements accurately.

For enquiries or further information, contact the clean and green team.