Please check if you can fell a tree

When our Trees and Landscape Team was alerted to a tree illegally felled in the Sonning Conservation Area, they found a 16-metre Coast Redwood had been cut down without the owner giving us statutory notice in writing.

The owner, who is developing two neighbouring properties, admitted his mistake and agreed to accept a simple caution instead of going to court.

Conservation Areas are protected because of their special or historical architectural value. But it isn’t just buildings that are protected within them - trees are too, even in private gardens. This is because they contribute to the whole street scene.

This tree was a high quality amenity, so prosecution was the right course. But in this instance a simple caution was the better option because it still resulted in a conviction without clogging up the courts. The caution has gone on the developer’s record with the police, and he’s agreed to replace the tree.

More information: www.wokingham.gov.uk (search ‘tree preservation’)