A tree preservation order (TPO) is an order made by the local authority, in this case the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, on a tree or number of trees that makes it an offence to carry out any work, e.g. cut down, top, lop, up root, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a protected tree, without the Authority’s prior written consent. Cutting the roots of a protected tree is also potentially damaging and will require the Authority’s consent. TPO’s take the form of an individual tree preservation order, a group TPO, an area TPO or a woodland TPO. A typical TPO would be served on tree or number of trees which are of significance to the local environment whilst providing a benefit to the public through visual amenity. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has powers to serve TPO’s under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Town and Country (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012, and by Law, written consent must be given by the local authority before works to a tree with a preservation order can take place.
