Weather disruption
Winter weather is causing disruption to services in some parts of the county. Find out what services may be affected in your area.
Enquire about a tree
If you have a query about a Tree Preservation Order, a tree in a park or public space, a tree on a pavement or verge, or just wish to discuss a tree in Dorset, complete our online enquiry form.
Types of trees
Trees within East Dorset are divided into 4 categories with different levels of risk and maintenance associated with them. These are:
- highway trees. Located adjacent to public roads either within pavements or adjacent verges/shrub borders, and are the responsibility of Dorset Council
- open space trees, found within parks, recreation grounds, open spaces and along the borough's coastline and are the responsibility of Dorset Council
- countryside site trees. These are trees found within the borough's woodlands, copses and countryside sites including Local Nature Reserves. They are also the responsibility of the council
- private trees. These grow on privately owned land and include trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or within conservation areas
Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas
Trees may be protected by TPOs or other legal procedures to make sure that they are not lost or damaged needlessly. TPOs prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the local authority's consent. Dorset Council can issue a TPO for specific trees. TPOs are managed by the Planning and Health department, for more information, use our tree enquiry form.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact us:
Tree and Environment Team for East Dorset
Email: treeteameast@dorsetcouncil.gov.ukTel: 01202 228820
Full contact details
Highway trees
Highway trees are located on or adjacent to public highways including roads, pathways and roadside verges. For more information or for enquires about highways trees, use our tree enquiry form.
Open spaces and countryside trees
See our tree work policy for East Dorset. This focuses specifically on open space trees and outlines our responsibility to maintain trees in a healthy and safe condition and to ensure no legal nuisance is caused. Within the policy there is a tree work request form that can be filled out and returned to the Open Spaces and Countryside team.
For more information or for enquiries about trees on open spaces and countryside, contact the Open Spaces and Countryside team:
East Dorset Open Spaces and Countryside Team
Email: countrysideandgreenspace@dorsetcouncil.gov.ukTel: 01202 795684
Full contact details