If you see a tree on public land that you feel is dangerous, and poses a high risk to people or property please call 01234 267422 to let us know. 

We will inspect the tree as a matter of urgency and if it does pose a high risk to people or property, we will arrange to make the tree safe the same day.

During storms or high winds, we receive a high number of reports of damaged trees that may be dangerous. We will assess each report and deal with them as quickly as we can, in priority order.

Unless there is a genuine emergency, reports will be processed within 30 working days.

Trees on public land: We will maintain trees on public land so there is a minimum 5.5 metres height clearance over the carriageway (public street, road or highway).

Trees on private land: If a tree on private land is causing an obstruction to a road or carriageway, we have powers under the Highways Act to make the owner of the tree remove the obstruction. If they do not, we may do this work and charge the owner.

Trees on private land: We will maintain trees on public land to ensure there are clear sight lines for traffic signals and street signs.  

Trees on private land: If a privately owned tree is causing an obstruction to a traffic signal or street sign, we have powers under the Highways Act to make the owner remove the obstruction. If they do not, we may do the work and charge the owner.

Trees on public land: We maintain trees on public land to ensure that streetlights can operate properly without being blocked by a tree / branches.

Trees on private land: If a privately owned tree is causing an obstruction to a street light, we have powers under the Highways Act to make the owner remove the obstruction. If they do not, we may do the work and charge the owner.

We inspect:

• pavements on ‘A’ roads or in Bedford town centre every month
• pavements on ‘B’ roads every six months 
• pavements in residential areas every 12 months 

Any trip hazards identified during these inspections are repaired if they are considered dangerous.

You can report a trip hazard caused by a tree on public land on our pavements and cycleways webpage.

If a privately-owned tree is causing damage to the pavement leading to a trip hazard, we have powers under the Highways Act to make the owner remove the obstruction. If they do not, we may do the work and charge the owner.

Ivy causes no direct damage to trees. 

In woodland ivy has a variety of conservation benefits and forms an integral part of the natural habitat. 

In urban areas we keep ivy on trees if we can balance safety, conservation and aesthetics.

If a tree on public land is associated with criminal activity / anti-social behaviour, we will work with our partners, such as the Police, to address the problem.

Research shows that areas with higher canopy cover (layers of leaves, branches that cover the ground when viewed from above) have lower levels of crime.

We will investigate any reports of vandalism to a tree on public land and try to repair any damage where we can. Please call 01234 267422 to tell us about a tree on public land that has been vandalised.

The Council has a zero-tolerance attitude towards vandalism and will gather any evidence necessary to prosecute offenders.

We actively promote tree planting and encourage residents, including young people to take part and care for the trees in their neighbourhood. We can protect young trees with metal guarding which is removed once the tree has become established. Together this has reduced the amount of vandalism experienced.

Our tree management programme aims to avoid damage to buildings and other structures caused by trees on public land. We will cut back trees from properties where they touch windows, walls, roofs or gutters. This is to avoid damage to aerials, tiles and gutters.

If roots cause direct damage to walls and surfaces we will assess each case on an individual basis. If you want to claim for damage to your property due to roots from a tree on public land, please contact our insurance and risk team: insuranceandrisk@bedford.gov.uk.

If you believe your property is suffering subsidence due to a tree on public land, please contact your insurers who will notify us as necessary.

If a tree on public land is touching a property such as a house, boundary wall or garage, we will inspect the tree. In many cases we will simply prune the tree, but in exceptional circumstances it may be more appropriate to remove the tree.

We will not prune or fell a tree on public land to improve natural light or the view from a property.

If natural light is being blocked by the growth of a hedge, then action may be possible under the High Hedges Act. Please see our high hedges webpage for how to deal with this.

We will not prune, fell or cut the roots / tree on public land to prevent roots entering a drain / pipe that is already broken or damaged. 

Tree roots typically invade drains / pipe that are already broken or damaged. Tree roots found in a drain are usually due to an underlying problem requiring repair of the broken pipe. If you are concerned about the condition of your drains, please contact your water and sewerage provider.

Leaves

The loss of leaves from trees in Autumn is part of the natural cycle and cannot be avoided by pruning. 

We do not remove leaves in gutters that may have fallen from trees on public land. 

If gutters are regularly blocked by fallen leaves we recommend adding gutter guards as a cheap and easy way to keep out leaves and other debris.

Our teams work throughout the Autumn to clear fallen leaves from our streets. Leaves collected in this way are generally sent for composting.

Sticky sap

Honeydew or ‘sticky sap’ is caused by greenfly (aphids) feeding on the tree and excreting a sugary sap. Often the honeydew is colonised by a mould which causes it to go black. 

There is little that can be done to remove the aphid which causes the problem and pruning the tree may only offer temporary relief. Where new trees are planted, we try to choose trees that are less likely to cause this problem. Where honeydew affects cars, warm soapy water will remove the substance, particularly if you wash the car as soon as possible.

Tree blossom

Tree blossom is a natural occurrence which cannot be reasonably avoided by pruning.

We sweep the streets and the paths in our parks to remove excessive blossom as part of our regular maintenance programme.

Tree pollen

The benefits trees provide towards improved health far outweigh any negative effects.

The removal of a small number of trees will offer no significant improvement to hay fever sufferers.

Bird droppings

We understand that bird droppings can be a nuisance. However, we do not prune or remove a tree to prevent bird droppings. Nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and other related wildlife laws). Washing with warm soapy water will usually remove the bird droppings.

Falling fruit / berries / nuts

We do not prune or fell a tree on public land to remove or reduce falling fruit, berries or nuts. 

Poisonous berries / foliage

We do not generally remove trees bearing poisonous fruit / foliage (such as yew trees). However, if you believe unsupervised young children are likely to be exposed to poisonous berries / foliage from a particular tree, please call 01234 267422 and we will investigate.

We do not prune or fell trees on public land to remove or reduce pests such as bees, wasps, or other wildlife.

We strive to protect bees wherever possible by either using warning signs and barriers or re-locating nests. 

See our pest control webpage for more information.

We will not prune or fell trees on public land to prevent interference with TV / satellite installation / reception or to prevent the shading of solar panels. 

We do not prune or fell trees on public land due to nuisances caused by overhanging branches, except in extreme circumstances where it is preventing reasonable use of neighbouring land.

You have a legal right to deal with the nuisance associated with trees encroaching onto a property. 

Where you wish to exercise your Common Law rights please follow the guidance below: 

• Remove only those parts of the tree from the point where they cross the boundary of the property. There is no legal right to cut or remove any part of a tree that does not overhang the property.
• Consult a professional tree surgeon for guidance on how best to prune back encroaching trees, unless the works are trivial (meaning that the works could be carried out with hand secateurs or similar).
• Inform the owner of the tree(s) of any plans to carry out work.
• Check whether the trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order or if they are in a conservation area, before carrying out works to trees. 

Read our tree guidance booklet (PDF) for more advice and suggestions.

We do not prune or fell a tree on public land because it is ‘too big’ or ‘too tall’. 

Many trees in Bedford Borough are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. These are trees of high amenity value which have been identified by us and protected by an Order.

Find out more on our protected trees webpage.

We have no authority to intervene in a dispute between neighbours where trees are causing a nuisance or damage to property. 

If the problem is due to a ‘high hedge’, please go to our high hedge complaints webpage. 

Trees on private land - danger to highway: If a tree in private ownership is shown to be a danger to the highway it will be identified for work to make it safe. The land owner will be contacted and instructed to make the tree safe under Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980. 

Trees on private land - danger to third-party land other than highway: If a tree in private ownership is believed to be an imminent danger to non-highway land it is the responsibility of the land owner to make the tree safe. Under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 we have the power to ensure that the tree is made safe.