A Tree Preservation Order or TPO is a part of town and country planning in the United Kingdom. A TPO is made by a Local Planning Authority (usually a local council) to protect specific trees or a particular area, group or woodland from deliberate damage and destruction. TPOs can prevent the felling, lopping, topping, uprooting or otherwise wilful damaging of trees without the permission of the Local Planning Authority, although different TPOs have different degrees of protection.
They can be made very quickly and in practice it is normal for a council to make an emergency TPO in less than a day in cases of an immediate threat to trees.
If you know of a tree that you think is at risk, or if someone is working on a tree without permission, don’t delay – take a photograph and send it, with the reason why you are concerned, to planningconsents@plymouth.gov.uk or phone 01752 304366.