Trees are traditional and characterful features of churchyards. Trees can also help us to proactively reduce our carbon footprint as they absorb some CO2 from the atmosphere. But trees in your churchyard require careful maintenance and protection to ensure they remain safe and healthy.
In addition to the information below, the national church has issued the following guidance: Trees | The Church of England
The Woodland Trust also has lots of information on trees and why they are important and the Arboricultural Association has lots of advice on caring for your trees: Arboricultural Association - Help & Advice
Maintenance
If you have not done so already, you should survey the trees in your churchyard, making a note of their location and present condition. This will be a useful working document to monitor any changes and identify areas of particular concern.
You should include details of significant trees, for example trees which may have ancient or veteran status or be otherwise subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). If you are unsure about any TPOs in your churchyard or want to check if your churchyard is in a conservation area, you should contact your local authority.
Falling branches and dead or dying trees can pose potentially serious dangers to people and property so it is important to regularly inspect your trees for disease or damage, especially after extreme weather. The National Tree Safety Group has a lot of practical information on monitoring trees in relation to public health and safety.
Permissions
If you identify a tree is posing a potential health and safety risk, this should be treated as urgent and needs to be dealt with promptly. The area around the tree should be cordoned off until it can be examined by an arboreal specialist. It is important to ensure that you have the appropriate approval before carrying out any works and so you should contact the DAC staff or your Archdeacon as soon as possible. If the DAC staff are not available, you should go directly to the Registry.
Depending on the work required, different permissions will be necessary (see Permissions). If you are not sure, the DAC staff are happy to advise.
Work on trees with a diameter of less than 75 millimetres (measured over the bark at a height of 1.5 metres above ground level) which are not subject to Tree Preservation Orders or in a conservation area; lopping or topping of any tree that is dying, dead, or dangerous; and removing dead branches from a living tree can be carried out under List A. Click here to download the List A specifications.
However, most work will usually require at least List B permission. This usually covers planting trees; felling trees which are dying, dead, or dangerous; trees with a diameter of less than 75 millimetres (measured over the bark at a height of 1.5 metres above ground level) which are subject to Tree Preservation Orders or in a conservation area; and any other works not covered under List A. Click here to download the List B specifications.
Felling a healthy tree requires full faculty permission (see DAC and Faculties).
The DAC has a 3:1 replanting policy, meaning that for every tree felled, three more must be planted somewhere in the parish.
If your churchyard is in a conversation area or you wish to work on a tree which is subject to a TPO then you will need to obtain secular permission from the local authority in addition to List B or faculty permission. For more on TPOs and conservation areas see the government website: Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas - GOV.UK.
Tree works should be carried out by a specialist contractor. The Arboricultural Association has a search function to find accredited contractors: Arboricultural Association - Find a Professional