I am the Bures Hamlet Tree Warden. Can I help you? Most of you will know that a large part of Bures Hamlet is inside a conservation area. Consequently any significant work that you want to do to trees inside the area has to have permission from Braintree District Council and an application form has to be submitted before work can be done. Failure to get permission from the council can result in quite a hefty fine. This process takes some time and so to speed things along the Council Officers have decided to allow some local Tree Wardens to recommend any work which the Warden feels is unlikely to cause an issue

I am your local Tree Warden and any application is automatically copied to me and I will try to arrange a visit and then recommend as appropriate. Having said that you might not need to have to apply at all and I can give advice on that too.

First of all, what is a tree?
Well there is no definition in law but a rough guide is any single stemmed plant where the stem is at least 3" in diameter at chest height.

What if the tree is in my back garden?
You wouldn't think permission mattered but it applies to all trees, including fruit trees, whether or not the public can see them.

Why do we have to have permission to do things to something we own?
Well I suppose it's a trade-off for living in a beautiful area. Some of our significant trees were here before we were born and will still be alive after we die so we don't really own them but merely have stewardship of them. Often they are things that we only miss when they are gone and then it's too late so perhaps we as a community should care about how they are treated. Having said that they need looking after and thinning and lopping are a necessary part of that care. Sadly they can also get diseased and die and then they need to be removed.

Well, who are you then?
My name is John Evans and I and my family have lived in Bures Hamlet for over 30 years and I have been a parish councillor for many of those years. Oh, by the way, I am not a 'tree-hugger'. I will be issued with an identity card but until then, if you have any doubts please contact Jenny Wright the parish clerk (227750).

John Evans (227094)