Managed forestry operation under a Forestry Commission felling licence in the South East
Felling Licences, TPOs & Grants · South East

Felling Licences, TPOs & Grants — Handled For You

We check, apply for and manage your Forestry Commission felling licence, TPO consents and woodland grants across Surrey, London & the South East — so your felling, harvesting or clearance stays legal and on programme.

Not sure if you need a licence? The check is free — call before you fell.
Get a Free Licence Check → Call +44 (0) 7903 703475
FCLicences Managed
TPOConsents Handled
EWCOGrants
UKFSCompliant
Family run · fully insured
NPTC qualified · FISA compliant
Free site survey within 48 hours
Surrey · London · South East base
Plain-English Guide

Do you need a felling licence? What about a TPO?

Felling trees in England is regulated. Get it wrong and you're exposed to enforcement, fines and a compulsory restocking notice — get it right and the paperwork is just another line on a well-run job. Here's the plain-English version, and where we come in.

When a felling licence is needed

As a rule of thumb you need a Forestry Commission felling licence if you fell more than 5m³ in a calendar quarter, or sell more than 2m³. That's not many mature trees. Exemptions exist — genuinely dangerous trees, trees in gardens, small-diameter stems and some TPO-consented work — but they're narrow and easy to misjudge. We confirm exactly where your job sits, free of charge.

TPOs and conservation areas

Separate from the licence, individual trees may carry a Tree Preservation Order, and trees in a conservation area need notice to the council before work. A single job can need a felling licence and TPO consent. We check the register, submit the applications and manage the council relationship so nothing stalls your programme.

Restocking conditions

Most licences come with a restocking condition — a legal requirement to replant and maintain the area. Because we fell and plant, we meet that condition for you as part of the same project rather than leaving you to find another contractor. See woodland creation & restocking.

Grants — EWCO and management

For new planting, the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) can fund the bulk of establishment plus annual maintenance. For existing woodland, management grants may apply where you have an approved plan. We assess eligibility and manage the application and evidence so the funding actually lands.

Planning to fell, harvest or clear? Let us run a free felling-licence and TPO check before you start.

Get a Free Licence Check → Call +44 (0) 7903 703475
What We Handle

The whole compliance picture, managed

We don't just point at the rules — we do the paperwork and carry the work through, so your project is legal from survey to restocking.

Free licence checkWe confirm whether your job needs a felling licence and where any exemption applies.
Felling licence applicationsPrepared, submitted and managed end-to-end with the Forestry Commission.
TPO & conservation-area consentsRegister checked, council notice and applications handled.
Restocking conditionsMet in-house — we replant and maintain as part of the same project.
EWCO & management grantsEligibility assessed, applications and evidence managed.
UKFS-compliant deliveryAll work carried out to the UK Forestry Standard and FISA guidance.
Why Use Us

One firm: permission and delivery

Most landowners get bounced between a consultant who does the paperwork and a contractor who does the cutting — and the join between them is where programmes slip and conditions get missed.

We do both. The same team that checks your licence, applies for it and clears the TPO is the team that fells, harvests, clears and restocks. One point of accountability, one record that every condition has been met.

And because we plan the licence around the work, the lead time (typically 10–12 weeks) is built into your programme from the start — not discovered halfway through.

Standing timber assessed ahead of a felling licence application
Related Forestry Services

More from our Surrey, London & South East forestry team

Every job is run by one qualified crew on our own fleet. Explore the rest of the offshoot — or call and we'll point you to the right service.

01

Woodland Management

UKFS-compliant management plans, thinning cycles, restocking and stewardship that keep a woodland healthy and earning.

Learn more →
02

Woodland Creation & Restocking

New planting, restocking after felling and beating-up — ground prep to whips, with EWCO grant paperwork handled.

Learn more →
03

Commercial Tree Felling

Section, dismantle and straight-fell at scale — plantations, shelterbelts, dangerous and oversized stems other firms decline.

Learn more →
04

Timber Harvesting

Mechanised cut-to-length harvesting and forwarding — timber stacked roadside and marketed to the best-paying mill or biomass yard.

Learn more →
05

Forestry Cost Guide

What land clearance, felling, mulching and harvesting actually cost in the South East in 2026 — and what moves the price.

Learn more →
06

Standing Timber Buying

Part of our Surrey, London & South East forestry service.

Learn more →
Where We Work

Surrey, London & the South East

Our fleet is mobile across the region. Estates, farms, developers, local authorities and private landowners — wherever the access allows, we'll travel.

Surrey

Guildford · Woking · Dorking · Reigate · Epsom · Farnham · Godalming · Cranleigh · Leatherhead · Camberley · Esher · Cobham

London

Richmond · Kingston · Wimbledon · Putney · Bromley · Croydon · Sutton · Greater London

South East

Kent · West & East Sussex · Hampshire · Berkshire · the Home Counties

Common Questions

Before you call

Do I need a felling licence? +

Generally, if you fell more than 5 cubic metres in any calendar quarter (or sell more than 2m³), you need a Forestry Commission felling licence. There are exemptions — dangerous trees, very small volumes, gardens, and certain TPO-consented works — but they're narrower than people think. We check your specific case for free.

What's the difference between a felling licence and a TPO? +

A felling licence is national Forestry Commission permission to fell volume. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is local-authority protection on specific trees, and conservation areas add another layer. A job can need both consents — we handle each.

How long does a licence take? +

A standard felling licence typically takes around 10–12 weeks for the Forestry Commission to process, longer if there are environmental designations. We build that lead time into your programme and submit early.

What is a restocking condition? +

Most licences require you to replant and maintain the felled area for a set period. It's legally binding. Because we also plant, we can meet the condition for you — see our woodland creation & restocking service.

What if I fell without a licence? +

Illegal felling is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine plus a restocking notice. It's not worth the risk — a free check takes us a phone call and a quick look at the site.

Free Site Survey

Need a licence check?

Tell us what you're planning to fell or clear and we'll confirm what permissions you need — free, no obligation.

Fast responseSurvey within 48 working hours. Written quote to follow.
Fully insured & qualified£10m public liability · NPTC · FISA · City & Guilds L3.
Own fleet, own crewNo subcontracting. Timber chipped or extracted on site.
Or call directly
+44 (0) 7903 703475

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