Trees and Hedges - Burwell Parish Council

Trees and Hedgerows: A little trimming can make a big difference

Hedges, shrubs and trees are an important and attractive part of our village environment. They contribute to the character and appearance of our streets, provide privacy and shade, and offer valuable food, shelter and habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife. However, when vegetation grows beyond the boundary of a property, it can cause problems for other people using our roads and footpaths. Overhanging or encroaching vegetation can narrow pavements, reduce visibility at junctions and bends, obscure road signs or streetlights, and make it more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians and other road users.

We therefore ask residents and property owners to regularly check hedges, shrubs and trees growing alongside roads, pavements and public footpaths and cut them back where necessary. Vegetation should, as far as practicable, be maintained within the boundary of the property and should not encroach onto or obstruct the usable width of a pavement, footpath or highway.

Particular attention should be given to:

vegetation overhanging or narrowing pavements and footpaths;
low branches which could cause an obstruction or injury;
hedges and shrubs affecting visibility at junctions, bends and entrances;
vegetation obscuring road signs, streetlights or other highway infrastructure; and
growth which makes it difficult for pedestrians and mobility-aid users to pass safely.

Why does it matter?

There are two important reasons for keeping vegetation under control.

1) Safety at junctions and bends
Overgrown vegetation can obstruct sight lines at junctions, bends and entrances, making it harder for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to see one another.
Even small overhangs can accelerate the deterioration of a road or pavement surface, by preventing it drying out and encouraging moss growth.

2) Accessibility
Overhanging vegetation makes pavements narrower and, in some cases, forces vulnerable pedestrians into the road to get around the obstruction. Even small overgrowths can be hazardous particularly to blind and visually impaired people who often use property boundaries as a guide, or when a footpath is narrow.

The County Council has a duty under the Highways Act 1980 to ensure that the highway is not obstructed.

Where is your property boundary?

It’s worth remembering that the boundary between a property and the highway may not be the same as where the present-day hedge, wall or fence happens to be.

Growth from the base of a wall or fence will generally belong to the landowner and should not be assumed to be part of the footpath or highway.

Useful indicators of the location of the original boundary include:

the edge of the tarmac (often beneath hedges and shrubs)
kerbs and drains
the position of lamp posts, street nameplates and other highway signs
the relative position of neighbouring boundaries

Online resources
For some locations, Google Street View’s historical images can help. The images allow you to check the location and appearance of a boundary in earlier years. For Burwell, the first Google surveys were carried out between 2008 and 2010. Older images can be accessed from “See more dates” in Google Street View.

To what extent should vegetation be pruned?

Where vegetation overhangs a footpath, it should be kept about 2.5 metres above the pavement.
Where it overhangs a highway used by motor vehicles, greater clearance is needed to allow for buses and lorries - generally in excess of 5 metres.

The diagrams show examples of overhanging trees and hedges and give guidance on how to cut them back to keep footpaths and highways clear. Please take care if you do the work yourself.

If an affected tree is subject to a TPO (Tree Preservation Order), you must obtain consent from East Cambridgeshire District Council before carrying out any work.

Clearances for Highways and Footpaths

Tree

Clearances for Street Lamps

Tree

Frequently asked questions

What if you rent your property?

Many tenancy agreements make the tenant responsible for trimming trees, hedges and shrubs. If responsibility is unclear, speak to your landlord or managing agent. If you are responsible for the garden, please ensure that hedges and shrubs adjoining the footpath or highway do not create an obstruction.

Does living in a Conservation Area make a difference?

If the property is in one of Burwell’s two Conservation Areas, you must get permission from the District Council before pruning any tree with a trunk measuring over 7.5cm in diameter (measured at a height of 1.5m from the ground).

What if I can't manage the work myself?

If you are elderly, disabled, vulnerable or recovering from illness, assistance may be available from the following local services.
Voluntary Community Action East Cambs (VCAEC) has a gardening volunteer service and may be able to arrange help with garden work, subject to availability and eligibility.
Care Network Cambridgeshire provides a Help at Home service which can include small gardening jobs.
For larger or more difficult pruning, a professional contractor should be used.

How about the protection of nesting birds?

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1980 protects wild birds' nests, and it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy an active wild bird's nest. For this reason, substantial hedge cutting is best planned for the autumn and winter wherever possible.
If work really is necessary during spring or summer, for example due to safety concerns at a road junction, check carefully for active nests and avoid disturbing them. If an active nest is present, postpone non-essential work until the nest is no longer in use.

What is Burwell Parish Council’s role?

The Parish Council owns the large open spaces at Spring Close, Priory Meadow and Pauline’s Swamp together with the allotments and the cemetery. It also owns amenity areas at the Recreation Ground including the Community Garden, Margaret Field and Jubilee Green, plus smaller spaces at Pound Hill, Mill Close Green, Hatley Drive and Kingfisher Drive, Some of the strips of land alongside roads and pathways are looked after by the Parish Council, others by the County Council.
The Parish Council works hard to encourage biodiversity in its green spaces, whilst taking care to keep all the associated boundaries clear and safe for the public. If you notice any obstructions due to overhanging vegetation on Parish Council land, please contact us.