Cornwall has more Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty coverage per square mile than almost any other English county. The Cornwall AONB wraps around the entire coastline and extends inland across some of the most distinctive landscapes in the country. If you own a property in Cornwall, there is a good chance it sits within or adjacent to AONB-designated land — and with that comes a set of questions about what you can and cannot do with your trees.
AONB designation and tree work: the key question
Being within an AONB does not by itself require planning consent for tree work. AONB designation is a landscape designation — it means the area is recognised as being of exceptional natural beauty, and development proposals within it are assessed against that setting. But it does not automatically make every tree in it protected.
What determines whether your tree work needs consent is whether the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or sits within a Conservation Area. These rules apply across the whole of England — the AONB designation is a layer on top, not a replacement for standard tree law.
Conservation Areas in Cornwall
Cornwall has Conservation Areas in almost every significant town and village: Truro, Falmouth, St Ives, Fowey, Port Isaac, Padstow, St Mawes, and dozens of smaller settlements. In a Conservation Area, you must give Cornwall Council six weeks’ written notice before carrying out most work on trees over 75mm diameter measured at 1.5m height. The council can then raise a TPO to prevent the work, or allow it to proceed.
The practical effect is that in a Conservation Area village in Cornwall, you cannot simply book a tree surgeon and have the work done next week. You need to allow for the notification period — and we submit the notification for you as part of the job.
Tree Preservation Orders in the AONB
Within the AONB, local planning authorities (Cornwall Council for most of the county) are more likely to make TPOs on significant trees — particularly near settlements, on prominent skyline positions, and on trees that contribute to the AONB’s character. This means TPO coverage in coastal Cornwall is extensive. We check the relevant TPO register before every job as standard.
The practical implication: plan further ahead
If you are in a Conservation Area or have a TPO tree, tree work in Cornwall cannot be done on the same timeline as tree work in an unconstrained location. Allow time for the notification or consent process. For most straightforward arboricultural work — crown reduction, removal of a dead tree, hedge management — consent is routinely granted, but the process takes time.
The earlier you contact us, the earlier we can assess the situation, check the planning constraints, and start the clock on any required notifications. We carry out free site visits across Cornwall and handle all planning paperwork as part of the job. Call us early and the process is straightforward.