Tree surgery and garden clearance in Cambridge
NPTC-qualified tree work across Cambridge — crown reduction, deadwooding, stump grinding, conservation-area trees, full garden clearance. We handle the TPO notifications and the council paperwork so you don't have to.
The full scope.
Every job sits inside one of these. We'll tell you which on the quote, with the time we expect to spend, the kit we'll need, and where any tippings or supplies are coming from.
Crown reduction & shaping
Reducing size by an agreed percentage to retain natural form. Done by hand from rope-and-harness — no spike damage to live wood.
from £320Deadwood removal
Removing dead, dying and diseased wood from established trees. Improves safety, doesn't change the shape.
from £220Crown lifting
Removing lower branches to raise the canopy — for headroom, light, sight-lines from inside the house.
from £280Full felling
Section-felling trees too close to buildings to drop in one piece. Logs cut to client preference, brash chipped or removed.
from £380Stump grinding
Mechanical stump grinding to 30cm below ground level. Spoil left as mulch or removed.
from £140Garden clearance
Overgrown gardens taken back to bare beds. Brambles, ivy, self-set saplings, accumulated waste — gone in a day for most sites.
from £320
Tree work in Cambridge means tree controls
Cambridge has unusually high tree protection. Most of the central city, all listed properties, and many residential areas including Newnham, Trumpington, and Cherry Hinton sit within conservation areas where every tree with a trunk diameter over 75mm is automatically protected. Outside conservation areas, individual trees and groups can carry Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Doing tree work without lodging the right notice is a criminal offence, with fines up to £20,000 for a single tree.
We handle this for every Cambridge job. Before quoting, we check the council's TPO register and the conservation-area boundaries. If notifications are needed, we lodge the Section 211 notice ourselves, wait the statutory 6-week period, and keep the council's response in writing. The client gets a copy for their property records.
The kinds of tree work we do
- Crown reduction — taking back the overall size by an agreed percentage (usually 15–30%) to retain the natural form. The most common Cambridge job.
- Crown thinning — selective removal of branches throughout the crown to let more light through without changing the silhouette.
- Crown lifting — removing low branches to raise the canopy clear of buildings, paths, or sight-lines.
- Deadwooding — removing dead, dying or hazardous wood. Improves safety, leaves shape alone.
- Felling and section-felling — full removal where a tree is dangerous, dead, or in the wrong place. We section-fell where space is tight.
- Stump grinding — mechanical removal to 30cm below ground level. Required if you want to replant or lay surfaces over the stump.
Cambridge-specific things to watch
Several streets and college boundaries carry TPOs we already know about — we keep a running map. The University's own Estates department holds tight standards for trees on college boundaries; we've worked alongside their guidance and can quote to it. Older Cambridge limes, planes and horse chestnuts are particularly susceptible to seasonal disease (Massaria, bleeding canker) — we inspect for these as part of the survey, free.
Garden clearance — separate, simpler
For overgrown gardens we send a two-operator crew with a chipper and transit. Brambles, ivy, self-seeded sycamore, accumulated waste — gone in a day for most Cambridge plots, two days for larger village gardens. Cleared site, swept paths, all waste taken to a licensed tip. From £320/day.
The standard,
without the markup.
NPTC qualified, properly
Every tree we touch is climbed or felled by an operator with current NPTC certificates. We share certificates on request.
TPO + conservation aware
Most of Cambridge has tree controls. We lodge S211 notifications, work to the council's response, and keep records — so do you.
Insured for £5M
Public liability that holds up if anything goes wrong. Certificate on the quote.
Clean exit
Logs cut for your stove, brash chipped to mulch, sawdust swept off the patio. The garden is yours again that evening.
Honest starting points.
Real quotes need a real look. These are honest starting points for a typical Cambridge garden — we'll confirm in writing after a site visit, free.
Single small tree (under 6m) — reduction, deadwooding or full removal. Waste chipped on-site, logs stacked.
Larger trees, rope-access work, TPO notifications and conservation-area paperwork, climber + groundsman + chip removal.
Overgrown garden cleared in 1–2 days. Two-operator crew, chipper, transit and tipping included.
Four steps. No surprises.
- 01
Site visit
We look at the trees, check the planning and TPO status, listen to what you'd like — and what you wouldn't.
- 02
Method statement
Written quote with the actual method — climb, MEWP, fell — plus permissions needed. No vague language.
- 03
Permissions
Where TPOs or conservation areas apply, we lodge the S211 notice with Cambridge City or South Cambs council. 6-week wait by law.
- 04
Work day
Climbing crew + groundsman + chipper. Most jobs done in a day. Site swept, logs stacked, brash gone.
Honest answers, no hedging.
Probably yes — if you're inside a conservation area, every tree above 75mm trunk diameter needs a S211 notice lodged with the council. Outside conservation areas, you only need permission if the tree has a TPO. We check both before quoting, free.
Section 211 (conservation area) notices have a statutory 6-week wait. Full TPO applications (for work on protected trees) can take 8 weeks. We lodge these on your behalf as part of the job.
There's an emergency exemption if a tree poses immediate danger to people or property. We document the condition (photos, measurements) before any emergency work and notify the council within 5 days. We've never had this challenged when properly recorded.
Full removal of a mature tree (10m+) typically £700–£1,800 depending on access, proximity to buildings, and whether the wood comes out as logs or chips. Stump grinding £140–£280 extra. We always price the actual job, never a rough range.
Either way — we can stack logs for you (free, often welcome for woodburners), chip everything and mulch your borders, or remove all waste to a licensed site. Stated on the quote.
Yes — we're known for it. See our hedge cutting page. Tree surgery and hedge work overlap on big leylandii reductions and old-laurel restoration work.
Ready when you are.
Free quote within 4 working hours. Same-day visits for urgent jobs in Cambridge.