Trees
Information about Tree Preservation Orders, report a problem tree and how to donate a tree.
About the Arboricultural Service
The Arboricultural Service consists of specialised officers known as Arboriculturists. They are responsible for the management of thousands of trees in our parks and open spaces.
There are over 12,000 street trees across the city and they assist with the management of over 500 hectares of woodland in and around Brighton & Hove.
You can find out about:
- how we manage trees in the city, and information about the Arboricultural Service, tree pruning or high hedges
- Tree Preservation Orders, if a tree is protected and get information about working on trees with Tree Preservation Orders or trees within conservation areas
- what the service is doing to protect its internationally renowned National Elm collection from Elm disease
- making a tree donation to one of our parks
- which trees flower throughout the year for different seasons
- the BrownTail Moth and the potentially harmful caterpillars
- what to do about privately owned trees
If your question isn't answered on our web pages, or you have an emergency involving a tree, use our contact form.
Elm disease controls in Hove
Council tree experts became aware of a concentration of affected elms in the Westbourne Street area of Hove in August 2015.
After an extensive search of the area, they identified the source as a pile of logs on private land that had become a breeding ground for the elm beetles.
The log pile has now been destroyed. 14 trees have had to be destroyed. Our tree experts are dealing with this outbreak as a matter of urgency.
Brighton & Hove is host to the National Elm Collection, partly because of its excellent track record in elm preservation.
Whenever residents have work carried out on elm trees, it's vital that the material is deposed of correctly by competent tree surgeons or gardeners. When purchasing fire wood you should always check with the supplier that it contains no elm wood.
Read more about protecting Elms.
For more help about Elm trees or identifying suspect logs:
- send an email to elmdisease@brighton-hove.gov.uk
- phone 01273 29 29 29
About storm damage and tree pruning
The stormy weather over the last few years led to us prioritising hazardous trees and other issues. This has had a knock-on effect of reducing the number of street trees pruned. This has also delayed pre-scheduled and proactive work by about a year.
Brighton & Hove has an estimated collection of 12,000 street trees which receive health and safety inspections every 3 to 4 years. We check for Elm disease and dead trees annually and act quickly to help prevent Elm beetle infestations and infections.
Highway trees are subject to statutory work which requires the removal of obstructions such as the clearance of basal growths and low branches. This allows for the free passage of pedestrians and vehicles.
How we manage ash dieback
Go to our ash dieback page to find out:
- how ash dieback affects our ash trees
- how we manage ash dieback
- what area we're working on