Managing common tree issues

Dangerous or diseased trees

You can report a damaged or dangerous council tree to us using our emergency tree report form on our website:

Prioritise your safety when reporting an emergency. Avoid putting yourself in danger to collect information. If a tree on council owned land poses an immediate danger, phone 01353 665555 and ask for the trees team.

We will need to know:

the location - a house number, road name and a brief description (What3Words is an effective tool for pinpointing precise locations)
the problem, describe the event and the present circumstances
your name and phone number so we can reach out for additional information if necessary
any photographs of the tree would assist us in addressing the issue, these can be emailed to TreesTeam@eastcambs.gov.uk

If a tree on privately owned land is obstructing a road or path, inform Cambridgeshire County Council by phoning 03450 455212 during office hours or tell the police on 101 at other times.

If a tree presents an imminent threat to public safety, please report it to the police by calling 101.

Other common tree issues

A council tree is too tall or big

We inspect all our trees to ensure they are in a safe and healthy condition, ordering works to rectify any faults or defects identified. This would not include the reduction of the height or overall size of a tree to improve light levels, or to remove overhanging branches. This type of work would only be done to tackle a significant structural defect with the tree, or to address a particular concern, for example a damage to property.

If left to grow naturally, a tree will not become unsafe even if it is much taller than surrounding buildings.

Issues with leaves, seeds or blossom

The loss of leaves, seeds and blossom is part of a tree's natural cycle. It is not regarded as a legal nuisance and cannot be effectively managed through pruning. Any maintenance of gardens and/or gutters is the responsibility of the landowner. The council is not required to clear leaves that may have fallen from trees owned by the council.

If you believe that a footpath is unsafe due to fallen leaves, seeds or blossoms, or if you have a specific concern, please complete our leaf clearance request form. This will be forwarded to the street cleansing team for their review and action.

Request leaf clearance

A council tree is blocking my sunlight

We understand that a reduction in sunlight may impact your enjoyment of your property. However, it is important to note that, under the law, there is no general right to light, including on open land, such as a garden.

The council will not prune or remove trees where they cause a reduced amount of light to fall onto a property, other than in exceptional circumstance.

Sometimes, minor pruning can enhance light levels on a property, but this will only be done if it offers significant long-term benefits without harming the tree's health or lifespan. An example of this is the removal of lower branches, known as crown lifting.

Pruning a tree to decrease its height and width is a common practice employed to address light loss. However, this intervention often triggers a vigorous and dense regrowth response from the tree, potentially exacerbating the issue within just 2 to 3 growing seasons.

Solar panels. The presence of trees must be fully assessed when considering a suitable location for the placement of solar panels. We recognise the importance of renewable energy resources, however, trees play a crucial role in enhancing local amenity value and contribute significantly to both local and national efforts in addressing climate change.

Birds in a council tree drop mess on my property

Trees offer a valuable habitat and food source for local wildlife. However, this can result in the inconvenience of bird droppings. While bird droppings can be a nuisance, they are not a valid reason to cut back or take down a tree. Nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and other related wildlife law).

The maintenance of gardens and cars is the responsibility of the property owner, and the council is not obliged to remove bird droppings that may have fallen from birds sitting in council owned trees.

Issues with sap or honeydew

We understand the inconvenience that the honeydew sap falling from the tree onto your property and vehicles may cause. However, there is limited action we can take to mitigate this. The sap is a natural by-product of insects feeding on leaf sap, and its occurrence is typical.

Pruning or pollarding trees to manage this issue is not an effective long-term solution, as the benefits are usually temporary and can often worsen the problem over time.

Heavy pruning often results in vigorous, lush growth which is more susceptible to the aphid attack which results in an increased production of honeydew.

Regularly washing with hot soapy water is advised to eliminate most of the sap. It's more effective to do this before the sap accumulates, as it becomes harder to remove once it has built up. One alternative is to use a car cover when you anticipate parking under a tree for a long time during the peak season (from May to July).

A council tree overhangs my property

Our ongoing maintenance will include the pruning back from buildings to achieve a minimum clearance of 1 to 2 metres. The tree may still overhang your roof, but with a 1 to 2 metres vertical clearance. The council will not prune or remove a tree to alleviate overhanging branches other than in exceptional circumstances. You have a Common Law right to prune trees overhanging your property back to the vertical boundary, assuming no other restrictions are in place.

Here is some advice if you want to use your Common Law right regarding trees that are overhanging your property:

remove only the sections of the tree that extend over the boundary of your property; you do not have the legal right to cut or remove any part of a tree that does not encroach on your property
consult a professional and qualified tree surgeon for guidance on how best to prune trees, unless the work can be done with hand secateurs or similar
before you consider doing any works to a tree/trees you should find out if are protected by a Tree Preservation Order or are within a Conservation area - see the Trees and hedges planning page for more information
if the encroachment involves a tree owned by the council, there is no requirement or expectation for the council to receive cuttings back, and you may dispose of them in a suitable manner

A council tree is touching my house

We ensure that no part of a tree is in direct contact with neighbouring buildings, aiming for a minimum clearance of 1 to 2 metres. If any of our trees are in contact with a building, please contact us.

A tree is causing an obstruction

A tree might be causing an obstruction, for example by hanging too low over a footpath. We regularly prune the trees we manage to ensure that all traffic lights, signs, footpaths, cycleways, and roads are unobstructed, and that lamp post heads have adequate clearance of about 1 metre. Please see our tree management to find out more about our pruning clearances.

If any of our trees are causing an obstruction, please reach out to us. If the tree is privately owned or its ownership is uncertain, and you believe it poses a risk to public safety on the highway, you should notify the highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council.

A tree is causing a trip hazard in the pavement

Repairs to address trip hazards will be carried out by the footpath owner. However, usually the pavement next to a road is maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council, so please report any issues directly to them through their online form.

Report trip hazard to Cambridgeshire County Council

Trees and phone lines

As part of our ongoing maintenance, we prune to clear around any phone lines running through a tree to ensure there are no significant contact. If your phone line is experiencing disruptions, contact your telephone provider. They can investigate the problem, as it might not be caused by the tree. It's the provider's responsibility to ensure your service is maintained.

My drain is blocked with tree roots

Tree roots can cause problems by blocking drains. Tree roots do not usually cause the initial damage to the drain and will only enter drains that are already damaged or cracked, or if they are leaking. Tree roots present in a drainage system typically indicate a deeper issue that necessitates the repair of a damaged pipe. Consequently, if the drains are properly sealed, roots should generally not pose a problem.
If your drains are obstructed by tree roots, you will need to seek assistance from a drainage company. They can clear the blockage and identify if the drains require lining or replacing.

If you suspect that your property has suffered damage due to subsidence linked to nearby trees, it is advisable to contact your building insurer so they can investigate:

for subsidence issues related to trees in parks and open areas, please report the matter to us
if the subsidence involves trees along the public highway, it should be reported to Cambridgeshire County Council
for issues concerning trees on private property, it is recommended to engage with the landowner or occupant directly

A council tree has been vandalised

Sometimes, individuals intentionally harm our trees. Such deliberate damage is a criminal offense, and we will pursue legal action when possible. If you have any information or evidence, please reach out to us.

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