The Council is responsible for maintaining our tree stock. See which trees we can deal with as well as advice if you are having a tree issue.

Which trees are the council responsible for?

We aim to protect and enhance the tree stock of the City of Wolverhampton. We do this by:

  • inspect all council trees that pose the highest risk on roads, footpaths, parks and open spaces as a priority every 2 years. All other council trees are inspected and assessed over a 4-year period according to their priority.
  • removing fallen trees blocking the highway or a council tree in the street, in a park or on a green open space

When do we inspect trees?

We will inspect the tree, carry out any work needed to make it safe if a tree:

  • is dead
  • has fallen down
  • is damaged, diseased or unhealthy
  • is touching a building
  • is blocking a streetlight
  • is blocking traffic lights or a warning sign

Our highway department will investigate tree roots causing a trip hazard on the pavement and repair.

What we are unable to deal with

The Council does not maintain the following:

Dealing with overhead cables

The council does not deal with issues with overhead cables.

OpenReach is currently responsible for the clearance of BT lines. They have a licence to carry out work on trees affecting their service.

Contact OpenReach if any part of their network could be a danger to the general public.

Can a tree be removed?

The council does not remove healthy trees. We will only cut one down if it is unsafe. In which case we'll replace it with a new one.

Our arboriculture policy is to protect the city's trees to benefit the environment and for future generations to enjoy.

Advice about other concerns

Many residents will raise concerns about a Council tree especially when:

  • they perceive it as too tall
  • they see it swaying in the wind,
  • small branches or other tree debris is affecting their front and rear gardens

There is very little the Council can do about this as it is a natural process and not recognised as a 'legal nuisance'. The following links provide further information and advice

What you can do

Please contact us if you see a tree that is dead, has fallen down or if you think it is damaged/unhealthy/diseased. Report someone you believe is or has pruned or cut down a council tree.

We will respond to all council tree enquiries within our service standards.

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