Tree work in Broomfield
Broomfield is a parish just north of Chelmsford, in the CM1 postcode area, with most homes along and off the B1008 Main Road. It is home to Broomfield Hospital. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 6,756. Chelmsford City Council’s appraisal describes Church Green, roughly central in the parish, as sitting on a boulder clay plateau parallel with the River Chelmer valley, with mostly agricultural land to the east and west (Broomfield conservation area appraisal, PDF (opens in a new tab)).
Gardens range from older properties along Main Road to estate roads with smaller plots. On clay soils, big trees close to houses need thought: removing or heavily reducing them can affect ground movement, so if subsidence is a worry, speak to your insurer and a structural engineer first.
Church Green and the Broomfield conservation area
Chelmsford City Council’s character appraisal (July 2009) says the Broomfield conservation area was designated in 1975 and amended in 1991. It covers Church Green and the buildings and gardens around it, the church and churchyard, the Hall and its grounds, and the buildings north of Church Green on the western side of Main Road (appraisal, PDF (opens in a new tab)).
The appraisal also records 18 Tree Preservation Orders within the conservation area at the time, including group orders for the lime trees on Church Green, groups of lime, yew, pine and redwood south of The Green, and the limes along the western side of the churchyard. Orders can be added or changed, so always check the current TPO register (opens in a new tab).
Conservation-area trees more than 7.5cm in diameter at 1.5 metres above the ground are protected as if they had a TPO, so you must give Chelmsford City Council six weeks’ notice before most work on them (check if a tree is protected (opens in a new tab)).
- Search the TPO register by address on Chelmsford City Council’s TPO register (opens in a new tab). Check provisional orders as well as confirmed ones.
- Is it in the Broomfield conservation area? Use the council’s conservation areas map (opens in a new tab) or its map PDF linked above. Conservation-area trees more than 7.5cm in diameter at 1.5 metres above the ground are protected as if they had a TPO, so you must give Chelmsford City Council six weeks’ notice before most work on them (check if a tree is protected (opens in a new tab)).
- Check for nesting birds and bats before work, whatever the time of year. See our nesting birds guide.
- Apply or give notice through the council if needed. The Planning Portal says there is no fee for a works-to-trees application. Our TPO and conservation area guide walks through it.
Tree services in Broomfield
Independent local tree surgeons covering Broomfield can quote for:
- Tree removal & fellingStraight felling where there’s room, or section-by-section dismantling in tight Chelmsford gardens.
- Pruning & crown reductionCrown reduction, thinning, lifting and deadwood removal to keep a tree healthy and in proportion.
- Stump grindingGrind an old stump out below ground level so you can re-turf, plant or build over the spot.
- Hedge trimming & cuttingRegular trims, height reductions and overgrown hedges and conifer screens brought back under control.
- Emergency & storm-damaged treesSplit limbs, leaning or fallen trees after high winds. Response depends on local availability.
Not sure what you need? Describe the problem in the form (photos help) and let the tree surgeon suggest options. Our guide to what affects tree surgery costs explains how quotes are worked out, and the before you hire checklist covers insurance, qualifications and registered waste carriers.
Useful local contacts
- Trees on Church Green and other public land are the landowner’s responsibility, often the city or parish council.
- Trees and hedges over the B1008 and other county roads: report to Essex Highways (opens in a new tab). For urgent safety risks, it asks you to call 0345 603 7631.
- Hedges: many Broomfield gardens have long boundary hedges. See our hedge trimming page for timing, Leylandii and the high hedges process.
Would you like a free quote?
Use the form for the quickest response. Leave your mobile or email and we’ll pass your enquiry to an independent local tree surgeon, who will contact you with a free quote. Photos help them quote accurately.
Frequently asked questions
Are the lime trees on Church Green protected?
Chelmsford City Council’s 2009 appraisal records group Tree Preservation Orders for the lime trees on Church Green, and the green is inside the conservation area. Check the current TPO register (opens in a new tab) for the latest position. Work on them is a matter for the landowner and the council.
Do you cover Broomfield and the Chelmer Valley area?
Yes, enquiries are welcome from Broomfield, the roads around the hospital and the surrounding CM1 area, as well as Little Waltham and Great Waltham to the north. Send your full postcode.
Can I prune a tree in my own garden in the conservation area?
Yes, but you normally need to give Chelmsford City Council six weeks’ notice first if the tree is more than 7.5cm in diameter at 1.5 metres above ground, and consent if it has a TPO. There’s no fee for the notice. The tree surgeon can help you describe the work.
