When a tree needs to come down completely, the felling process requires careful planning, the right equipment and a team with the skills and experience to carry out the work safely. Our NPTC qualified tree surgeons provide a professional tree felling service across Bournemouth and the surrounding BH postcode area – handling everything from small garden trees to large mature specimens on residential and commercial sites. We assess every felling job individually before work begins, plan the safest and most efficient method for your specific situation, and carry out the work with minimal disruption to your property. Free quotes and no call out fee as standard.
Tree felling is one of the most technically demanding aspects of tree surgery and one where the consequences of poor planning or inadequate skill can be severe. A tree that is felled incorrectly can cause serious damage to buildings, fences, vehicles and neighbouring properties – and in the worst cases can result in injury. This is why it is absolutely essential to use a qualified, insured tree surgeon rather than attempting to fell a large tree yourself or hiring someone without the proper credentials and insurance.
Our team carries full public liability insurance on every felling job and all our tree surgeons hold their NPTC qualifications for both chainsaw use and tree felling operations. We are also Forestry Safety Accord accredited, demonstrating our commitment to operating to the highest health and safety standards in the industry. When you book us for a tree felling job in Bournemouth you can be confident that the work will be carried out professionally, safely and in a way that protects your property throughout.
There are two main approaches to bringing a tree down completely and the right method depends entirely on the specific conditions of each job.
Controlled directional felling involves cutting the tree at the base and directing it to fall in a predetermined direction using a combination of cutting technique, wedges and rigging. This method is faster and more straightforward but requires sufficient clear space for the tree to fall safely – typically at least the full height of the tree in the intended direction of fall. It is most commonly used in open spaces such as fields, large gardens and woodland sites where there is adequate room.
Sectional dismantling is used where there is insufficient space for a controlled fell – the most common situation in Bournemouth’s residential gardens where trees are often close to buildings, fences and neighbouring properties. The tree is climbed and removed piece by piece from the top down, with each section carefully lowered to the ground using ropes and rigging to prevent damage to the surrounding area. This method takes longer and requires greater skill but is essential for trees in confined or restricted spaces. Our team is fully trained and experienced in sectional dismantling and carries out this type of work regularly across Bournemouth.
Tree felling is not always the first option – in many cases pruning, crown reduction or other management work can extend the life of a tree and resolve the issues it is causing without removing it entirely. However there are situations where felling is the only safe and practical solution:
We will always give you an honest assessment of whether felling is genuinely necessary or whether a less drastic approach could resolve the issue. We never recommend felling a tree that can be safely and practically retained through other means.
This is one of the most important questions to ask before any tree felling work begins in Bournemouth, and the answer is – it depends. There are two main situations where you will need permission before felling a tree on your property.
The first is if your tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order. A TPO is a legal protection placed on individual trees or groups of trees by the local planning authority – in Bournemouth’s case BCP Council – to protect trees that are considered to make a significant contribution to the local environment or character of the area. Felling or carrying out significant work on a TPO tree without permission is a criminal offence that can result in an unlimited fine. You must apply to BCP Council for consent and wait for a decision before any work can take place.
The second situation is if your tree sits within a designated Conservation Area. Bournemouth has a number of Conservation Areas and any tree within these areas with a trunk diameter of more than 75mm at 1.5m above ground level is subject to restrictions. You must give BCP Council six weeks written notice before carrying out any felling or significant pruning work, giving the council the opportunity to assess the tree and place a TPO on it if they consider it worthy of protection.
We check TPO and conservation area status as standard as part of our free quote process and can advise you on exactly what permissions or notifications are required before we start work. Never assume your tree is unprotected – always check first.
Once the tree has been felled we will cut and section the timber and remove all timber, branches and green waste from your site, leaving it clean and tidy. If you would like to keep any of the timber for firewood or the chippings for mulch in your garden, just let us know when we quote and we will leave them for you instead.
The stump will remain in the ground after felling unless stump removal is included in the quote. We strongly recommend adding stump grinding to any felling job – a remaining stump is a trip hazard, can produce regrowth shoots for years and takes up space in your garden. We can carry out stump grinding on the same visit as the felling, keeping costs down and completing the whole job in a single appointment.
We carry out tree felling throughout Bournemouth and the wider BH postcode area including Boscombe, Charminster, Westbourne, Southbourne, Winton, Moordown, Kinson, Pokesdown, Throop and Muscliff. Whether you have a single garden tree that needs to come down or multiple trees across a larger site, we have the team and equipment to handle the job safely and efficiently.
We also regularly carry out tree felling in Poole, Christchurch, Ferndown, Wimborne and across the wider Dorset area. If your property is on the edge of Bournemouth or in a rural area between towns, don’t hesitate to call – we cover a wide area and are always willing to travel for larger felling jobs.
Not sure if we cover your postcode? Call us on 01202 022560 and we’ll confirm straight away.
Tree felling costs in Bournemouth vary depending on the size and species of the tree, the method required – controlled felling or sectional dismantling – the difficulty of access, the proximity of the tree to buildings or boundaries, and whether stump removal is included. As a rough guide:
Sectional dismantling in a confined space will generally cost more than a straightforward controlled fell in an open area, as it requires more time, specialist rigging equipment and a higher level of skill. Adding stump grinding to the job is usually more cost effective when done on the same visit. The most reliable way to get an accurate price is to contact us for a free, no-obligation quote – there is no call out fee and we will give you a clear fixed price before any work begins.
Yes – this is one of the most common situations we deal with across Bournemouth’s residential gardens. Where there is insufficient space for a controlled directional fell we use sectional dismantling, removing the tree piece by piece from the top down with each section carefully lowered using ropes and rigging. This approach allows us to fell trees safely in even the most confined spaces without causing damage to your property or your neighbours.
A straightforward controlled fell of a small to medium tree can often be completed in a few hours. Larger trees or sectional dismantling jobs in confined spaces will take longer – potentially a full day or more for a very large tree. We will give you a realistic timeframe when we quote so you know what to expect on the day.
There is no legal requirement to inform your neighbours before felling a tree on your own property unless the tree is protected by a TPO or sits in a Conservation Area. However it is good practice to let neighbouring properties know in advance, particularly if access to their garden may be needed or if there is any risk of disturbance. We can advise on this when we carry out the quote.
Once a tree is felled at the base it will not grow back as a tree – however many species will produce regrowth shoots from the stump and root system for several years. This is another reason we recommend combining felling with stump grinding, which removes the stump below ground level and prevents ongoing regrowth.
We remove all timber and green waste as standard. If you would like to keep any of the logs for firewood simply let us know when we quote and we will leave them cut and stacked for you. Larger logs may need further splitting before use as firewood – we can advise on this.
Ready to get that tree down safely? Call us today on 01202 022560 for a free, no-obligation quote – we will get back to you within 24 hours. No call out fee, no pressure and honest advice from your local Bournemouth tree felling specialists.
Or fill in our quote form below and we will be in touch promptly.
Tree felling is one of many services provided by Clearcut Tree Surgery Ltd – view our full tree felling service at:
clearcuttreesurgery.com/clearcut-tree-surgery-tree-felling/
