Households with trees in their home face risk of £20,000 fine this summer

UK households with trees in their gardenscould be slapped with a hefty £20,000 fine this August. This comes after Martin Fielding from Stockport, who believed he was simply trimming a "regular tree", received a shocking letter from the council.

Expertsare now warning that many UK households may not realise that trees in residential gardenscan be protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). This means that if you cut down, lop, damage or destroy a protected tree without permission, you could face criminal prosecution and a fine of up to £20,000 in a magistrates' court.

Mr Fielding, 51, said: "It was blocking the light in the conservatory and leaning over the fence. So I gave it a proper cut. I didn't even know such a thing existed. I thought trees in your own garden were your responsibility," Mr Fielding continued. "I was shocked to learn I could be fined thousands."

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Sophie Willoughby, a gardening expert who was contacted by My Home Improvements, explained: "The trouble is, most homeowners have no idea their tree is protected. It's easy to think you're just doing routine garden work, but one snip too many and you could face a hefty fine.

"Councils take it very seriously and so they should, because mature trees are crucial for wildlife and air quality," she added. So, check with your council - before cutting or trimming any large trees, contact your local authority to find out if there's a TPO in place.

Don't take it for granted that it's alright just because it's in your garden and get written permission – if a tree is protected, you must apply for permission to do any work on it, reports Birmingham Mail.

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A spokesperson from My Home Improvements, advised: "Before you pick up the saw or shears, take a moment to check your tree isn't protected. Councils don't issue TPOs lightly and breaching one can land you in legal trouble."

They added: "Whether you're trimming, pruning or removing, always ask first, as it's a simple step that could save you £20,000 and a trip to court."

Gardening during the summer months is an important task. If left on the side, the more it accumulates, the more time it will take from your busy schedules to clear up. Still, it's important to double-check with your local council before undertaking any job that may require more than just chopping a few leaves.