For Stratford-upon-Avon homeowners, professional tree work can help keep established gardens looking balanced while dealing with trees that have become too large or difficult to maintain.
SPR Trees & Landscapes provides professional tree surgery in Stratford-upon-Avon for homeowners, landlords and businesses needing help with established, overgrown or unwanted trees.
For Stratford-upon-Avon homeowners, professional tree work can help keep established gardens looking balanced while dealing with trees that have become too large or difficult to maintain.
With over 15 years' experience, SPR can help with everything from routine pruning through to larger reductions, complete tree removals and stump grinding. Every job is quoted after seeing the tree, because access and what sits underneath it change the work as much as the tree itself does.
A tree that has grown lopsided — leaning to the light, or cut back hard on one side in the past — can often be brought back into balance with careful pruning rather than a full reduction. It takes longer to plan than to cut, but the result looks intentional rather than trimmed.
Reduction can correct a crown that has become one-sided, but it is worth understanding it is a trim of the whole tree rather than a repair to one part. Taking the long side back to match the short side looks better and holds its shape longer than shortening everything equally.
Removal is sometimes chosen because a tree has been badly cut in the past and will not recover a decent shape. That is a fair reason, and it is worth having someone look at the tree before deciding, because some recover better than they appear to.
Grinding leaves the ground level and the chip on site unless you want it taken away. Most people mix it back into the hole and top it with soil, which is fine for lawn but not ideal if you are planting directly into the same spot.
A conifer that has become too tall, too wide or too dominant can usually be reduced, provided there is enough live growth left to cut back into. The assessment takes a couple of minutes on site and it is the difference between a tree that recovers and one that stays brown for the rest of its life.
Stratford-upon-Avon has a conservation area covering the historic centre, and the district council publishes clear guidance on tree work within it. If a tree stands in a conservation area, six weeks' written notice has to be given to Stratford-on-Avon District Council before work starts. That is a notice rather than an application — there is no approval to wait for beyond the six weeks. The council uses the time to decide whether to protect the tree with a Tree Preservation Order; if it does not, the work can go ahead and the authorisation lasts two years.
A tree already covered by a Tree Preservation Order is different again. That needs a formal consent application to Stratford-on-Avon District Council, normally decided within eight weeks, and hearing nothing does not count as permission. Cutting down, topping, lopping or uprooting a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence, and not having checked is not a defence. Checking is free and takes one phone call, so it is worth doing before you book rather than after.
There is a size exemption worth knowing about. In a conservation area, trees under 75mm in stem diameter measured 1.5m above the ground fall outside the notice requirement, and the threshold rises to 100mm where the work is thinning to help other trees grow. That covers genuinely small stems — it will not cover anything you would call a tree surgery job.
Worth knowing if you read about it in the news: local government reorganisation was confirmed in July 2026, and Stratford-on-Avon District Council will be replaced by South Warwickshire Council. That does not happen until 1 April 2028, and elections in May 2027 will generate coverage well before anything actually changes. Until vesting day, Stratford-on-Avon District Council is still the authority to contact about a protected tree or a conservation area.
Tree work is often the first stage of something larger. Getting the trees dealt with before turf, fencing or paving goes in avoids the obvious problem of heavy kit and falling timber crossing new work — and because SPR also handles the landscaping, the two stages can be planned as one project rather than co-ordinated between two firms.
It is worth mentioning the hedges when you ring about the trees. Combining them usually reduces the total, and it means one conversation about access, timing and where the arisings go rather than two.
Five guides written for Stratford-upon-Avon homeowners, covering what the work costs, what drives the price and how to decide what you actually need.
Tree surgery carried out by SPR across Worcestershire and the surrounding counties.
“Jim and Dan did a brilliant job on my 90ft conifer. Its a lot safer now and I have more light in the garden...”
“The boys did an excellent job... pruned my trees back and remove one tree that had split...”
“The guys were prompt & proffesional removed an old ash for me thanks guys”
The cost depends on the tree, its size and position, access and the amount of work required. Contact SPR for a free quotation based on the actual job.
Yes. Professional tree pruning is one of SPR's core tree-surgery services.
Where appropriate, tree reduction can help manage excessive size while retaining the tree.
Yes. Tree removal is available where required.
Yes. Stump grinding is available and can be incorporated into the tree-removal project.
Yes. Contact us with details of the tree and what you would like to achieve.
Yes. SPR also provides hedge cutting, trimming and reduction.
Yes. Call or WhatsApp 07542 451291.
It depends on the tree. If it has a Tree Preservation Order you need written consent from Stratford-on-Avon District Council. If it is in a conservation area you must give Stratford-on-Avon District Council six weeks' notice. If neither applies, no permission is needed. We can point you at the right check before quoting.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council — that is the local planning authority for tree matters. It is due to be replaced by South Warwickshire Council on 1 April 2028, but until then nothing changes.
SPR covers Worcester and the surrounding towns for tree surgery, hedge maintenance and wider landscaping.
SPR Trees & Landscapes, 6 Rose Avenue, Worcester, WR4 9PY
Need a tree pruned, reduced or removed in Stratford-upon-Avon? Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 07542 451291 or WhatsApp us.
