Trees

We maintain trees in parks, on streets and on housing estates. We can also offer advice on tree preservation orders.

We employ dedicated Tree Officers to organise the maintenance of the borough's 57,000 trees.

It is a challenging role, which requires the Tree Officers to inspect and decide on the right maintenance of trees, as well as responding to a great many enquiries every day.

Street and park trees

Lambeth has 10,000 street trees and more than 15,000 trees in its parks. A highly skilled team of contractors is responsible for routine maintenance of Lambeth's street and park trees, as directed by the council's Tree Officers. This team is capable of pruning and removing all types of trees.

Please contact the call centre on 020 7926 9000 or email StreetCareCallCentre@lambeth.gov.uk to report a tree that you feel needs maintenance.

Trees on housing estates

We also maintain over 22,000 trees on housing estates throughout Lambeth.

Please contact the call centre on 020 7926 9000 or email StreetCareCallCentre@lambeth.gov.uk to report a tree that you feel needs maintenance.

Trees on red routes

Trees on main roads (also known as 'red routes') are managed by Transport for London.

Transport for London can be contacted on 0845 305 1234. If the problem with a tree on a main Transport for London road is very urgent and/or serious, please call 0845 305 1234.

Trees on private land

Trees on private land are the responsibility of the land owner.

We do not remove leaf fall from your garden or clear guttering of leaves. We do not prune trees to improve satellite television reception, to prevent birds nesting or to improve natural light issues. We also do not survey private property for insurance purposes.

Tree preservation orders

Planning's Tree Officer deals with some 5,000 trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), and all trees in private ownership within Conservation Areas.

If you have a query regarding tree preservation orders please contact Planning's Tree Officer via email: ileonard@lambeth.gov.uk, or visit the Trees on private property pages, which contain detailed information on TPOs, a list of TPOs in Lambeth and how to apply for permission to carry out works to protected trees.

What you can do to help

When you contact us, please be clear about the location of the tree that you feel needs maintenance and make sure that you give your contact details. We may need to speak to you if we have any problems.

When the contractor marks up a street tree for maintenance, please ensure that you do not park in the immediate area of the tree, as works will not be completed if there is a risk to the public or nearby property.

As a property owner, it is your right to prune any branches that overhang your property or tree roots, which can travel underground towards your property.

As the contractor is not able to complete works on private land, if you are concerned roots or branches are crossing your boundary, the Tree Officer can advise you on pruning the tree yourself.

Our service standards

• We maintain all street and park trees to ensure that they are not dangerous.
• We are responsible for ensuring that street trees do not obstruct minor roads.
• We try to ensure that trees do not obstruct pavements by clearing growth around the base of trees.
• Through the emergency services, we respond to emergencies involving tree damage to property, 24 hours a day.

Who to contact

The call centre can be contacted on 020 7926 9000, or email StreetCareCallCentre@lambeth.gov.uk