Tree Surgeons in Croydon

Croydon holds a large number of Tree Preservation Orders, and the borough contains multiple conservation areas. Under section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 it is an offence to cut down, uproot or wilfully destroy a tree covered by an Order, or to lop it in a way likely to destroy it. Government guidance puts the penalty at up to £20,000 in the magistrates' court, with an unlimited fine available at Crown Court in serious cases.

Conservation areas work differently but carry the same penalties. Section 211 requires six weeks' written notice to the council before work on most trees in a conservation area, which gives the authority time to make an Order if it wants to protect the tree. Six weeks is a real constraint on timing, so factor it into any project where tree work has to happen before building work starts.

A competent tree surgeon will ask about protection before quoting, and many will check with the council on your behalf. Treat it as a warning sign if a contractor is willing to start without raising the question at all, because the owner can be prosecuted alongside whoever did the cutting.

On price, Checkatrade's 2026 figures put felling between £344 and £727 and crown reduction between £272 and £553, with stump grinding from £163 to £320. Full removal spans £300 to £3,000, because size and access dominate the cost. A large tree in a rear garden with no side access needs everything carried through the house or craned out, and that is what drives the upper end.

Ask whether stump grinding is included or quoted separately, since practice varies between firms. Tree work is also high-risk, so confirm the contractor's public liability cover and ask about Arboricultural Association membership, which involves assessment.

Reviewed by the South London Trades editorial team. Listing data is refreshed continuously; pricing guidance was last reviewed in August 2026.