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Tree conservation
Tree Preservation Orders
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) protect individual trees, groups of trees or woodlands where their removal or damage could harm the public amenity of an area. They're made under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 1975-84, and form a legal constraint permanently attached to the title of the land where the trees are located.
Current TPOs
We have TPOs in place for St Margaret's Hope (1979), Finstown (1993), and Grainbank in Kirkwall (2022), each covering tree groups and individual trees that contribute to the setting and amenity of these places. All TPOs are legally binding, regardless of when they were created.
Related resources
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St Margaret's Hope TPO plan
This document contains the St Margaret’s Hope Tree Preservation Order No. 1, made by Orkney Islands Council on 26 April 1979. It protects named trees and groups of trees from cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping or damage without permission. The order explains how to apply for consent, when exemptions apply, replacement planting, compensation, offences and appeals. It also includes schedules listing the protected trees and groups, together with a map showing their locations.
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Finstown TPO plan
This document contains the Finstown Tree Preservation Order 1993, which protects listed trees, groups and woodland from cutting, damage or removal without the Council’s consent. It identifies the protected trees and areas through schedules and a map, and explains how to apply for consent, appeal decisions and claim compensation. It also covers exemptions for safety, forestry, utilities and authorised development, along with replacement planting duties and penalties for offences.
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Kirkwall Grainbank TPO plan 2022
This document contains the Tree Preservation Order for woodland at Grainbank, Kirkwall, which took effect on 8 November 2022. It protects woodland mainly made up of sycamore trees because it contributes to the area’s character and could be harmed by proposed work. The Order explains which tree work needs the Council’s consent, permitted exemptions, replanting requirements, compensation and appeal rights. It also includes a map and invites written objections or representations by 16 December 2022.
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Carrying out works to a protected tree
If you're considering any work to a protected tree, or want to check whether a tree is protected, contact us before carrying out any work. No work should be undertaken to a tree covered by a TPO without our consent.
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Tree Works Guidance Notes
This document contains guidance on using the Tree Works form for work on trees in conservation areas or protected by a tree preservation order. It explains when to give six weeks’ notice or seek permission, and what plans and tree-work details to provide. It also covers qualified tree surgeons, protected wildlife, discussing proposals with the planning authority, and agreements for online communication.
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Tree Works Application Form
This document contains an application form for permission to carry out work on protected trees in Scotland. It asks for the applicant’s details, the site and tree ownership, the type of protection, the trees and work involved, the reasons for the work, and any plans to plant replacement trees. The applicant or agent must sign and date the declaration.
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The maximum penalty for unauthorised work to a protected tree is a £20,000 fine, and we may also require replacement planting.
Other tree protection
Trees are also protected in designated conservation areas, and by conditions attached to planning consent.
If you want to carry out work to trees within a conservation area, or need other tree advice, contact us on 01856 873535 or by email.
Trees also provide shade and shelter for people and wildlife. Our Orkney Woodland Group page has more information on planting trees and accessing funding.
Orkney Woodland Group
The Orkney Woodland Group brings together representatives from us, NatureScot, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Forestry, Woodland Trust Scotland, Orkney Field Club, and the Orkney Woodland Project.
The group's vision is to enhance and enrich Orkney's environment and heritage by conserving existing woodlands and extending woodland habitats, creating attractive landscapes for people and wildlife.
Objectives
- create more opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy trees, through woodland recreation in towns and the countryside
- raise public awareness of trees and woodlands, and encourage people of all ages to get involved in woodland-related learning
- develop and improve local skills in tree growing, planting and management
- work with local people, schools and community groups to conserve, enhance and expand Orkney's native woodlands, using stock of local native provenance
- work with local people, community groups and volunteers to develop a woodland resource in the countryside, using local native and, where appropriate, other species
- work with local communities to protect, enhance and extend existing amenity, policy and conifer plantations where appropriate
- protect and enhance trees in towns and villages, and encourage appropriate new planting
- promote the sustainable use and management of trees and woodlands
- involve local communities in research and monitoring projects to help manage and enhance Orkney's trees and woodlands
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Woodland Design Guide
This document contains guidance from the Orkney Woodland Project on choosing and establishing trees for woodland projects in Orkney. It explains which native, British and non-native species suit different sites, how to consider local seed sources, soil, shelter and landscape design, and when permission may be needed to collect seed or plant in protected areas. It also covers buying and planting young trees, weed control, fencing, guards and the monitoring and maintenance needed for up to five years.
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Find out more from Scottish Forestry(opens in new tab)
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Find out more from NatureScot(opens in new tab)
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Find out more from Orkney Field Club(opens in new tab)
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Find out more from the RSPB(opens in new tab)
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Find out more from Woodland Trust for Scotland(opens in new tab)
Trees and Woodland Strategy
We're developing an Orkney Trees and Woodland Strategy, setting out the vision, policies and plans for the future of woodland and trees in Orkney. The strategy will support and inform the spatial strategy of the new Local Development Plan, and is a requirement under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) and Policy 6 of Scotland's National Planning Framework 4.
We ran a second consultation on the draft strategy, closing 28 February 2026. A first consultation had broad support but asked for greater policy clarity, ambition and deliverability, improved evidence and mapping, and a careful balance between woodland expansion and Orkney's biodiversity and landscape sensitivities. The second consultative draft added an overview, context section, a section on the benefits of trees and woodland, action frameworks for each theme, and guidance on protecting and planting trees.
Related resources
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Orkney Trees and Woodland Strategy - 2nd Consultative Draft, January 2026
This document contains the second consultative draft of Orkney Islands Council’s Trees and Woodland Strategy for 2026 to 2036. It sets out a vision and policies to protect existing trees, encourage suitable planting and build resilience to Orkney’s weather, climate change, pests and disease. It explains the benefits of trees for people, farming, nature and flood management, alongside planning requirements, tree protection guidance and possible funding sources.
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Trees and Woodland Strategy SEA Environmental Report, including HRA
This document contains an environmental assessment of Orkney Islands Council’s draft Trees and woodland strategy for 2025 to 2035. It considers effects on climate, air, water, soil, biodiversity, landscape, heritage and people. No negative effects were predicted, while tree planting could bring benefits such as better air quality, flood management, wildlife habitats and outdoor spaces. Some effects remain uncertain, including risks from imported trees, pests and diseases, and impacts on protected sites; these will be managed through site checks and annual monitoring.
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Trees and Woodland Strategy SEA Environmental Report - Topic Papers
This document contains the 2025 Strategic Environmental Assessment topic papers for Orkney, covering climate, air, water, soils, resources, biodiversity, landscape, heritage, population and human health. It brings together evidence on emissions, changing weather and flood risk, nature and historic sites, renewable energy, housing, employment, living costs, transport and access to services. It also lists the data sources used, noting good air quality, strong renewable energy generation, pressures on protected nature, and higher costs and travel times for island communities.
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