Trees
Information about trees in Solihull including reporting a tree hazard and forest and woodland management.
Solihull has a valuable strength in its trees. The established urban areas have many trees which enhance the quality of life for residents. New developments are made with sensitivity to existing trees and where appropriate new plantings are encouraged. The Council recognises and promotes the benefits of trees to the whole environment.
Report a Tree Hazard
Solihull Council can only remove trees from council maintained land, i.e. on grass verges and footpaths or in parks/open spaces/communal gardens.
If the tree is on private land, its removal is the responsibility of the landowner. A list of tree surgeons is available on the Trading Standards Shipshape Register or on the Arboriculture website.
As a guide, the following are examples of tree hazards:
- Fallen tree (across a footpath/road)
- Leaning tree (has started leaning recently/moving at the roots)
- Hanging/split branch
- Roots/cracks (have appeared recently/recent movement)
- Split tree
- Dead tree (large tree/died recently)
If you need to report a hazardous tree which is affecting the public footpath or public road, please phone 0121 704 8000 at any time.
Woodlands
Native woodland Plans are now available for nearly all Council owned woodland.
The Solihull Woodland Management Programme was initiated by the Council's Landscape Architects Section in the 1980s to care for the woodland and ensure their long term future in Solihull. Some of these are Ancient, Semi-Natural woodland which have existed at least since the 1600s as part of the Ancient Forest of Arden Landscape. They are dominated by mature oaks, which provide scattered sunlight, vital for ground flora including bluebells, also an important ancient woodland species.
In the past many of these woods were managed for timber or game, however , over the last 50 years the demand for timber has reduced and the woods have become neglected . This has resulted in mature trees becoming over crowded, hence reducing the amount of light that reaches the woodland floor. This, prevents the growth of tree saplings as well as shrubs and wild flowers, which not only provide shelter and food for birds and animals, but also provide a valuable environment for the people of Solihull to enjoy.
The management plans provide an essential basis on which to form a programme of works to be carried out in the individual woodland for both nature conservation and local residents. You can view these management plans on the Native woodland Plans page (see link below). Most of the management work is co-ordinated by the councils Landscape and Ecology team and implemented by various voluntary groups as well as contractors and includes coppicing, new planting, thinning, improving footpaths and access. For further information about voluntary groups please visit the Voluntary Groups pages.
| Location | Size |
|---|---|
| Millison's Wood, Meriden | 10.67ha (26.2 acres) |
| Yorks Wood, Kingshurst | 10ha (24.7 acres) |
| Bills Wood, Shirley | 6.7ha (16.5 acres) |
| Alcott Wood, Marston Green | 5ha (12.4 acres) |
| Dorridge Park Wood | 4.9ha (12.0 acres) |
| Elmdon Park Wood | 3ha (7.4 acres) |
| Smith's Wood, Chelmsley Wood | 4ha (10.0 acres) |
| Elmdon Coppice | 4ha (10.0 acres) |
| Palmers Rough | 6ha (14.8 acres) |
| Coldlands Wood | 3.2ha (8.0 acres) |
| Hobs Moat | 3ha (7.4 acres) |
| Meriden Park Woodland | 2ha (4.5 acres) |
| Browns Coppice | 1.8ha (4.5 acres) |
| The Spinney | 1ha (2.5 acres) |
| Libbards Way Wood | 0.5ha (1.2 acres) |
| Small Wood | 0.5ha (1.2 acres) |
| Brueton Park Wood Lnr | 2ha (4.5 acres) |
| Knightsbridge Road | 1.2ha (3.0 acres) |
| Cut Throat Coppice | 1.2ha (3.0 acres) |
| Shelley Lane Wood | 0.8ha (2.0 acres) |
| Wychwood | 2ha (4.5 acres) |
| Pow Grove | 0.7ha (1.7 acres) |
| Olton Park | 2ha (4.5 acres) |
Each year an Oaks and Shires event is held in a wood with heavy horse logging demonstrations, forest crafts and childrens' activities.
We also hold the register for Forestry Commission felling licence applications in the West Midlands region.
Due to the close locality of housing to many of the Council's woods, there have been problems with the dumping of garden refuse, trampling and vandalism. The dumping of rubbish , as well as being unsightly can cause serious problems for the animals and the plants that are living in the wood.
Garden refuse such as hedge prunings and grass cuttings causes the nutrient level of the soil to rise. This allows common plants such as nettle to out compete slower growing, rarer plants such as Bluebells and Wood sorrel. It can also lead to the introduction of various garden varieties of plants which not only invade the woodland, but can prevent the native flora from survival.
Should anyone be seen dumping rubbish in one of Solihull's woodland, please inform Environmental Protection on 0121-704 8000. It may be able possible to prosecute the offenders. Please visit the Fly tipping pages for further information.
Statistics
A survey in 1997 recorded 22326 urban highway trees within Solihull.
Our Policy on Tree Felling
Not to fell trees with a reasonable life expectancy providing they are not dangerous or likely to cause major structural damage. To keep pruning to a minimum consistent with the health of the tree.
Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)/Conservation
There are currently in excess of 800 Tree Preservation Orders in force, protecting individual trees as well as groups of trees and areas of woodland. For details of these orders and information of what procedure must be adopted before any work is carried out to such trees please visit the Tree Preservation Orders page
Alternatively:
- Telephone the Planning Department on 0121-704 8008 (Tree Preservation Order or Trees within a Conservation Area - advice only, not to be used for general tree advice/hazards), or
- email: planning@solihull.gov.uk
Contact Details
For general tree advice or tree hazards contact Environmental Maintenance
Telephone: 0121 704 8000.