From Kemp Town Victorian terraces to Hove Edwardian avenues, we provide professional tree surgery and garden services across Brighton and Hove. NPTC qualified, fully insured.
Brighton and Hove is a city of contrasts when it comes to trees and gardens. The dense Victorian and Edwardian terraces of Kemp Town, Hanover, and Seven Dials have compact rear gardens where trees often outgrow their space quickly, blocking light to basement kitchens and neighbouring windows. Meanwhile, the wide Edwardian avenues of Hove — Tongdean, Withdean, and Preston Park — have some of the finest mature garden trees in Sussex, including specimen oaks, copper beeches, and monkey puzzles planted over a century ago.
With 34 designated conservation areas across the city, a significant number of Brighton and Hove’s trees are subject to planning restrictions. Areas including Kemp Town, Preston Park, Montpelier & Clifton Hill, and The Lanes all have conservation area status, meaning six weeks’ notice to the council is required before carrying out tree work. Many individual trees also have TPOs, particularly the mature specimens along the avenues north of the Old Shoreham Road.
Brighton’s proximity to the South Downs National Park, which borders the city’s northern and eastern edges, creates a landscape where garden trees and open downland meet. Properties in Woodingdean, Rottingdean, Ovingdean, and along the Ditchling Road corridor often have native species like ash, beech, and field maple alongside planted garden trees. The chalk soil in these areas suits certain species particularly well but can make others more vulnerable to drought stress.
Our services
How We Help Brighton Homeowners
The most common work we carry out in Brighton is crown reductions on mature trees that have outgrown Victorian and Edwardian gardens, hedge trimming on boundary hedges (particularly leylandii and laurel), and tree removal in tight urban spaces where access is challenging. Brighton’s terraced streets often mean carrying all waste through the house, and we’re experienced at working in these confined conditions with minimal disruption.
Brighton & Hove City Council manages Tree Preservation Orders across the city. If a tree on your property has a TPO, you must apply for consent before carrying out any work including pruning, crown reduction, or felling. Applications are free and submitted through the national Planning Portal. The council has up to 8 weeks to make a decision. For dead TPO trees, you must give the council at least 5 working days’ notice with photographs; if a tree poses an immediate danger, you can make it safe first and notify the council as soon as practicable.
Brighton & Hove has 34 designated conservation areas, including Kemp Town, Preston Park, Montpelier & Clifton Hill, The Lanes (Old Town), Hove Station, and Tongdean. If your property is within a conservation area, you must give 6 weeks’ written notice to the council before cutting down, topping, or lopping any tree with a trunk diameter over 75 mm at 1.5 m above ground. The council uses this period to decide whether a TPO should be placed on the tree.
A beech reduction in Brighton. A nice straightforward one for a change: the tree stood right by the road, so no long drag of branches through the garden.
“Ant and team did a great job taking down a tree in our garden. Everything was tidied up beautifully at the end and was a good competitive price.”
Paul H.Google review
“Antony did a fantastic job removing our tree. We had a very large Ash tree that was affected by bracket fungus and was overhanging 2 of our neighbours. Antony and Cameron removed the tree quickly and efficiently. Our neighbours were very impressed how smoothly everything went and how tidy it was after. Antony was a real pleasure to deal with when quoting, on the day, and with follow up. I would definitely recommend him and his team. Thanks again!”
James M.Google review
“Ant made an amazing job of thinning out our Eucalyptus tree, and also took on a little topiary of a bay tree whilst with us. Highly recommended, the easiest and most pleasant person to deal with.”
Yes. We work across all BN1, BN2, and BN3 postcodes, including central Brighton, Kemp Town, Hove, Portslade, Withdean, Preston Park, Hanover, Woodingdean, Rottingdean, and Ovingdean. Brighton is around 20 minutes from our Hassocks base.
Are there conservation areas in Brighton?
Yes — Brighton & Hove has 34 designated conservation areas. Major ones include Kemp Town, Preston Park, Montpelier & Clifton Hill, The Lanes, Hove Station, and Tongdean. If your property is within a conservation area, you must give six weeks’ notice to Brighton & Hove City Council before carrying out tree work. We check every tree’s status before quoting.
Can you work in tight terraced gardens?
Absolutely. Much of our work in Brighton involves Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties where garden access is through the house or down narrow side passages. We’re experienced at working in these spaces and carry equipment suited to confined areas. We take care to protect flooring and doorways when carrying material through a property.
Who handles tree planning in Brighton?
Brighton & Hove City Council manages all TPOs and conservation area tree work notifications. Their arboriculture team can be contacted on 01273 292929 or at arboriculture@brighton-hove.gov.uk. We handle TPO applications and conservation area notices on your behalf as part of our service.
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