Devon Tree Services was appointed to restore a group of mature yew trees in Totnes that were protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The trees had historically been managed as a uniform landscape feature, but the pruning cycle had lapsed and their shape, density and overall visual consistency had gradually been lost.
As experienced arborists providing professional tree surgery in Totnes and across South Devon, our role was to develop a considered pruning approach that restored the original intention of the planting while creating a practical plan for long-term management.
The brief
The yews formed an important and highly visible feature within the site. Over time, without regular management, their individual forms had become uneven and less defined.
The client wanted to reinstate the trees as the uniform visual feature they were originally planted to be. However, because the trees were protected by a TPO, the work needed to be carefully specified and completed only once the appropriate consent had been obtained.
Tree Preservation Orders give Local Planning Authorities legal control over works including pruning, lopping and felling, so professional advice and written consent are normally required before work begins.
Our approach
Our expert arborists assessed the existing form of each yew and identified how the trees could be restored without using indiscriminate cutting or creating a short-term result that would be difficult to sustain.
The programme of work included:
- Targeted pruning to reduce and reshape selected areas of the crowns
- Careful removal of growth that disrupted the intended uniform outline
- Wiring and tying selected growth back into position to establish a clearer new form
- Retention of sufficient foliage and structure to support future maintenance
- A management-led approach designed to make future pruning more straightforward and consistent
Rather than treating every tree in exactly the same way, the work was adapted to the condition and existing form of each individual yew. This allowed the group to be brought back together visually while respecting the requirements of the protected trees.
The result
The completed work restored the yews as a cohesive, uniform feature within the landscape.
The aim was not simply to deliver a quick visual change. It was to reinstate the form the trees were originally planted to create, while establishing a structure that can be maintained consistently for years to come.
The before-and-after photographs show the difference clearly: what had become an irregular and unmanaged group of trees is now a defined, balanced and purposeful landscape feature once again.
This is a result Devon Tree Services is particularly proud of. It combined specialist tree surgery, TPO awareness, careful pruning decisions and a long-term view of tree management.
Need tree surgery in Totnes?
If you have yew trees, hedging or other protected trees that have outgrown their intended form, Devon Tree Services can provide professional advice, TPO tree work and specialist pruning across Totnes, South Devon and the wider South West.
We provide domestic and commercial tree surgery, crown reductions, tree pruning, tree inspections and arboricultural consultancy.
Call: 01803 814126
Email: info@devontreeservices.co.uk
FAQ section
Can yew trees be pruned back into shape?
Yew trees can often respond well to carefully planned pruning, but the approach should depend on their condition, previous management, location and the form you want to achieve. For formal or previously managed yews, a staged and long-term approach is often more appropriate than a severe one-off cut.
Do I need consent to prune a TPO-protected yew tree in Totnes?
Usually, yes. A Tree Preservation Order generally restricts pruning, topping, lopping, felling and damage to protected trees without the written consent of the Local Planning Authority. There are limited exceptions, so it is sensible to obtain professional advice before arranging work.gov+1
What is the benefit of a long-term tree-management plan?
A long-term plan helps maintain the desired size, shape and visual role of a tree or group of trees. It can prevent previously managed trees from becoming overgrown again and allows future work to be planned at appropriate intervals rather than relying on reactive, more severe pruning.
Do you provide tree surgery and arboricultural advice in Totnes?
Yes. Devon Tree Services provides tree surgery, protected-tree advice, tree inspections and arboricultural consultancy in Totnes, across South Devon and throughout the wider South West.
