Tree Surgeons in Bredgar

Bredgar is a small, historic village on the dip slope of the North Downs, south-west of Sittingbourne. It’s a short drive over the Downs from our yard in Detling, through Stockbury. Its character comes from the pond and war memorial at the heart of the village, the Church of St John the Baptist, the old farmsteads and cottages along The Street, and the trees and hedges that bring the countryside right into the village.

Maidstone Tree Surgeons looks after gardens, grounds and land in and around Bredgar. Connor, Ethan and Ben are NPTC and City & Guilds qualified arborists, working to BS 3998:2010 and fully insured.

Bredgar Conservation Area and Swale Borough Council

Although we’re Maidstone-based, Bredgar is in Swale. Tree protection here is handled by Swale Borough Council, not Maidstone, and this catches people out.

Swale re-designated the Bredgar Conservation Area and adopted a new Character Appraisal and Management Strategy in 2023. The appraisal says the historic part of the village takes in the village pond, the parish church, a couple of former farmsteads and a range of traditional houses. It is clear that trees matter here. It says they “make a valuable contribution to the character of Bredgar Conservation Area”, and it names yew, beech, sycamore, oak, holm oak, holly, ash, silver birch, field maple and chestnut as significant native species.

What this means for you:

• Trees in the conservation area. Swale requires six weeks’ written notice before any pruning or felling of a tree in a conservation area. This applies to trees with a stem over 75mm in diameter at 1.5m above ground, as set out in national rules. The council uses the six weeks to decide whether the tree should get a Tree Preservation Order.
• Trees with a TPO. These need a tree works application to Swale. The council says the process takes about eight weeks.

The rules themselves are the same across England, and our guide Do I need permission to cut down a tree in Maidstone? explains them in plain English. Just remember that in Bredgar, the notice goes to Swale Borough Council. We can write a clear description of the work for your notice or application so it’s right first time.

Tree work for Bredgar homes and gardens

Bredgar has a real mix of properties: listed cottages close to the road, larger houses in their own grounds, former farmhouses and barns, and newer homes on the edges of the village. Common jobs include:

• Crown reduction and thinning for big beech, oak, sycamore and chestnut that have grown too large for the house or garden. See crown reduction and crown thinning.
• Crown lifting over narrow lanes, gateways and drives. The appraisal notes that native trees grow close to the carriageway edge through the village. See crown lifting.
• Deadwood removal from mature trees over lawns, roofs and footpaths. See deadwood removal.
• Tree removal where a tree is dead, dangerous or causing damage, carried out in sections where space is tight. See tree removal.
• Stump grinding to reclaim the ground afterwards. See stump grinding.

Hedges, orchards and countryside boundaries

The appraisal highlights the importance of “trees and hedgerows” to Bredgar’s character, and notes orchards to the east of the village and pockets of ancient woodland across the parish. The village and its surroundings are also within the Kent Downs National Landscape (formerly the Kent Downs AONB).

We offer hedge trimming and shaping to keep yew, beech and mixed native hedges dense and tidy, and hedge removal where a boundary needs replacing. Hedge work is timed around nesting birds (see when to cut hedges to avoid nesting birds). Removing a countryside hedgerow next to farmland may also need a Hedgerow Removal Notice, and we’ll tell you if so.

For paddocks, overgrown plots and land being prepared for building, our site clearance and vegetation management service clears trees, scrub and brambles, and we remove all waste as a registered waste carrier.

Why Bredgar customers choose us

• Close by. We’re based in Detling, just over the Downs.
• We know the paperwork. We’ll tell you whether your tree is likely to be protected and help with Swale notices and applications.
• £5 million public liability insurance, important near listed buildings, garden walls and outbuildings.
• Risk assessments and method statements available on request.
• Registered waste carrier. All green waste leaves with us.
• 24/7 emergency call-outs for fallen or dangerous trees through our emergency tree work service. Normal working hours for routine work.

We also cover nearby Stockbury, Hollingbourne, Detling and Bearsted, along with Sittingbourne through our Sittingbourne tree surgeons page. See all the areas we cover.

Nearby areas we cover

We also work in the villages between Bredgar and our yard, including Stockbury, Detling and Hollingbourne, and in nearby Sittingbourne.

Frequently asked questions

Which council do I contact about trees in Bredgar?

Swale Borough Council. Bredgar is in Swale borough, so conservation-area notices and TPO applications go to Swale, not Maidstone.

How much notice do I need to give for a tree in the conservation area?

Six weeks’ written notice to Swale Borough Council before pruning or felling. This covers trees with a stem over 75mm in diameter at 1.5m above ground. If the tree has a TPO, you need formal consent instead, which Swale says takes about eight weeks.

Can you help with the notice?

Yes. We’ll describe the trees and the proposed work clearly so you can submit it, usually through the Planning Portal.

Can you quote from photos?

Often, yes. Send photos or a short video on WhatsApp, or ask about a live video quote. We’ll visit in person if the job needs it.