Tree Surgeons in Hollingbourne

Hollingbourne is one of the most attractive villages in the Maidstone area. It runs from Eyhorne Street up to Upper Street and the foot of the North Downs, with listed houses, old farmhouses, the Grade I listed Hollingbourne Manor and large gardens bordered by hedges and mature trees. Tree work here needs more care than a typical suburban garden: bigger trees, more protected areas and properties where the trees matter just as much as the house.

Maidstone Tree Surgeons is based just along the Pilgrims’ Way in Detling, so Hollingbourne is one of our closest villages. Connor, Ethan and Ben are NPTC and City & Guilds qualified arborists, working to BS 3998:2010 and fully insured.

Three conservation areas: what it means for your trees

Hollingbourne has three separate conservation areas, all designated by Maidstone Borough Council: Eyhorne Street, Upper Street and Broad Street. Many homes in the village fall inside one of them.

In a conservation area, any tree with a stem more than 75mm in diameter at 1.5m above ground is protected automatically. Before pruning, felling or reducing it, you must give Maidstone Borough Council six weeks’ notice (known as a Section 211 notice). The council then either lets the work go ahead or places a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the tree. Trees that already have a TPO need formal consent, and the application can take up to eight weeks.

Many trees around Hollingbourne are tall, old and highly visible, so this comes up a lot. We’ll tell you when we quote whether a notice or application is likely to be needed, suggest work the council is more likely to accept, such as a measured crown reduction rather than heavy topping, and help you get the paperwork right. For more detail, read our guide Do I need permission to cut down a tree in Maidstone?

Working at the foot of the Kent Downs

Hollingbourne sits on the scarp of the North Downs, and much of the parish lies within the Kent Downs National Landscape, the area formerly known as the Kent Downs AONB. The North Downs Way and the Pilgrims’ Way both pass through the parish, and the landscape is known for its springline villages, hedged lanes and scarp-top woodland.

That setting shapes the work we do here:

• Big, mature specimen trees. Oak, beech, lime, horse chestnut and yew in large gardens and grounds often need crown reduction or crown thinning to reduce weight, let light in and keep them safe without spoiling their shape.
• Ash dieback. The Kent Downs landscape assessment notes that ash dieback is increasingly evident in woodlands along this stretch of the Downs. Ash trees near houses, drives and footpaths should be checked, and some may need deadwood removal or tree removal before they become dangerous.
• Lane-side and driveway trees. Crown lifting gives clearance over gravel drives, gateways and narrow lanes for cars, delivery vans and horseboxes.
• Pollarded and formal trees. We maintain established pollards on a regular cycle so they stay healthy and in proportion.

Hedges and boundaries on larger properties

Long hedges are part of Hollingbourne’s character, from neatly clipped yew and beech around period houses to thick native hedgerows along paddocks and field edges. Keeping them in shape on a bigger property is a proper job, often needing access equipment and a team rather than a weekend with the trimmer.

We offer hedge trimming and shaping on a one-off or regular basis, along with hedge removal and replanting preparation. We time hedge work around nesting birds. See when to cut hedges to avoid nesting birds.

Clearance, stumps and garden projects

Planning a new garden room, extending a drive, reclaiming an overgrown corner of a paddock or getting a plot ready for building? Our site clearance and vegetation management service clears trees, scrub and brambles, and stump grinding takes the stumps below ground so the space can be used. As a registered waste carrier, we take all the green waste away.

Why Hollingbourne clients use us

• Close by. We’re based in Detling, a short drive along the foot of the Downs.
• £5 million public liability insurance, important when working near listed buildings, garden walls and outbuildings.
• Risk assessments and method statements available for every job, useful for estates, managed properties, landlords and businesses.
• Registered waste carrier, so all waste is removed and disposed of legally.
• Qualified arborists (NPTC and City & Guilds) working to BS 3998:2010.
• 24/7 emergency call-outs for fallen or dangerous trees through our emergency tree work service. Routine work is booked in normal working hours.

We also cover nearby Bearsted, Detling, Thurnham, Leeds, Harrietsham, Bredgar and Stockbury. See all the areas we cover.

Nearby areas we cover

Hollingbourne is a short drive along the foot of the Downs from our yard in Detling. We also look after trees and hedges in Bearsted, Grove Green and Stockbury, and across Maidstone.

Frequently asked questions

Is my Hollingbourne property in a conservation area?

It may be. Hollingbourne has three: Eyhorne Street, Upper Street and Broad Street. You can check Maidstone Borough Council’s conservation area maps, or ask us and we’ll check before we quote.

Can you help with the council paperwork?

Yes. We can describe the proposed work clearly for your Section 211 notice or TPO application, so the council knows exactly what’s planned.

Do you work on large gardens and estates?

Yes. We regularly handle larger trees, long hedges and grounds work, and we can provide risk assessments and method statements for managed properties.

When is the best time for hedge and tree work?

Most pruning can be done all year round, but hedge cutting and clearance are best planned outside the main bird nesting season. We’ll advise on timing for your trees.