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What to do nowIs it an emergency?Call-outStorm damageWho is responsible?Protected treesCosts and availabilityAreas
What to Do If a Tree Has Fallen or Looks Dangerous
- If anyone is in danger or hurt, call 999.
- Keep well away from the tree and anything it touches. Fallen trees can be tangled in power lines or unstable.
- If power lines are down or touching the tree, treat them as live. Call 105 (free) to report damaged lines, and 999 as well if there is significant risk to the public.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call the National Gas Emergency Number, 0800 111 999.
- Keep people and pets away, including from walls, fences and conservatories a storm may have weakened.
- During a storm, stay indoors and don't go out to inspect or repair damage.
- If the tree is on a road, path or council land, report it to Croydon Council. If it is causing immediate danger on a road, call 999.
- Take photos from a safe distance and note the date and time for any insurance claim.
- Call us. Don't cut or move a large tree yourself.
Call 07881 305352
What Not to Do
- Don't touch anything near a fallen tree and power lines. Even a tree that looks clear can be live.
- Don't cut a tree that is under tension. Trees that are bent, hung up in other trees or pinned under weight can spring or roll without warning when cut.
- Don't climb the tree or use a chainsaw from a ladder. This is how serious injuries happen.
- Don't park or walk under split or hanging branches ("widow-makers").
- Don't move wreckage before taking photos, unless it is blocking an emergency exit.
Is It an Emergency? A Quick Guide
| Situation | What to do |
|---|
| Anyone injured or trapped, or a tree across a busy road | Call 999 |
| Power lines down or touching the tree | Call 105, and 999 if the risk to the public is significant. Stay clear |
| Smell of gas near a fallen tree | Leave the building and call 0800 111 999 |
| Tree on your house, garage, conservatory, car or shed | Call us now |
| Tree blocking your drive, door or access | Call us now |
| Split, hanging or leaning tree likely to fall | Call us now |
| Tree across a fence or into a neighbouring garden | Call us the same day, and tell your neighbour |
| Fallen tree on a railway line or embankment | Report it to Network Rail's helpline, 03457 11 41 41; never go on the track |
| Fallen tree on a road, pavement or in a park | Report it to Croydon Council (red routes may be Transport for London) |
| Damaged but stable tree, no immediate danger | Book a tree survey or planned work |
What Happens on an Emergency Call-Out
The aim is to make the situation safe. That might mean removing a hanging branch or cutting a fallen tree enough to clear access, with full clearance arranged afterwards. We assess the hazards first (overhead lines, structures under load, tension in the wood) and then plan the safest way in.
| Situation | Our typical approach |
|---|
| Tree or branch on a house, roof, garage or conservatory | Make the tree safe and take it off the structure with the right equipment, in controlled sections |
| Tree on a parked car | Remove the weight carefully so the car and surrounding area aren't damaged further |
| Fallen tree across a drive, path or garden | Cut and clear enough to restore access |
| Tree on a fence, shed or greenhouse | Make safe and agree follow-up work with the owner |
| Split, hanging or storm-damaged branch | Remove the hazard so it cannot fall |
| Leaning or uprooted tree | Assess it, then make safe or remove |
| Tree on a road or pavement | Make safe and clear, with traffic management if needed |
After the emergency we can plan full removal, stump grinding and a survey of any other trees on the site for a later date.
Storm-Damaged Trees in Croydon
Strong winds and saturated ground are the usual causes of tree failures in Croydon, and they can hit well after the storm has passed. Waterlogged soil loosens roots, so trees can lean or fall days later. Look for:
- Soil heaving or cracking at the base of the tree
- A new lean, or roots lifting out of the ground
- Split trunks, torn bark or cracks in major limbs
- Broken branches hanging in the crown
- Fungus or soft, hollow wood at the base
If you spot any of these, keep clear of the area and get the tree checked. Many trees that survive one storm are weakened for the next.
Who Is Responsible for a Fallen Tree?
A tree belongs to the owner of the land where its trunk grows, and that owner is generally responsible for keeping it safe. If an owner knew, or should have known, that a tree was diseased or decaying and did nothing, they could face a negligence claim. A healthy tree brought down by exceptional weather is less likely to make the owner liable. Each case depends on the facts.
| Whose tree is it? | Who to contact |
|---|
| Your own garden | You are responsible. Call us, and your insurer |
| Your neighbour's tree falls into your garden | Take photos, tell your neighbour and your insurer. Your own policy usually covers damage to your property |
| Council street tree, park or housing estate | Report it to Croydon Council |
| Red route or TfL road | Transport for London |
| Railway land | Network Rail |
| Rented property | Tell your landlord or managing agent |
| Shared or communal land | The freeholder or managing agent |
Does Home Insurance Cover a Fallen Tree?
Many home insurance policies cover damage caused by the tree rather than the cost of removing the tree itself. Some cover clearance where the tree has fallen on the building or blocked access, so check your policy. Keep photos and invoices, and tell your insurer what has happened before arranging major repairs, unless the work is urgent to prevent further damage. See the full guide.
Dangerous Trees and Protected Trees
Croydon Council says a dead tree needs no formal permission, a dying tree does, and for a dangerous tree only the urgent works necessary can be done without consent. It asks for five days' notice of work to a dead or dangerous tree. We photograph the tree and limit emergency work to what is needed to make the situation safe, and we keep the photos in case the council asks what condition the tree was in. If the tree is protected, we tell you what notice is needed. See the TPO guide.
| Situation | What applies |
|---|
| Tree with a TPO, immediate danger | Urgent works necessary to remove the danger; give notice (five days asked) and keep photos |
| Tree in a conservation area, immediate danger | Same; notice asked |
| Fallen or dead tree | No formal permission needed |
| Tree not yet fallen but leaning or decayed | Get it assessed first; may need permission |
Nesting birds and bats. Wild birds and their active nests are protected, and the main nesting season generally runs from March to August. In a true emergency, safety comes first, but we'll still check and limit disturbance where we can. Nesting season guide.
Emergency Tree Work: Costs and Availability
We respond to emergencies, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. We'll tell you honestly when we can attend. After major storms demand is high, so the most dangerous situations are attended first.
| Job | Indicative cost |
|---|
| Emergency call-out and make-safe, small job | From £250, quoted at the call |
| Tree on a house, car or outbuilding (make safe and remove) | Quoted at the call, depending on the size of the tree and the damage |
| Full clearance of a large fallen tree | From £1,000, and emergency work costs more |
| Out-of-hours or weekend premium | Typically higher, quoted at the call |
| What affects the price | Why it matters |
|---|
| Urgency and time of day | Emergency work can cost more than planned work |
| Size and condition of the tree | Large or unstable trees need more people and equipment |
| Where it has fallen | A tree on a structure, over a road or near power lines needs extra care |
| Make safe only, or full clear-up | These can be priced separately |
| Waste removal | Taking away the timber adds to the job |
We give you a price before work begins, unless it isn't safe to wait.
Emergency Tree Work Across Croydon
We carry out emergency tree work across the borough, including Addiscombe, Shirley, Thornton Heath, Norbury, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, South Croydon, Selsdon, Sanderstead, Purley, Coulsdon and Kenley (CR0, CR2, CR5, CR7, CR8, SE19 and SW16).
