What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your Property in Cumbria

Cumbria is no stranger to severe weather. The Lake District and surrounding areas regularly experience high winds, particularly in autumn and winter, and storm damage to trees is one of the most common emergency call-outs we respond to. If a tree has fallen on or near your property, here is what you need to do — and what not to do.

Step 1: Stay Safe — Do Not Approach the Tree

This is the most important step. A fallen or partially fallen tree may still be under significant tension — roots, branches or the trunk itself can shift suddenly and without warning, even after the tree appears to have settled. Do not attempt to clear the tree yourself unless it is a very small tree and clearly poses no danger.

In particular, stay well clear if:

• The tree or any branches are in contact with overhead power lines — this is a potentially fatal situation. Call 999 and your electricity network operator (in Cumbria this is likely Electricity North West: 0800 195 4141)
• The tree has damaged your roof and there is a risk of further collapse
• The tree is blocking a public road — call 999 and Westmorland and Furness Council or the Highways Agency, as well as us
• The tree is leaning over your property and may fall further

Step 2: Call Us

Our emergency line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 07376804724. We cover all of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire. We will assess the situation over the phone and advise on the urgency, then dispatch a team as quickly as possible.

For major storm events affecting multiple properties across the region, response times may be longer — we prioritise the most dangerous situations first. If your situation involves live power lines or structural damage to a building, emergency services should be your first call.

Step 3: Document Everything for Your Insurance Claim

Before any clearance work begins, take photographs and video of the damage from multiple angles. Capture:

• The fallen tree and the full extent of damage
• Where the tree originally stood and its root plate
• Any damage to buildings, fences, walls, vehicles or garden structures
• The surrounding area to establish context

This documentation will be important for your insurance claim. Do not move anything until you have photographed it thoroughly.

Step 4: Contact Your Insurer

Home insurance policies vary considerably in what they cover for tree damage. Generally:

• If a tree falls from your garden onto your property, your buildings insurance should cover the cost of repairs to the building — but may or may not cover the cost of removing the tree itself
• If a neighbour's tree falls onto your property, your insurer will usually cover the damage, then potentially seek recovery from your neighbour's insurer
• Storm damage is typically covered, but subsidence or gradual movement may not be
• Tree removal costs are not always covered separately from building repairs — check your policy carefully

We can provide a written report and photographic evidence to support your claim, and are experienced in working with loss adjusters and insurance companies. Ask us about this when you call.

Step 5: Arrange Clearance and Make Safe

Once the immediate danger has been assessed and documented, we will clear the fallen timber, make the site safe, and advise on any further work needed — such as removal of the remaining stump, assessment of other trees in the area, or any necessary repairs to fencing and walls. We aim to leave every site clean and tidy after an emergency call-out.

Was the Tree Protected?

If the fallen tree had a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or was in a Conservation Area, you should notify the local council as soon as reasonably practicable — even in an emergency situation. We can handle this notification on your behalf. In a genuine emergency, work can proceed to make the site safe, with notification to the council afterwards.

What About Replacing the Tree?

Where a protected tree has been lost to storm damage, the council may require a replacement to be planted. We can advise on suitable replacement species and carry out the planting as part of our tree planting services.

Emergency Call-Out — Cumbria & Lancashire

If you have storm damage to deal with right now, call us immediately:

24-hour emergency line: 07376804724

We cover Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Ulverston, Barrow, Cartmel, Milnthorpe, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancaster and all surrounding areas. See our full emergency tree surgery page.