"Called at 7am after storm damage in Southbourne. Tree had fallen against the house. Clearcut on site by 10am — removed the tree safely, documented everything for our insurance claim. The report made the claim straightforward. Outstanding service."
Available 24 Hours · 365 Days a Year
24H Emergency
Tree Surgery
Storm damage, fallen trees and dangerous limbs across Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Hampshire — we respond fast, any time, day or night. NPTC qualified arborists, £5 million insured.
24H
Available every
hour of the day
hour of the day
365d
No days off —
even Christmas
even Christmas
£5M
Public liability
insured
insured
5.0★
Google rated
35 reviews
35 reviews
Emergency Tree Surgery
Across Bournemouth & Dorset
Clearcut Tree Surgery operates a genuine 24-hour emergency tree service across Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Hampshire — not an answering service, not a call centre. When you call 01202 022560 out of hours, you reach an arborist directly. We assess the situation over the phone, advise on immediate safety steps, and dispatch to your location as quickly as possible.
During major storm events, we prioritise by risk level — situations involving immediate danger to people or buildings are attended first. We are honest about expected arrival times and will not leave you without information about when we're coming.
All emergency work is carried out by NPTC-qualified arborists with £5 million public liability insurance — the same professional standards as all our planned work. We do not send unqualified labour to emergency call-outs, regardless of the time of day or night.
After completing emergency work, we provide a full written report and photographic record — essential if you need to make a home insurance claim or report work on a protected tree to Dorset Council or BCP Council.
Types of emergency we attend
Tree fallen on building or vehicleImmediate structural risk — highest priority. Call us and your insurer simultaneously.
Tree fallen near or touching power linesDo not approach — call your energy provider's emergency line first, then call us.
Hanging branches — "widow makers"Large broken limbs suspended in the canopy after storm damage. Unpredictable and extremely dangerous — clear the area immediately.
Tree blocking road, driveway or accessA fallen tree blocking a public road or emergency vehicle access route — we work with highways and local authorities where needed.
Tree leaning significantly after stormRoot ball movement or partial uprooting — the tree may still fail. Assess with a qualified arborist before the situation worsens.
Sudden large branch failureSummer branch drop or unexpected limb failure in otherwise healthy-looking trees. Requires immediate assessment to identify further risk.
Critical Safety Information
What to Do —
and What Not to Do —
Before We Arrive
The minutes between a tree emergency happening and our arrival are the most dangerous. Here's exactly what to do — and what to avoid at all costs.
Do This
Clear people and pets from the area immediately — establish a safe exclusion zone at least twice the height of the tree
Call 01202 022560 and describe the situation clearly — we assess by phone and advise on next steps
If a tree has fallen on your property, call your buildings insurer and inform them — we provide a written report
Take photographs from a safe distance — useful for your insurance claim
If a tree is touching overhead lines, call your energy provider's emergency number (Western Power Distribution / SSEN) before anything else
If a fallen tree is blocking a public road, call Dorset Council highways or 101
Do Not Do This
Do not approach a fallen tree or go underneath any tree with visible hanging or broken branches — they can drop without warning
Do not attempt to cut the tree yourself with a chainsaw — a pinched saw in a loaded tree can cause catastrophic kickback and injury
Do not touch or approach any fallen tree that is in contact with — or close to — overhead power lines
Do not re-enter a building where a tree has fallen through the roof until the structural safety has been confirmed by a professional
Do not assume a leaning tree is stable — a tree that has partially uprooted can continue to move as soil conditions change
Do not park vehicles or leave any property under a storm-damaged tree until it has been assessed and made safe by a qualified arborist
Our Emergency Response
What Happens When
You Call at 2am
01
You Reach an Arborist Directly
Our emergency line connects you to a qualified arborist — not an answering service or call centre. We ask specific questions about the situation: what has fallen, what is at risk, whether anyone is in danger and whether power lines are involved.
02
Immediate Safety Advice
Based on what you describe, we give you immediate safety instructions while we are on our way — who should stay clear, what to do about any power line contact, and whether emergency services should be called alongside us.
03
We Attend and Make Safe
Our qualified team arrives with the equipment needed for the situation. The first priority is making the site safe — removing immediate risks to people and structures. A temporary solution may be appropriate overnight with full clearance following in daylight.
04
Written Report & Documentation
After completing the work, we provide a full written report with photographs — covering what was found, what work was carried out and why, and confirming our qualifications and insurance. Essential for insurance claims and any required council notifications on protected trees.
Emergency Tree Work
& Insurance Claims
A tree emergency often involves an insurance claim — and the quality of your documentation can make a significant difference to the outcome. Clearcut Tree Surgery provides a full written report and photographic record after all emergency call-outs, specifically designed to support home insurance claims.
Most home and buildings insurance policies cover storm damage to structures caused by fallen trees. However, the precise scope of cover varies — some policies cover the cost of removing the tree itself, others only cover the resulting structural damage. Always check your policy before assuming everything is covered.
Where the emergency involves a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order, we manage the required post-work notification to Dorset Council or BCP Council on your behalf. Emergency work on a protected tree does not require prior consent, but must be reported within five working days — a step that is often missed and can result in unnecessary enforcement action.
What our emergency report includes
Date, time and location of emergencyTimestamped record of when we attended and the address — required by most insurers.
Photographic evidence before and afterPhotographs of the tree, the damage and the site after making safe — provided digitally.
Description of work carried outWritten account of the emergency situation and what actions were taken to make the site safe.
Qualifications and insurance confirmationConfirmation of NPTC qualifications and £5 million public liability insurance — required by most insurers for professional claims.
TPO notification if applicableWhere a protected tree was involved, we submit the required post-emergency notification to Dorset Council or BCP Council and provide you with a copy.
Emergency Work on Protected Trees — What the Law Says
If a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order poses an immediate danger to life or property, emergency work can proceed without prior consent. However, the landowner or their contractor must notify Dorset Council or BCP Council in writing within five working days of the work, providing photographic evidence of the emergency situation. Clearcut Tree Surgery submits this notification on your behalf as part of the emergency service — at no extra charge. Failing to notify the council after emergency work on a TPO tree is a separate offence and can lead to enforcement proceedings.
Emergency Call-Out Work
Emergency Tree Work
Across Bournemouth & Dorset
Emergency Response Reviews
What Customers Say
About Our Emergency Service
5.0
5.0 out of 5 · Based on 35 Google Reviews
Trusted for emergency tree work across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset
"Large ash with widow makers hanging after a storm — three large broken limbs suspended in the canopy over our driveway. Clearcut responded the same afternoon, assessed the situation properly and removed every hanging section. Professional and calm under pressure."
"TPO oak fell during a gale and blocked our drive in Poole. Clearcut came out, dealt with the emergency safely, then submitted the council notification for us. Didn't even know that was required — they handled it without being asked. Exceptional."
FAQ
Emergency Tree
Service Questions
In a tree emergency, call 01202 022560 directly — do not wait for an email response. For non-urgent questions, we answer below.
We aim to attend all emergency call-outs in Bournemouth and Dorset the same day. During major storm events, we prioritise by risk level — situations involving immediate danger to people or buildings come first. We are always honest about expected arrival times. Call 01202 022560 any time.
It depends on your policy. Storm damage that causes damage to a structure is usually covered. Simple tree removal from your garden where no structure is damaged may not be. We provide a full written report and photographic evidence after every emergency call-out to support your insurance claim.
Yes. Where a TPO tree poses an immediate danger to life or property, emergency work can proceed without prior consent. However, the council must be notified within five working days. We submit this notification to Dorset Council or BCP Council on your behalf as part of the emergency service.
No. Keep well clear of any fallen or storm-damaged tree until a qualified arborist has assessed it. Trees can shift, co-dominant stems can fail and hanging branches can drop without warning. If the tree is near or touching overhead power lines, call your energy provider's emergency line first and do not approach at all.
Yes. Our 24-hour emergency service covers the whole of Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Hampshire — including rural areas. We do not limit our emergency coverage to specific postcodes. If you are unsure whether we cover your area, call us and we will give you a straight answer.
24H Emergency Coverage
Dorset & Hampshire
We cover the whole of Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Hampshire for emergency tree work — no areas excluded, no postcodes turned away.
Emergency?
Call Now —
Any Time
We answer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You will speak to a qualified arborist directly — not an answering service. Tell us what has happened and we will advise you immediately while we make our way to you.
01202 022560Or WhatsApp us for non-urgent enquiries
Non-Urgent Enquiry
Not an immediate emergency? Fill in the form and we'll call you back within 24 hours.
