Charges after parrots, climbing branches (9)
I believe the answer is:
separates
'branches' is the definition.
('separate' can be a synonym of 'branch')
'charges after parrots climbing' is the wordplay.
'charges' becomes 'rates' (rate is a kind of charge).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'parrots' becomes 'apes' (I've seen this in another clue).
'climbing' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'apes' reversed gives 'sepa'.
'rates' put after 'sepa' is 'SEPARATES'.
(Other definitions for separates that I've seen before include "Splits up, sunders" , "Sorts out" , "women's garments" , "Breaks up" , "Keeps apart from others" .)