Leylandii!

Reds-on-Sea

I've got a problem with my neighbours' leylandii & hoping someone can help.

They have between 8-12 HUGE trees at the bottom of their garden, very close to my boundary, they must be at least 50 feet tall (they are classed as hedges apparently) and are so bulbous in the middle that they overhang my garden and nothing grows underneath them in an area about 25ft x 15ft.

They drop their "leaves" and that area is several inches deep in leaves. As a result, the local cat population have adopted it as one huge kitty litter! I've looked at my council website, and I think I have to pay £335 to see if it's possible to get them trimmed down, which I think is outrageous (have asked the owners, they ignored).

It's only a metal wire fence on that side (my boundary, and another matter as neighbours' Staffs have destroyed it by pushing through it), and I'd love to put a proper 6ft fence up, but there's no point as the trees are there. There's also the issue of the roots. I own my house (neighbours are tenants) and when we got our survey done nearly 2 yrs ago, it said that the trees will "soon be reaching the house foundations" which is obviously worrying.

it's all very well saying trimming the bits that overhang, but they actually lean over into my garden, the uppermost tips are on my side. And besides, trimming would barely make a difference, it would be like 1% of the problem, and wouldn't fix the root problem.

Has anyone got any suggestions on what else I can do? I don't really fancy shelling out £335 just to see whether they "might" be able to be trimmed, but it's putting almost a quarter of my garden out of use. They're so tall it's even shading the garden on the other side of me! Do I have any other options?

thanks

caeler

I'm not what the estate agent would do if you have already spoken directly with the owners? How did you contact the owners? I think trying in writing is your next step, so its formal and you have an audit trail.

Here's an interesting article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4596685.stm

G_M

Can't see how an estate agent can help in what is basically a dispute between neighbours.

However I found this on my local council's website.

JA1000

I had a similar problem so I pruned them - AT THE TRUNK, there will be no tree preservation on them. Act now ask questions later. Good Friday is a always a good time council offices are shut for 4 days and the tips are open.

Cut trees down pull them into your garden, put the fence up cut the trees up and remove. It's fine operation but carefully coordinated will work very well.

The light they must block must be awful.

squinty

There is legislation as part of the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act that allows local councils to take action. However they do charge for this (and many council charge the maximum allowed), and they will not get involved unless you have tried to resolve this yourself.

The DCLG produce a leaflet on how to tackle this, may be worth having a look. You can get this at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/overgardenhedge

Fire_Fox

Have you spoken to your insurers about your concerns over the foundations? Have you tried writing to the owners and asking them to take action over the trees and fencing?

Reds-on-Sea

Thanks all, the owners of the property were a strange couple - VERY private. A lady from the other side of the block (there are leylandii on the back border of the garden too) wrote to the estate agents, after consulting with all the surrounding neighbours., but I don't think she heard anything back. I guess her situation is probably worse, as her garden is South facing, and these horrible trees keep her entire garden in darkness all year round!!

I think my best bet is to go round to see her, and consider splitting the fee between those 5 or 6 neighbours who are affected (if they're willing).

I just think it so unfair that I should have to pay for their stupid trees.

For now though, I will read through all the links you've posted & maybe have a word with opposite neighbour.

Thanks!

Reds-on-Sea

p.s. JA1000.....I can't really trim the trees in their garden can I? I've spoken to the tenants about them, and they've said they be happy for them to go, even suggested driving a rusty nail into the trunks (does that really work?). If we killed them though, wouldn't all the leaves fall off? I'm no expert, but looking at them, that would be A LOT of plant waste....like tons I do feel sorry for the wildlife too, there are clearly a lot of birdies living in them too. There's even a woodpecker I believe. That said, I can't have them uprooting my house.

As it goes, their 2 Staffordshire bull terriers are trying to kill them off - they've taking to swinging from the lower branches using their mouths......weird creatures.

JA1000

I didn't know they had leaves. Can you not trim them back to a hedge. The bottom line is most people will not touch trees because of cost. It isn't cheap but if you are going to benefit you may need to pay the cost or to do it yourself. Has this been offered yet?

Reds-on-Sea

I don't know if they're "leaves" as such, but they're green, and they do drop, hence the thick layer of tree waste underneath. You can't even put it in the compost bin either, as it doesn't break down.

The trunks of some of these leylandii are over a foot in diameter, and the branches that come over to my side would need sawing. They're planted so close to my boundary that even if they were trimmed, I'd probably not be able to put a nice fence up. And it wouldn't solve the root problem.

Yes though, I think you're right. I'll have to just save up and get the council to have a look at them. I don't know if I'd be willing to pay the whole cost of having them cut down though - seeing as they're my neighbours' trees. My mum had a couple of medium sized trees removed from her garden, and it was the best part of £1000 - I can't imagine what these huge lumps would cost

Minxy_Bella

I'm sure that I've seen similar situations in the news and had a little look - it appears that your neighbours can be fined for not keeping the trees under control.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4596685.stm

http://www.gardner-leader.co.uk/orphan/news/hedge_disputes.html