I'm devastated, any advice please ?

meer53

Tippytoes wrote: »

Damage has been done, but a clear-cut case of criminal damage and probably trespass, too.

I think I would sue, use the compo to replant some large conifers (very expensive) and then consider having them lopped afterwards. The criminal who caused this should not be allowed to get away with it. Get away with this, what might they try next?

I'm going to give them chance to repair the damage, but not too long ! Apparently, the bloke that cut the hedge ( SIL )was asked to take 12" off the top. I know that men have a pretty distorted image of what 12" looks like but this is just ridiculous.

If it's not sorted i will think about what to do next.

The other neighbours are all close friends, we've been on family holidays with 2 of them and we all get together for BBQ's, drinks etc there are no problems at all (until now) This particular neighbour has always been friendly and has come out and given my kids sweets, drinks etc in the past. No contact for the last few years though but no fall outs or anything. I'm just bewildered by it all.:(

lostinrates

Judi wrote: »

just to make a random comment here, my buildings insurance has a clause about how close trees can be to the property before it affects the insurance.

However, nothing excuses the fact that the neighbour behaved badly whatever the reason.

Thats a good point. My insurers line is seven metres or clser has to be declared...not is necessarily a problem but has to be declared.

whitewing

I imagine the neighbour was sick of the long shadows cast over his garden by the hedge. I see no need for such a high hedge. It's all well and good thinking they should have spoken to you first, but presumably you didn't consult your neighbours before growing a high hedge. If you neighbour had asked you to halve its height, would you have seriously considered it?

lostinrates

Meer she might be not talking now simply because she is so very worried/scared/ embarrassed.

Just keep trying to find the most potive soltution for you both.

Tippytoes

whitewing wrote: »

I imagine the neighbour was sick of the long shadows cast over his garden by the hedge. I see no need for such a high hedge. It's all well and good thinking they should have spoken to you first, but presumably you didn't consult your neighbours before growing a high hedge. If you neighbour had asked you to halve its height, would you have seriously considered it

Well the neighbour didn't ask, did he/she? So, your question is a bit pointless. Neighbour did, however, decide to break the law instead.

amcluesent

The "hedge" was ridiculously high when so close to a neighbour's property. They must have feared the NFH!

susiejq

We came home a few years ago to discover the Council had cut the 8ft hedge at the bottom of our garden to 3 feet. We have a public right of way at the back of our house which is on ground five foot higher than our gardens so we lost all our privacy. People walked past all the time looking in to our previously private garden, our lounge and conservatory. When we complained they told us it was their land and they were responsible for cutting the hedge and it was done every year. IT HAD NEVER BEEN CUT IN 40YRS!!
We put up a fence,with a trellis on the top - you may have to do the same.

meer53

whitewing wrote: »

I imagine the neighbour was sick of the long shadows cast over his garden by the hedge. I see no need for such a high hedge. It's all well and good thinking they should have spoken to you first, but presumably you didn't consult your neighbours before growing a high hedge. If you neighbour had asked you to halve its height, would you have seriously considered it?

If they were sick of the hedge why would it take them 6 years to get round to cutting it ? I had already asked my gardener to take 18" off the hedge this week. What my neighbour has done is criminal damage, the hedge didn't suddenly appear at it's current height, it's been slowly growing for some time !

totallybored

I would hate to live in a bungalow on the other side of a hedge that high, it looks very oppressive.

Money_maker

I wouldn't condone the neighbours actions but a 10' hedge, 15' from their bungalow, in shadow the majority of the day using the basis of this photo being taken in the morning. Could drive anyone to drastic action...