Neighbour's dead tree

Agutka

I have a tree in my garden which I HATE - it's just a huge weed with ugly foliage and a zillion spawn this time of year covering my veg patches in fluff. And of course blocking any sun. We got permission from the council to chop it down... but can't afford it at the moment. So I'm with the neighbour on that - would you willingly spend hundreds of pounds on something that doesn't affect you? Although the not caring about your concerns is not what I would do - maybe he just doesn't understand . I would chop the offending branches off myself, bit by bit.

Kay_Peel

I can understand what you are saying, Agutka, and it's a good point. I know it's a lot of money, but I'd prefer to spend hundreds of pounds than to face a huge bill and/or legal proceedings, when the tree falls through my neglect and through turning a blind eye. If BB starts chopping off branches, the tree might become unbalanced and topple, and then it would BB who might have to bear the blame. Just a thought ....


Kay

Big_Bird_4

Agutka wrote: »

I have a tree in my garden which I HATE - it's just a huge weed with ugly foliage and a zillion spawn this time of year covering my veg patches in fluff. And of course blocking any sun. We got permission from the council to chop it down... but can't afford it at the moment. So I'm with the neighbour on that - would you willingly spend hundreds of pounds on something that doesn't affect you? Although the not caring about your concerns is not what I would do - maybe he just doesn't understand . I would chop the offending branches off myself, bit by bit.

The problem is that it's not just the branches that are the problem. It's a very big tree with a substantial trunk. It is very close to our property and it looks like it could all come down at once with potentially very nasty consequences.

I'm going to have another talk to the neighbour before writing him a letter. He's rather large and I'd prefer to settle this thing amicably if at all possible. I'd even contribute to the cost, but I don't think he should be able to shrug off any responsibility just because he's a git.

If he is genuinely too hard up to pay for the tree to be cut down does anyone know what the position of the council wouid be? I know they can come and remove dangerous trees and then bill the homeowner. But if he's too poor to pay would they do it for free? (I want to phone and ask but I'm stuck at work.)

navig8r

I know it sucks but you could offer to pay or share the costs,this way there would be no bad feeling from him that could escalate into a full scale war!

Dave

Big_Bird_4

navig8r wrote: »

I know it sucks but you could offer to pay or share the costs,this way there would be no bad feeling from him that could escalate into a full scale war!

Dave

Yes, as I said, I'm prepared to contribute to try to keep things amicable. I really don't want to be on the next episode of Neighbours from Hell.
But it's his tree and so far he's said he'll not pay a penny.

BaileyB

Is this the same with a normal tree?

Agutka

The neighbour might listen to the council more. Just as long as you keep him in the loop - just mention something about wanting a professional to have a look as the tree looks unsafe to you. At the end of the day if he does nothing and the council do indeed agree the tree has to go, then you are rid of a menace, even if lose a large neighbour...

BaileyB

Sorry to take OT bu kinda same Q

I have a 100ft+ tree about 10cms away from my boundary and over hangs a good 5ft into my garden. I have taken it up a little that hangs onto my side. But as they rent it now and again i only see the owners about once a year.

Is there a law that this also can be removed as it#s only 10ft from my bathroom and if for some reason it was to fall over i think my house would be gone.

As you can see it's a biggy.





I think there is a birds nest in it so that is a shame as i love the birds in the garden fighting over the bird seed i give them. But the dead leaves that fall all over my garden is a nightmare and it's not normal leaves but straw like stuff, which i hate as it's all over my decking and boarder plants and covers my greenhouse. It also does shade my garden a bit but not loads.

Any advice?

margaretclare

Just because a tree is dead it may not necessarily be 'dangerous'. A dead tree is a valuable habitat for a lot of creatures. Have a look at: http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/ecological/deadwood.html

We recently visited Richmond Park. There are ancient trees there which were alive at the time of Chaucer, that's 600 years ago. Some of them look pretty dead, others are dead in the middle but surviving on the outside. I would think you need a tree expert before saying 'oh, it's dead, chop it down'.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3946273.stm

The only trees that annoy me are Leylandii - now these things really DO cast a shade. But even in them, birds are nesting!

Margaret

moonrakerz

This subject can bring up some strange cases.

Some years back I saw a case reported where someone had a tree removed which was in dire danger of falling onto his neighbour's garden shed. His insurance company wouldn't pay the cost of removal, but would have happily paid a much larger sum if the tree had fallen and destroyed his neighbour's shed !
There must be a moral here somewhere.