Big Trees in neighbours garden

lesalanos

Moneyineptitude said:

Might be worth mentioning here that very few Councils (if any)  are currently collecting Garden waste and so demanding a neighbour prune his tree at the moment is not likely to be met with any degree of friendly compliance. 

Sounds like the tree is a bit bigger than what would fit in a brown bin. There are still tree surgeons and handymen who could cut it and dispose of the waste legally

TELLIT01

We've had no green waste collection for 6 weeks now.

glennevis

TELLIT01 said:

If the branches overhang your property you can cut them back, at your own expense, and you would also have to dispose of them.  You can't legally just throw them back into your neighbour's garden.

That's not the case, at least in Scotland, where you have no right to keep the branches but have to return them to the owner, being careful not to cause any damage if you decide to throw them over the fence.

See

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15281/Trees-and-the-law

I always thought it was the same in the rest of the UK, so it would be wise to check before disposing of any cuttings.

Grenage

glennevis said:

TELLIT01 said:

If the branches overhang your property you can cut them back, at your own expense, and you would also have to dispose of them.  You can't legally just throw them back into your neighbour's garden.

That's not the case, at least in Scotland, where you have no right to keep the branches but have to return them to the owner, being careful not to cause any damage if you decide to throw them over the fence.

See

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15281/Trees-and-the-law

I always thought it was the same in the rest of the UK, so it would be wise to check before disposing of any cuttings.

I believe you need to offer them back, but they can just say no ta.

Davesnave

DrGi said:

 Anyone got hints and tips?

Thanks in advance.

Gi

Yes, next time you buy or rent a house, consider whether someone else might be able to easily affect the amount of sunshine your property receives. I say this in all seriousness, as I've walked away from otherwise attractive properties where a tree, or trees, look likely to cause an issue.

It also helps to be able to ID trees. A poplar or sycamore is likely be much more of a problem than a mountain ash.

Finally, the High Hedges Act has no bearing on individual trees, so you don't need £500, though I suppose it could act as an incentive to your neighbour. After all, tree maintenance or felling isn't cheap.

TELLIT01

Our neighbour is allowing a sycamore seedling to grow.  In the space of a couple of years it's about 15 feet high and as the canopy forms it will shade our patio in the evening - exactly the time we are most likely to use the garden.  We've been in the house over 30 years and the neighbours even longer. 

Regarding returning the offcuts, in England they have to be offered back and the offer can be declined.  Then it becomes your problem to dispose of them.

Soot2006

We moved in August into a house with a huuuuuge sycamore tree at the very back of our garden.... I had it removed at the end of the winter; cost £300 including removing everything and tidying up.  Then the neighbour came out to tell me off for "taking away their privacy". It was MY tree and not a good one. Told them to plant their own tree and recommended a nice evergreen hedge like a variegated Eunymous since that gives more privacy and also better for nesting birds. 

What started as a bit of a confrontational discussion ended in quite a nice chat about hedging and trees (they relaxed after they realised I wasn't anti-tree at all, just anti THAT tree).  People can be weird about trees, so perhaps take a more conversational/gentle approach with your neighbour. Offer to pay to have it cut down and replaced with something more suitable/ornamental/etc? It is their tree, so you're stuck with it unless you can make an more attractive proposition.

Davesnave

TELLIT01 said:

Our neighbour is allowing a sycamore seedling to grow.  In the space of a couple of years it's about 15 feet high and as the canopy forms it will shade our patio in the evening - exactly the time we are most likely to use the garden.  We've been in the house over 30 years and the neighbours even longer. 

Offer your neighbours the chance to plant something better that won't get aphids that drop sticky honeydew all over everything, maybe by going halves on a mature root balled tree of higher breeding. After all, you must know them reasonably well after 30 years....

Phil4432

Unless the tree is somehow damaging your house, is it really a problem?  Remember, if you make a complaint to the council you have to declare it when selling your home.

The tree is giving privacy, and provides shade in summer.  If it's deciduous, you get extra light in winter.  Not trying to suggest you should feel a different way, but there is an advantage to trees.  I'd rather see a tree outside of the bedroom window, than someone's garden or house.  Lovely, relaxing sound when the wind blows through the leaves and you get birdsong.

Do consider that before making a complaint.

TELLIT01

Davesnave said:

TELLIT01 said:

Our neighbour is allowing a sycamore seedling to grow.  In the space of a couple of years it's about 15 feet high and as the canopy forms it will shade our patio in the evening - exactly the time we are most likely to use the garden.  We've been in the house over 30 years and the neighbours even longer. 

Offer your neighbours the chance to plant something better that won't get aphids that drop sticky honeydew all over everything, maybe by going halves on a mature root balled tree of higher breeding. After all, you must know them reasonably well after 30 years....

We do know them pretty well and he's pleasant enough, but shall we say he marches to the beat of a different drummer. A couple of examples, a few years ago his kids paid to have his garden sorted out and all the brambles etc from the bottom half of the garden removed (we have long gardens).  He was really pleased with the result, but did absolutely nothing to stop the regrowth so in a couple of years it was back as bad as ever.  He has also been painting the outside of his house for about the past 18 months.  He'll do a small area then nothing for weeks on end, then another bit.  He's clearly decided he wants this tree as he's removed the lower branches to make it easier to get past.  His back lawn is no more than 20 feet square yet he bought a massive petrol mower with rear roller and will spend an hour or more mowing.  There is very little grass anyway as he has a couple of rescue dogs which use the area as a toilet.