Neighbours untamed hedge and trees

Sammyd159

Hi, I have trawled the forum and read up on the high hedge act, just seeking a little more clarification and advice if anyone has experience.
Apologies for the lengthy post.
I moved into my home in October, it backs onto a canal (as in the bottom of the garden is the canal bank there is no tow path).  To the immediate left of my home, there is a driveway which then turns to the left and to a home.  This home owns the hedge on our boundary and some trees which are immediately after the hedge also forming our boundary, and on to the canal bank. To explain better, the left hand boundary consists of a timber fence with her hedge on her side, then when the fence stops there is a holly, a conifer and some other trees (unsure of what they are but these do not have leaves in winter), these form the boundary but are in her ownership. When I moved in, there was a really large tree in my garden, which I thought was the reason I had no light (garden faces north west), so I had it removed.  On removing the tree I then discovered how overgrown all the neighbours trees were.  Most are self seeded, and they have not been looked after.  The conifer is suppressed as only has foliage on the top few metres, and the trees closest to the canal now protrude and lean into the canal.  This obstructs our view, but more importantly causes poor visibility for the canal users (there was a near miss between a barge and a kayak a few weeks ago). These trees from the holly onwards are really tall and impact on the light and their appearance is poor. The house I live in stood empty for years and was rented out prior to that, so no one has been looking after it from my side either.  
When I first moved in, I approached the neighbour and she came round to discuss us cutting back and reducing the tree height.  I said I would pay.  She asked me to get a quote as she said she was considering widening her drive and would I ask for a price to remove the hedge for her (even though her son in law is a tree feller).  I gave her the quote but heard nothing.  I employed her son in law to come and grind out the tree stump from the tree I had removed and asked his opinion on the trees and asked if he could approach his MIL for me.  When he came to collect his payment, he said his MIL didn't want to do anything about the trees and he wasn't getting involved in any more neighbour disputes regarding trees.  Turns out that the neighbour on the other side of the drive has had multiple issues with her regarding the trees and that she isn't very forthcoming.  
I have spent all summer cutting back overhanging branches, the hedge between us has ruined the timber fence, it's rotted and pushed out.  She had the side of the hedge trimmed a few months ago but not the top so I have random branches over a metre higher than the fence I keep cutting down the ones leaning into my pathway but I can't touch the rest as they don't.
I am planning on approaching her again in person and have drafted a letter detailing the issues and asking to meet to discuss a solution, however I am not optimistic about her response.  I wondered if anyone has any experience of how the high hedge disputes are dealt with at the council, how long, cost etc. and if you think I have a case if I have to go down that route. 
Thank you in advance.

Sammyd159

Added a photo from my bedroom window. The angle of the trees makes the lounge dark at this time of day. As you can see I have cut back pretty much what I am allowed. 

stator

You have no legal rights at all. It's her garden and it's not next to a road, so she can have talls hedges and trees if she wants.

-taff

This is what you can do and can't do

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council

Ectophile

stator said:

You have no legal rights at all. It's her garden and it's not next to a road, so she can have talls hedges and trees if she wants.

You need to have a read of http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/38/part/8

ElephantBoy57

Sammyd159 said:

Added a photo from my bedroom window. The angle of the trees makes the lounge dark at this time of day. As you can see I have cut back pretty much what I am allowed. 

But you do have a good view in the other direction, and the trees are really good for wildlife.

TELLIT01

You can cut back anything overgrowing your boundary line but that's about the limit of what rights you have.  You have to offer the offcuts back to the neighbour but it's your responsibility to dispose of them if the neighbour doesn't want them back.

rach_k

If trees overhanging the canal present a real danger, you could contact the Canal and River Trust - https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/maintaining-our-waterways/vegetation-management/vegetation-faqs#offside

RelievedSheff

rach_k said:

If trees overhanging the canal present a real danger, you could contact the Canal and River Trust - https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/maintaining-our-waterways/vegetation-management/vegetation-faqs#offside

Who will do absolutely nothing about it.

Sammyd159

RelievedSheff said:

rach_k said:

If trees overhanging the canal present a real danger, you could contact the Canal and River Trust - https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/maintaining-our-waterways/vegetation-management/vegetation-faqs#offside

Who will do absolutely nothing about it.

I shouldn't laugh at this but I did!  I have contacted them so lets see.

Phil4432

You can see the river from your bedroom, and there are no blockages to the frot or right of your bedroom view.  I am seeing a couple of trees that are not that large, and a high bush providing you both with privacy.  There is plenty of room for the sun to shine through and over them.

If you enter a dispute, things can deteriorate pretty quickly and once you start making letters and involving the council, you may face a financial loss if you sell your house.

If you neighbour isn't being anti social, having late party's, barking dogs, then you have a blessing many in this country do not.  I'd enjoy the river and greenery, and forget about it.