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McClane54

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Farway

I think you're stuck with it because you need their permission to go onto their land

Very unusual, normally the neighbours are moaning because hedge is untidy and need cutting

Is there "bad blood" between you as to reason they will not allow you to trim the hedge?

Is there something on their side near the hedge they value & maybe don't want damaging?

Or are they just bloody minded and because you want to do it they will not let?

Davesnave

Like every hedge, there are two sides to every story.

Many of us have much worse things to worry about right now, but if this situation truly worries you, take comfort from the fact that our neighbours' landlord killed their side of our leylandii boundary in 2013 by cutting right into the brown wood. Our side is still healthy, so by looking after it we remain totally unaware of the devastation just a few feet away.

The law is protecting you as well as your neighbour.

sheramber

Out of interest how is half one side cut but the other half?

Do you need such a big hedge?

I would be tempted  to remove it and put up a fence if a barrier is needed. Or plant a new hedge inside the boundary so you have room to get round the back to keep it trimmed back.

MalMonroe

Two links here with contents for your consideration -

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/problems-where-you-live/if-you-disagree-with-your-neighbour-about-a-tree-or-hedge/

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/high-hedges-trees-and-boundaries

It might be worth contacting Citizens Advice just to see what, if anything, you can do. From your photo, though, it seems that the hedge is at the very bottom of your joint gardens and not really causing any problems, in spite of the lean. I do love to see lots of greenery such as yours, I have to admit but can see how it's getting a bit unmanageable at t'other side. 

-taff

Planting a hedge on your own land is fair enough but planting it when you know it's going to grow big enough to not only be on your land but on your neighbours too is downright rude. If you want a hedge in your own garden, then make sure it's actually in your own garden with space in your own garden for you to maintain it yourself without needing to go to the neighbours side and cut it.

Davesnave

-taff said:

Planting a hedge on your own land is fair enough but planting it when you know it's going to grow big enough to not only be on your land but on your neighbours too is downright rude. If you want a hedge in your own garden, then make sure it's actually in your own garden with space in your own garden for you to maintain it yourself without needing to go to the neighbours side and cut it.

In an ideal world, yes, but small modern gardens don't lend themselves to this approach and even a 5' hedge will grow sideways. Sometimes a trellis screen with suitable climbers is a better option for privacy.

A commercial neighbour was allowing their fence to fall into disrepair, so we planted alongside with  hornbeam. In a few years, with no sign that the fence would be sorted, we just let it go. It's now about 12' high and supporting the fence, so no regrets here!

Every situation's likely to be slightly different. We trim another neighbour's side of a beech hedge because they're disabled and we pay to have about 400m of other hedges cut, but where a neighbour is taking the pee, a hedge may be much the cheapest and most effective long term solution to a recurrent problem.

-taff

I think I'm just grumpy about hedges in general and fences too and the rudeness of neighbours. The neighbour here has the huge tree that I can do nothing about and the neighbour in wales has taken down the fence, put up a new one and put the posts on my side, which would have been OK if the neighbour in question hadn't already pinched a bit of garden because I'm not there.....Never mind, that house is sold now so it can be someone else's problem. Life is short etc.

A mutually agreed hedge would be fine but one where you put it up and then expect someone else to do your trimming for you is not...