Neighbours and tree

Keep_pedalling

That is definitely an Ash tree (although there are several species of ash) but if it is healthy it does not need to come down. I would not replace with eucalyptus which is a non native species and does not support any of our wild life.  

KxMx

It sounds like your neighbour is flexing rights he doesn't actually have and you are going along with it for the sake of being neighbourly.

I understand, I really do. I acted the same way the first two months I lived in a flat with a communal garden. Went along with my neighbours requests because a) they were reasonable and b) I wanted to get along with them.

Then came a request that was unreasonable and I realised he was taking advantage of me, and viewing his rights to a shared space as greater than mine when all tenants have equal rights.
So I stood up to him and said no, result, no more requests, he is ignoring me totally now which actually is a relief!

Only you can decide where to draw the line but remember not everyone is as nice or reasonable as you are.

Redwino222

I think I will talk to the tree surgeon and take it from there.

I looked out the upstairs window today and his garden was in full sun at 4pm.  All gardens where in the shade when I checked back at 7pm.  I wouldnt dream of asking for trees further up the street to be cut down so I get a few hours of sun for a couple of months a year.  

I am now worried though that the tree might be diseased.  It has some of the signs I saw online.  Including a large legion. 

So if I do cut it down it will be so it doesn’t collapse on the lively neighbours shed - not to give the other neighbour sunlight!

Ectophile

Ash dieback is now very common in many parts of the country.  There are several signs you are supposed to look for.  But on a mature tree, they may be way up in the canopy.

If it's losing leaves now, it might be the heat and drought.

For mature trees, the obvious signs of ash dieback are in the spring.  A healthy tree will sprout leaves all over.  An unhealthy one will have a few clumps of leaves, and lots of bare branches with nothing on.

A dying ash tree will need to be cut down sooner or later.

JIL

We had a pear tree in our garden when we moved in, the house backing onto our bank garden used to gather up fallen pears and lob them over the fence. They would squash on the ground and encourage wasps. The pears didn't taste that good, so we had the tree cut down. Suddenly his garden was sunnier and one Sunday morning at 6am I was woken by the sound of hammering and drilling and a big gazebo with a roof was erected, shadowing the edge of our garden. They now entertain til the early hours sitting in the gazebo thing.

I think what I am trying to say is sometimes we do things to make things better for others, but sometimes this can come back to haunt you. If you wish to cut the tree then do so, if not then dont. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

OP if you want an expert opinion on the tree I think you'd need someone who isn't a tree surgeon, i.e someone who doesn't stand to financially benefit from cutting the tree down. A tree survey might be expensive. 

This says

https://www.devonashdieback.org.uk/take-action/infected-trees-dos-and-donts/

DO NOT FELL live infected ash trees UNLESS for public safety (or timber production). There is evidence that a small proportion of trees will be able to tolerate the disease and recover. Disease resistant trees could be the source of our future ash trees.

and a few other sites also mention this. I saw references to felling licenses but I don't know if that applies to homeowners. 

Rosa_Damascena

I had two mature fruit trees felled as they were rotting, alongside a holly tree that had sprung from nowhere. The garden is so much brighter now and more importantly not damp and full of mozzies. It was the right thing to do for me, although not others. Interestingly my neighbour on one side said it improved his view - he could now look into the garden office of my neighbour on the other side!!

TELLIT01

Some years ago I had a snotty note stuck through the door telling, not asking, me to cut back a tree at the bottom of my garden because it was putting their garden in shade.  I had great delight in letting them know the tree was actually in their garden not mine.  The original boundary was marked by old chain link fencing.  Previous occupants of their house had erected an ornamental block wall within their garden and then at some later date a timber fence had been erected even further into their garden.  I did at least get an apology, and I did cut it back once.  After than there were no more complaints but they never cut it back themselves either.

Bendy_House

TELLIT01 said:

Some years ago I had a snotty note stuck through the door telling, not asking, me to cut back a tree at the bottom of my garden because it was putting their garden in shade.  I had great delight in letting them know the tree was actually in their garden not mine.  The original boundary was marked by old chain link fencing.  Previous occupants of their house had erected an ornamental block wall within their garden and then at some later date a timber fence had been erected even further into their garden.  I did at least get an apology, and I did cut it back once.  After than there were no more complaints but they never cut it back themselves either.

Very kind of you not to assume ownership of the tree - and the associated land...

GDB2222

If you do get a quote from the tree surgeon purely for your neighbour’s benefit, it would be worth asking him how much of the bill he would be prepared to pay. 

If he says none, as it is your tree, that would be an indication that cutting the tree is not too important to him. If he offers to pay the whole cost, then I would think that the tree is genuinely upsetting him.