Neighbours and tree

Redwino222

The main truck is about 6 to 7 foot tall - it then branches into three. 

At the minute I don’t want to spend thousands on it.  I am doing a big renovation project so money is all accounted for in that.  

I though maybe a few hundred would get it cut back and tidied up.  But tree surgeon said if it has ash dieback they won’t climb it. 

Apodemus

No sign of ash dieback in the pics that you posted!

One other issue with ash trees is the huge number of seedlings that all the neighbours will be "benefitting" from.  Ash trees are very prolific and if you miss a seedling for a couple of years, their root systems become pretty well established.  Ash trees are fantastic for many reasons (I have three mature ones in my garden) but they don't always make for the best of neighbours!

Eldi_Dos

No sign of anything to be concerned about in photos posted.

With the increased use of log burners and fuel prices people are keen to get hold of the timber and that can influence advice given.
I think the amenity value of the tree is good and if I was a neighbour I would think it adds to the area, live with your new garden for two or three years and see how garden works for you.

With a new home there will be plenty of things you want to do and ways to spend your money that suit you.

Rosa_Damascena

Eldi_Dos said:

No sign of anything to be concerned about in photos posted.

With the increased use of log burners and fuel prices people are keen to get hold of the timber and that can influence advice given.
I think the amenity value of the tree is good and if I was a neighbour I would think it adds to the area, live with your new garden for two or three years and see how garden works for you.

With a new home there will be plenty of things you want to do and ways to spend your money that suit you.

This is key! Your neighbour surely understands this?

Rodders53

Check with your Council if the tree has a preservation order on it before doing anything!!  Usually easy to do that check;  and if there is an Order you don't want to do anything without the appropriate permissions process being followed. (Big fines I believe).

Redwino222

After a night on Google the only thing I can see on the tree that concerns me is these - which I am now concerned are legions?

Apodemus

Nothing unusual there, as far as I can see!  It really looks like a nice, healthy tree.  In 50 years time, you will probably get rot at that junction in the lower pic, but nothing to worry about now.  It looks like it is really quite a young tree - 40-50 years perhaps?  Fine to leave as it is for now but not a big job to reduce back to a size that is easier to maintain in an urban garden, if that is your preference.

Redwino222

Thank you!

I may have to shop around to get a tree surgeon willing to reduce it 

Rosa_Damascena

Apodemus said:

Nothing unusual there, as far as I can see!  It really looks like a nice, healthy tree.  In 50 years time, you will probably get rot at that junction in the lower pic, but nothing to worry about now.  It looks like it is really quite a young tree - 40-50 years perhaps?  Fine to leave as it is for now but not a big job to reduce back to a size that is easier to maintain in an urban garden, if that is your preference.

Why is this not concerning? I'n no horticulturalist but would assume the branches will drop eventually (probably years from now) through a combination of rotting and weathering.

Apodemus

Rosa_Damascena said:

Apodemus said:

Nothing unusual there, as far as I can see!  It really looks like a nice, healthy tree.  In 50 years time, you will probably get rot at that junction in the lower pic, but nothing to worry about now.  It looks like it is really quite a young tree - 40-50 years perhaps?  Fine to leave as it is for now but not a big job to reduce back to a size that is easier to maintain in an urban garden, if that is your preference.

Why is this not concerning? I'n no horticulturalist but would assume the branches will drop eventually (probably years from now) through a combination of rotting and weathering.

If you look at it that way, then all branches drop eventually!  And if that was a concern then you would never grow anything over head height! 

But that was partly my point about the urban garden - the tree will need attention at some point in the next fifty or so years, but probably not today.  As each year passes, the job will get bigger and more expensive.  If the job was tackled now, it might be possible for the OP to keep it at a height that is easier to regularly prune back, but there could be a lot of reasons why that is not the preferred option - not least of which would be their thoughts on how long they were likely to remain in the property. 

Of course ash dieback could pass through next year and the tree would need felling completely, or a storm tomorrow could catch the existing crown and bring the whole thing down.  There is absolutely no certainty!