Any ideas as to what this tree is and is it dead ?

MikeJXE

It was probably planted at the same time a the new build 2008

I has looked on it's last legs for a couple of months 

Approx 2.5m from the building and about .3 from a low wall you can't see on its other side.

The land is approx 75cm above the footpath that runs in front next to the  main road 

twopenny

It looks like it's desperate for water.
A lot of dense planting around it it possibly can't compete.

Could do with a good prune.

Get to a smaller branch (easier said than done) and gently scrape a little patch of bark away.
If you see green it's alive.
But the main trunk may still be fine.

Catsacor

Take a closer picture of the leaves please.
As above, it's clearly struggling to thrive, could be dehydration and subsequently aphid attack.

Catsacor

Take a closer picture of the leaves please.
As above, it's clearly struggling to thrive, could be dehydration and subsequently aphid attack.

Dustyevsky

You'll want to keep your privacy hedging, no doubt. In that case, drastic cutting back to create a smaller tree might help it survive drought conditions. It's also easier to provide a little water for something half that size.

MikeJXE

Strange how I put 2 more photos and they have disappeared 

A bit of context, I rent a ground floor flat facing south west and the tree is in front of my window, obviously blocking out the light, 

The hedge was 3 feet higher than it is now and I would like another foot cut off it. 

I would prefer the tree to come down thats why I ask what type is it and is it dead ?

LessImpecunious

It's clearly not dead as it has living leaves on it...

Dustyevsky

Dead could be arranged, though?.

Nobbie1967

Looks like an ornamental prunus of some kind from the cherry/plum family. Could be on it’s way out by the looks of it, but they can struggle on for years looking rubbish.

Catsacor

Without a look at the actual foliage it's difficult to hazard a guess at the type of plant this is, please take some photographs of the actual leaves and not a zoomed image of the plant - need to see the colouring and form of the leaves - some, but not all, appear to have serrated edges.
Also, an idea of the girth of its trunk.
I'm not entirely sure this is a tree, i'm thinking it's an old shrub, possibly Eleagnus, that has been left totally unattended and neglected.

MikeJXE

Catsacor said:

Without a look at the actual foliage it's difficult to hazard a guess at the type of plant this is, please take some photographs of the actual leaves and not a zoomed image of the plant - need to see the colouring and form of the leaves - some, but not all, appear to have serrated edges.
Also, an idea of the girth of its trunk.
I'm not entirely sure this is a tree, i'm thinking it's an old shrub, possibly Eleagnus, that has been left totally unattended and neglected.

Close up of leafs not zoomed, girth approx 60cm, first branch off about 6 feet from ground level

NOT the dark green leafs they are another plant