Hedge trimming at property boundary

eltisley98

Bigphil1474 said:

If it's not your neighbours land, you don't need to worry about what they think or say. You may need to speak to the landowner. Sounds like it really needs cutting right back and maybe a new fence putting in. Maybe suggest that to the neighbours, but if it's not their land you don't need to worry about what they think or say. Is the land owning company still in existence?

@Bigphil1474, I appreciate what you said, though I do still have a doubt. If the land belongs to the building company but the neighbour has stealthily "occupied" it by planting the ivy (which is what we suspect here), then is the situation still the same?

Bigphil1474

If the builders are some company from 50 years ago, then it will be more tricky, but if it's an existing company from more recent times, then maybe not. If you know who the builders are, speak to them. I don't think legally your neighbours can just take possession of someone else's land, but they may be able to argue that it's nobodies land as the builder is long gone. Depends on the circumstances I think.

user1977

eltisley98 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

FlorayG said:

'Persian Ivy' is a climbing plant ( an ivy) so can't be the whole hedge - that's probably just ivy growing through the original plant
Can you post a picture with a close up?

Ivy can climb on itself and hence become quite thick - we had that.
The OP can cut that plant back hard.  It will grow back.

FWIW - I understand the OP does not need to offer the cuttings back to the neighbour - that was a rule that relates to fruits / crops really.

All they say is that you need to offer a return of the trimming to the neighbour, though in most cases they do talk about trees.

Who are "they"? It's one of those nonsensical bits of law which seem to be popularly passed around - why would neighbours want your garden waste? Might be different if it was something with value such as crops or firewood, but even then, who is going to go legal about it?

FlorayG

OP you are making a mountain out of a molehill. It's ivy, it's NOT a hedge and you don't need any permission from anybody to trim it back to the fence. Once a year just trim the top where it starts to peek over again

eltisley98

FlorayG said:

OP you are making a mountain out of a molehill. It's ivy, it's NOT a hedge and you don't need any permission from anybody to trim it back to the fence. Once a year just trim the top where it starts to peek over again

I know. I just have a strong desire to not break any laws or rules. 

But thanks for the suggestions, and it is clear to me now where I stand and what I should do. :-)

thegreenone

We are in a similar position.  There was a whole 'tree' at one point, in the garden behind when the house was empty but we (the Royal We!) have continually cut it back and eventually a storm knocked it down and the new owners got rid.  It still grows through their hawthorn but hubby chops it back to (our) fence line and it's greatly reduced.

If only the ground elder was as easily dealt with!

Myci85

Are you sure they planted it? Ivy grows quite easily, it may well have grown from a berry dropped by a bird etc. If you just want it out of your garden, go ahead and trim it to fence level. If you are worried about it damaging your fence, go knock on the neighbours door and ask if they are particularly attached to it or if they would be happy for you to dig it up. 

eltisley98

Myci85 said:

Are you sure they planted it? Ivy grows quite easily, it may well have grown from a berry dropped by a bird etc. If you just want it out of your garden, go ahead and trim it to fence level. If you are worried about it damaging your fence, go knock on the neighbours door and ask if they are particularly attached to it or if they would be happy for you to dig it up. 

Fabs!

I noticed that the ivy exactly covers the neighbour's rear door in their garden from us, so I assumed that it was planted by them for privacy. But you (and a couple of posters above) make the good point that it may well be coincidental. I will check with them, as well as the estate management company (to see if they would cut it to save some effort for me).

Grumpy_chap

eltisley98 said:

Thanks Grumpy_chap. Do you have a source for what you said in the last paragraph?

This reference also refers mostly to trees but does include a paragraph about climbers (which the ivy is)
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/the-law

FWIW, I doubt Barratt Homes will have much interest if you contact them.

brianposter

Is there some reason to dislike the ivy ?