Trees, and who bears responsibility for them

[PicklePants]

We have some large-ish trees on the other side of our garden fence. They're right up against our fence, in a little strip of earth a couple of feet wide, which runs alongside the pavement.

We weed this wee bit and keep it tidy, but the trees are starting to need cut back, and as they're not technically in our garden, we're not sure if they are our responsibility or not (we've only lived here two years so it's the first time it's come up!).

How would we find out? Would it be in our deeds? Would the council be able to tell me? I'm hoping the council will have to come and deal with them, as I've just been quoted £300 for the job and we're skint!

Any advice welcomed! Thanks for reading about such a dull topic...

[thisisyesterday]

your deeds should outline the boundary of your property, and so if the trees are outside of that it would not be your problem.
the council should know as well though

[PicklePants]

Thanks thisisyesterday

I don't know if we have the deeds, I thought your mortgage company held them?

[thisisyesterday]

hmm we def have ours! maybe we shouldn't? lol

ring the council in that case, they ought to know whether or not the trees are their responsibility that's for sure

[PicklePants]

I asked DH and he thinks we have them (or a copy, anyway?). Will dig them out and see what they say - fingers crossed the trees are not our problem!

Thanks

[Jan49]

Your mortgage company will hold the originals but probably gave you a photocopy. You can also buy them from www.land-reg.co.uk but they seem to charge around £15 - £25.

[PicklePants]

Great, thanks for the info Jan49

I love mumsnet

[Daisybell1]

The tree issue has been covered but don't use that website - it's a copy. You need the official land registry website which has a green colour theme with the .gov.uk ending. It's about £3 for your title document and £3 for the plan. Not the premium price charged above.

[PicklePants]

Thanks Daisy

We did have a copy of the deeds, and unfortunately the trees seem to be on our land, so we'll have to deal with the buggers. There go my hopes of a wee family holiday before DC2 comes along!

[NaturalBaby]

£300 sounds a bit much. What kind of trees and how many are there?!
I was quoted £60 to chop a small ish tree down and £30 to remove large branches - per branch.

[HoikyPoiky]

I pay between £350 - £400 day rate for a properly trained and insured tree surgeon and his mate. It includes removal of waste.

What type and size are your trees?

You also need to check if they have tree preservation orders on them. Your council will be able to tell you.

[Jan49]

Oops, sorry I got the wrong website.

[PicklePants]

There are 2 birch trees and a cherry tree.

The quote we had was from a random gardener touting for business, who ambushed me in my back garden (!) after spotting the trees from the road. He reckoned the 2 birches needed 6 feet taken off the top plus a general tidy up, so lots of waste to dispose of (which was included in his price). So perhaps not too unreasonable.

However, appearing in my back garden out of the blue and giving me the fright of my life knackered this guy's chances straight away! We've used a local gardening company before so would be asking them to quote.

Would a tree preservation order mean we couldn't touch them??

[clairealfie]

Not necessarily, a tree preservation order just means you would need permission from the Council before you do any work to them. Doesn't mean you won't get permission.

[PicklePants]

Ah ok. Thanks

Things were much less complicated when we lived in a flat

[HoikyPoiky]

I would definitely get someone in who knows what they are doing if you have got birch trees. They are such pretty trees and it would be a shame if they were unsympathetically cut back. A proper professional will be able to do it so that the trees still look beautiful afterwards (well, they may look a bit sorry for themselves for a season)
Most trees should be cut back when they are dormant in late autumn or winter but birch and cherry should be cut in mid/late summer. They are both quite robust trees though (I think )

[mistlethrush]

Its the same if you live in a conservation area - you need consent for any works.

Generally silver birch are fairly light in terms of the shade they shed though - are you sure that you actually need the work done?

[PicklePants]

They're quite close to the house, so I do think they need a trim before the winter. Maybe not as much as 6 feet though. But I don't know much about trees!