My neighbour chopped down my bay trees. Is this criminal damage?

Of course birds nest in hedges, we have blue tits in our Laurel, and robins and other birds in our Fir hedges.

Yes but that’s not the same as never trimming a hedge in nesting season, even when there is no nest in it (as applies to trees?)

Trees are not disturbed in nesting season as a flat rule. The same rule does not apply to hedges.

of course if you see a nest you wouldn’t disturb it.

Birds in hedges depends on the type/size of hedge and where it is.

Unlikely in a 4ft squared off box around an urban garden - very likely in a 12ft + mixed species hedge around a field. That said, still worth checking, my passionflower and ivy (so not even a hedge more a heap thats fallen over from next door) has a robin one end and a wren the other!

But even so... nothing warrents illegal revenge!

You can cut hedges during nesting season but you must check the length of the whole hedgerow for birds, nests and eggs. If you find any, you cannot cut or trim that hedgerow and you must follow your responsibilities under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I had a bramble and climber hedge in my garden and birds definitely nested in it. I had to wait until autumn to replace it, between nesting time and when they needed it to shelter. You can't trim hedges whenever you want if there are birds nesting in it. It is illegal to deliberately disturb wild birds or destroy their nests.

We have sparrows and blue tits nesting in our hedges every year and would never disturb them. You need to wait until everyone has left home before trimming.

(We also put those large plant pot saucers down, filled with water, for the joy of watching the young-uns have a bath!)

Landscaping/ horticulturalists/ any qualified gardener will cut hedges all year round, despite not touching trees in beating season. A standard border hedge shouldn’t have a nest in it. Presumably the bird in your hedge doesn’t have the option of a tree for whatever reason, which is a bit disturbing.

and of course, anyone with half a brain would not cut down a hedge they had observed a nest in.

Birds don’t nest in hedges? What?? Of course they do!

We had a lane out the front of our old house and it had trees overhanging from the house behind a wall, my husband cut the trees back what was overhanging and the people whose trees it was called the police, they came to see us my husband showed them photos and they said we were within our rights to cut them back

OP - who owns the hedge?
If it is your neighbours you can only trim anything overhanging the boundary. You are not allowed to reduce the height - a year's growth could be massive!

And have you got proof that your neighbour damaged your trees?

Birds do nest in hedges!

Of course!

Of course birds nest in hedges!
I've got a robin and a wren nesting in the privet hedge outside my kitchen

The law allows hedges in private dwellings to be cut at any time of the year.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hedgerow-management-rules-cutting-and-trimming#check-if-the-rules-apply-to-a-hedgerow-

Hedges? Birds don’t nest in hedges. You can trim hedges whenever you want. Do you really leave your hedges all nesting season? They must look terrible

OP - def call the police

Why are you cutting hedges at this time of year when birds are still nesting and bringing up their young ?
If you have proof that your neighbour chopped off your trees you need to report to the police, they are your property and they have been criminally damaged.

Are you saying that you only trimmed your side of the hedge? Or did you do your neighbor's side too? If so did you speak to them first?

Doesn't make it ok for him to come onto your property and cut trees down though. That is criminal damage, although as others have said, police likely won't do anything other than speak to him without evidence.

You could threat/proceed with small claims, however it may not be worth the stress.

That’s awful and yes, call the police.

Bay should grow again from the base, so a good feed and water and you will soon have two bay bushes. Get topiary trainers to grow into a pyramid. You won’t get the lollipop again but should get something

id be so upset as bay needs a lot of nurturing

Bay trees in pots by the front door could be worth £50 to £100 each depending on their size. If you have him on a ring doorbell, definitely tell the police about criminal damages. You might be able to take him to the small claims court too.

was the hedge overhanging your garden? Then you are definitely allowed to trim it.

Yes thats criminal damage - if you've got proof, take that to the police.

I'd also speak to your landlord, explain whats happened and ask them to explain to your neighbour that you are required to maintain/trim the hedge, to try to avoid him taking revenge in future.

Your neighbour is a twat.

Police won’t do a thing.

Maybe you can take things into your own hands and buy a big shipment of wind chimes and bird feeders which you can then dot strategically alongside the hedge.

Wanker.

Yes it is criminal damage
Yes you absolutely can report to the police
And should.
Do you have proof?

Thats insane. I would imagine if you had tried to contact your neighbour about talk trees damaging your property and after trying and asking them to rectify and receiving no response you made your property secure from damage from the trees, in that situation i would say you’d be within your rights to go on the neighbours property, but to just cause incoherent damage like that is awful! What a hideous neighbour.

Do you have proof it was him? If so yes ring to report him.