Someone has cut my hedge

[MeltingSugs]

I got home yesterday to find that half of my hedge has been cut

For context, the garden has needed a tremendous amount of work here. I do not proclaim to be a super gardener, but the hedge has improved a lot since we've been here with the right pruning - I am always out in the garden. This year, I have been letting the top of it grow up to even out the height ready for cutting in the autumn. To get home and find (half) of the top of it has been cut right back, and wonky, has made me quite cross.

Neighbour on the opposite side has no idea what's happened, neighbour on the side with the hedge is (so far) ignoring my text.

So as not to drip feed, the hedge is entirely on my land, it is not 'on the boundary' and therefore on my neighbour's land. The half that has been cut actually protrudes into my garden as it grew wonky, meaning my neighbour has some of my front garden. Prizes for guessing how long it's going to stay like that now!

Providing it is the neighbour, how do I be firm but fair in discussing this with them? I want to make it very clear that they are not to do anything on my property ever, but I don't want to fall out. This neighbour has told me that they felt out with the people who lived in our house before us. I think the friendship is definitely dented now though

Thanks all. Appreciate the responses. I will think on the 101 situation, I am out tonight anyway.

Re neighbour's and CCTV, they made us aware that they had it when we moved in and we said we were happy for it to cover our drive. That neighbour is self employed and has a van full of tools which is why they have CCTV. There were spates of tool thefts round our way a few years ago.

My current plan is to attach sleepers to the front wall along the boundary which will secure the ground level too. I may then remove the section of hedge from the penis down to the wall, and make a wooden bin store and stick my bins there. Would be way more convenient to have the bins there, sort the boundary line and leave plenty for the birds. I quite fancy a bin store with a flower bed on the top. Be a project for DH...

I’d be careful with that cctv footage you have. The owner of it shouldn’t be freely showing you it and it shouldn’t be covering your garden without your express prior permission either.

Nonsense. If you trespass on private property and are filmed doing it, whether by the property owner or someone who is filming with their permission, you have absolutely no right to object to the property owner seeing the film.

I wish people wouldn't read stuff into the GDPR and the Data Protection Act that simply isn't there.

my neighbours do just that. Anything that strays over the fence into their space is immediatly chopped down and lobbed back over into my garden( which they are not allowed to do- by law they are supposed to offer it back and if I dont want it dispose of it themselves)Just lately tho I can see that they are cutting plants before they get anywhere near their side which means they are leaning over to do it. We hope to move soon so really can not be bothered to challenge them, At least it sounds like the hedge bandits cleared up after themselves. Before this started to happen to me I had no idea I was so territorial! I would just like to catch them at it !

She's gonna love a bin store - that'll teach her! Nicely done, OP.

It amazes me how people think! I came back home a few weeks ago to find my neighbour (or rather her massive son) had completely cut the tops off two of the bushes in my garden that were next to their fence. They weren’t overhanging, weren’t preventing light or doing anything wrong but he took it on himself to cut them. If it happens again I’ll have words because it just seemed so utterly pointless.

I'd be tempted to tell them that you are going to have to get a gardener in to put right the damage they've done and you assume they'll be paying for it ...

Wow - what a right duo your cheeky sod neighbours are. I'd throw the legal book at them by any means I could.

Or just reshape what hedge you have left !

Granted, they should have not cut your hedge, but I love next door to 3 monstrosity's, who r in turn 7, 8, and 10 ft tall, I do not want to fall out with Neighbour even tho it boils my p!as they r that big, and block my view, u should take into consideration what others will think, times we live in x

@hellenbackagen makes absolute sense. I'm afraid I would be a bitch and log it with 101, tell the neighbours you've done so and that she'll have to inform potential buyers of a dispute. She's an idiot and deserves no less. She's destroyed that hedge and disturbed nest ng birds.

Of course the OP is pissed off, some idiots came on her property and destroyed some of her property. OK, trespass is a civil issue, but bloody hell, if someone did that to my hedges, I'd go batshit on them, purely because they have no right of access or to destroy something which isn't theirs.

Another good idea for topiary....

You say you live in a conservation area and also that there may have been nesting in the hedge. These two things would make me think seriously about taking Hellen’s advice and logging this with the police on 101. Mainly to protect yourself.
The rules and regulations in a conservation area have a habit of biting you when you don’t expect it. We live in one and, as long as things are reasonable and look ok the “authorities” tend to be fairly laid back. However; if neighbours or conservationists, (who do tend to wander around here looking at stuff) complain it’s a very different matter. They only seem to complain if things look odd or untidy.

If you have logged this, you can easily show you didn’t do the damage and they can’t prosecute you for being complicit in the damage or whatever they decide (ancient hedgerows, wildlife corridor, damage to nests, altering the environment changed, not maintaining the requirements as per conservation order and so on. )

What would happen if you would just let it go?

StoneofDestiny

I was just going to say the same.

Even better ask your neighbor to pay for it.

OP had exactly the same happen to me. Sadly & stupidly I replaced all hacked hedging with fencing . Have regretted it as initial cost high , maintenance issues & then in various storms have had panels come down = more expense . So your bin store sounds brill . Get your boundary sorted the next owner may be an even bigger piss taker !!

Talk to a solicitor asap you could be due some compensation for this. This has caused you stress hasn't it? Some people think they can get away with anything ..

I cannot believe some of the posts on this thread. To even contemplate wasting police time over a hedge.
Yes the neighbour is in the wrong but you have seen her, she has apologised and the hedge will grow back.
I think a bit of perspective is needed.

Yeah, it’s odd. People are always told not to waste NHS resources and how the NHS is on its knees. Yet, no one seems bothered about police resources and how the police force is massively underfunded.

The neighbor fucked up. They realize this and have apologized. Surely that’s an end to the whole thing?

It baffles me that there are people walking amongst us that think butchering someone else's hedge without permission is a perfectly ok thing to do! It's not!!!
I would have been absolutely fuming and made it clear that I expect them to pay somebody to sort it out properly or I'd take the matter further!

@rainbowstardrops

Exactly! They need to pay compensation imho

I don’t think anyone has said that it’s an ok thing to do, just that it hardly warrants a police complaint and visit to a solicitor.

How to report crimes
You play a major role in the fight against wild bird crime as our eyes and ears: Recognise, Record, Report.

If an offence:

a) Is ongoing/urgent consider calling 999 if you need an immediate police response.
b) Otherwise report to the police on 101 and remember to ask for a reference number.
c) Involves suspected poisoned birds, animals or baits contact the government Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) on Freephone 0800 321600. If outside office hours/urgent contact the police (See above).
d) Involves animal cruelty call the RSPCA 0300 1234 999/ SSPCA 03000 999 999/ USPCA 02830 251000

You may also need to report the incident to us (see ‘What to report to RSPB Investigations’ below).

How to record a wildlife crime
Please take the utmost care and do not put yourself or others at risk.
If possible, and if it is safe to do so:

DO:
• Take particular care if incidents involve several suspects or the use of firearms.
• If safe to do so, watch and note what is happening – try to make a written note of anything you see and keep this in a safe place.
• Take photos and/or video.

• Note the date, time and weather conditions.
• Note the location accurately. If possible, record a grid reference, or ideally a GPS reading, of both the scene and where you witnessed the incident.
• Note a description of person/s involved including gender, age, height, clothing, behaviour, anything carried etc.
• Note any vehicle registration numbers, make, model and colour or distinctive features.

• Consider humanely killing a bird which is seriously injured and beyond recovery and no help is available.
• Identify other witnesses and obtain their name and contact details.

DO NOT:
• Disturb evidence by moving items or walking around the scene unnecessarily.
• Touch or move dead animals or birds – they may have been poisoned so obtain advice. Consider carefully covering any suspected poisoned baits or victims to prevent any animal or person coming into contact with them.

• Remove live birds of prey from crow cage traps.
• Destroy or interfere with legal countryside practices such as correctly set traps and snares. If you are uncertain about what to do, take a photo and contact the police (101) or RSPB Wildlife Enquiries (01767 693690).
• Do not publish details of suspected crimes on social media as this may hinder an effective investigation.

What to report to RSPB Investigations
Please contact RSPB Investigations if your information relates to the following:

• Crimes against wild birds of prey, owls or ravens – particularly shooting, trapping, poisoning or nest destruction
• Suspected wildlife poisoning where birds are victims or vulnerable (e.g. a poisoned bait placed in the countryside)
• Egg collecting or trading in birds’ eggs or chicks
• The trapping and trading of wild finches or other wild birds
• A dead/injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances
• Offences against Schedule 1 birds

This ensures we are best placed to help authorities by providing advice, expert witness, intelligence and investigative support.
Note that RSPB have no direct enforcement powers. As a small team, we prioritise crimes involving species/issues of conservation concern, as listed above. If in doubt about what to report to us, call RSPB Wildlife Enquiries on 01767 693690.

How to report to us
Use the online reporting form or call Investigations on 01767 680551 (England, Wales, NI) or 0131 3174100 (Scotland), or email [email protected].

You can also speak to RSPB Investigations directly via our confidential ‘Raptor Crime Hotline’ 0300 999 0101 but note this should ONLY be used if you have sensitive information specifically relating to the illegal targeting of birds of prey (raptor persecution).

All methods of contact with us are in complete confidence, no calls are recorded, and we cannot pass your details on to anyone else without your permission. Note that it is significantly more difficult to investigate offences if you send information to us anonymously, as often we need a detail that is not included. Please therefore consider providing means of temporary contact, which we will delete at your request once we have the information we need.

*Hedge destruction
If the incident relates to hedge destruction, please see Hedge cutting and the law

Read more at www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-to-report-crimes/#Z6dFl49xRgU7XsgJ.99*

This is the advice RSPB has on their website, mrpickpick, I would assume they wrote that in cooperation with the police. They don't seem to think calling the police over destruction of bird a waste of their time.

The neighbor fucked up. They realize this and have apologized. Surely that’s an end to the whole thing?

But it's not, is it? The hedge is an eyesore now. Scary how two neighbours can think it's appropriate to collaborate to enter private land, damage someone's property and not take responsibility for it.
Really - imagine coming home to find that vandalism and have to spend time finding and confronting the culprits!
Maybe she will come home next time to fund they have repainted her front door to a colour they prefer!

I wouldn't see this as wasting police time. It's a criminal offence so it can be reported, as suggested by a serving police officer on this thread, and the police can deal with it appropriately. I'm pretty sure they won't be prioritising it over rapes and murders.

It's not well-executed, but it's hardly an eyesore. I would report it and get the neighbourhood officer round. The neighbours won't be prosecuted but they will think twice before pulling this kind of stunt again.