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Original poster

Someone has cut my hedge

294 replies

MeltingSugs · 16/08/2019 07:52

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

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 Sad

OP posts:
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BBrush · 18/08/2019 08:09

Wow, that's annoying! Reminds me of the time my bf's family were staying with us. I had to go out for a few hours and when I came home, his dad had lopped off the top of my beloved weeping willow tree. It used to drape romantically over a little pond, and now it stands rigid with a military buzz cut :(

Hope your hedge renews itself quickly!!

GreenTulips · 18/08/2019 08:16

I wouldn't see this as wasting police time. It's a criminal offence so it can be reported

Police need crimes reported so they can hire more staff, they may not do anything or it may be a quick chat and ticked off as sorted.

The police don’t decide which crimes are worth while.

So many crimes go unreported that gaps appear. If these people did it again they would be prosecuted.

rainbowstardrops · 18/08/2019 08:22

@BlackCatSleeping I wasn't referring to posters here saying it's an ok thing to do, I meant the batshit neighbours and people like them.
Personally, I'd give them the chance to pay to put it right but if they refused then I would contact the police because they've been on OP's property and caused criminal damage.

BlackCatSleeping · 18/08/2019 08:26

@rainbowstardrops

Oh, ok, I gotcha. Sorry for misunderstanding.

strawberrypenguin · 18/08/2019 08:29

Jesus that's been butchered! I'd buy up a fence at the height you want behind the hedge to secure the boundary line. Then cut hedge straight and let it grow so it obscures your view of the fence.

MurphyDog5 · 18/08/2019 08:56

Contact your local police station & ask to speak with someone from the neighbourhood policing team. Your area will have a dedicated team of police officers & pcsos, this matter is not a waste of police time however it may not be treated as a priority & may take a while for them to get around to dealing with. Your neighbours have committed criminal damage, trespass & have disturbed nesting birds, you have cctv evidence. Your neighbour only sounds remorseful as she’s been caught & as you’ve said cf down the road doesn’t seem to give a shit, contact the police & let them deal with it, your neighbours are adults and their actions have consequences!

Texakana1 · 18/08/2019 08:58

Nothing is worse than finding that someone has cut your bush when your attention was diverted.You nip out for a fag and your lovely bush is gone!I was proud of my bush and looked after it. Daily trim, shampoo and wash.Beware bush cutters. I have your number and I know where you live.

poppy54321 · 18/08/2019 10:18

Yes the fence thing strawberrypenguin is right.

YouJustDoYou · 18/08/2019 10:31

What....what the actual fuck? How could they possibly have thought that would've been ok?!

YouJustDoYou · 18/08/2019 10:32

Reminds me of the time my bf's family were staying with us. I had to go out for a few hours and when I came home, his dad had lopped off the top of my beloved weeping willow tree. It used to drape romantically over a little pond, and now it stands rigid with a military buzz cut

Why?? Why did he do that??

Toomuchtrouble4me · 18/08/2019 13:26

YouJustDoYou

Reminds me of the time my bf's family were staying with us. I had to go out for a few hours and when I came home, his dad had lopped off the top of my beloved weeping willow tree. It used to drape romantically over a little pond, and now it stands rigid with a military buzz cut

OMG!
I would have drugged him and shaved his eyebrows off!

Yorkshiretolondon · 18/08/2019 13:27

Regardless of how and when you have or haven’t cut your hedge it’s your hedge! Bloody cheek tbh.... criminal damage!

missdink · 18/08/2019 14:10

FYI it is actually an offence to disturb nesting birds. Therefore if your neighbour has cut your hedge and removed and nests they can be dealt with accordingly. Police can be contacted however your best bet might be RSPCA or RSPB. If you have any evidence of the nests keep them as they can tell if they are current or old nests.

ItsABubbleParty · 18/08/2019 14:58

What I don't get is...

They wanted to cut your hedge.... but still made a total arse out of it? It's not even like they've just cut it all down to one size? Wtf

happinessischocolate · 18/08/2019 15:02

Maybe plant some scary scarecrows in the space left in the hole. But then that might just be me...)

Haha brilliant idea 😂

happinessischocolate · 18/08/2019 15:05

Like this.....?

Someone has cut my hedge
PancakeAndKeith · 18/08/2019 15:24

I had to go out for a few hours and when I came home, his dad had lopped off the top of my beloved weeping willow tree.

Yes I would have be furious but weeping willows grow back super quickly.

MrsAmaretto · 18/08/2019 15:52

If the hedge trimmer from down the road has a reputation for being bonkers I’d report it, if your worried she will try again.

BlatheringOn · 18/08/2019 17:42

MeltingSugs. Well done - your neighbour and her friend were completely out of order and she was putting her own wishes first without any consideration of yours. One neighbour pretended that they wanted my hedge reduced 'for more light' and I complied in order to be a good neighbour but it turned out that it was so that they could build right up against it, sending builders into my garden as they did so. I admire the way you stood up for yourself ('can't find my keys!!'), and I have also paid attention to the legal advice pps have offered.

Juells · 19/08/2019 08:35

Poocalypso
What would happen if you would just let it go?

Neighbour down the road gets the message that it's OK to walk into other people's gardens and do whatever they like.

katewhinesalot · 19/08/2019 09:01

I'd offer them the choice of paying for a professional trim or having it reported as criminal damage.

Honeyroar · 19/08/2019 09:09

My horse ate my weeping willow when it was young. To the extent that it looked like a toilet brush. However the next year it came back wonderfully. Much better than its twin that hasn’t been eaten!

Oh and my mum’s batshit neighbour called the police out twice on my mum for touching her fence (they were railings and my 75 yr old mother had held them to get up when gardening. She also called them on her other neighbour because he lent a ladder against her house (after she’d left him a message complaining that his ivy was going into her gutter). The police came for all three incidents!

Adultchild · 19/08/2019 10:55

May I suggest, being a frequent reader of threads like this, that instead of a "hedge fund", we set up a fund for cardboard cut outs of Nicholas Cage?

Then any neighbour who tries to "amend" a hedge can be corrected swiftly and in such a way that impacts on their ability to sell, entertain or complain?

We will need a couple of volunteers to administer. Mumsnetters can make Applications (diagrams required) to ensure the best possible cardboard cut outs are selected.

MNrs could even vote on most worthy causes Grin

Sorrysorrysosorry · 19/08/2019 14:18

although nice neighbour has an idea that they're coming back to me with

Can you fill us in? What did the culprits say when you knocked?

Sorrysorrysosorry · 19/08/2019 14:25

Apologies-it suddenly reloaded and I can now see the updates

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