Please stop me from going around to the neighbours

[DuckyMcDuck]

And give them a piece of my mind. (Wine might have been taken!)

We have a lot of ivy growing on the fence at the back of our garden, there is a narrow passageway on the other side of the fence. This time last year, the neighbours asked to cut it back and we explained that it is always full of sparrows' nests and we would cut it back in the winter - which we did.

So this year, the sparrows have been there as usual. It's been lovely watching them fly in and out and we've been feeding and watering them as usual.

So, yesterday, the neighbours have decimated cutback the hedge. There are huge gaps and when we went into the passageway earlier I saw at least 6 nests and a few bodies of the baby birds.

I'm so cross, I understand that the access is tricky with the ivy at the moment but it's not damaging their property in any way and they know we'll cut it back once the fledglings have gone. But they've basically murdered the babies. Sparrows are becoming less common.

I don't know if they have actually done anything legally wrong but I'm so tempted to go and tell them they're a bunch of murdering fucking wankers.

If they'd come and said the ivy was causing a problem, we'd have tried to cut it back ourselves carefully,

You wouldn't - last time they asked you told them you'd do it in Winter.

While what they've done is bloody awful and I don't agree with them causing harm to the birds, if your hedge is overhanging their walkway, you ought to do something to prevent that happening - they do have a right to cut back stuff that overhangs onto their property.

May was 2 months ago - our garden has gone crazy in that time. You need to keep on top of it more as it’s caused them an issue.
They shouldn’t have resolved to self help but they also shouldn’t have to ask you to do it - you should be proactive about maintenance when it’s potentially impacting others.

Last time we went down the alley was towards the end of May and you did need to push the ivy back but it certainly wasn't blocking access at all

If it had to be pushed back then it was blocking access and if that was back in May it would have been blocking it even more by now. They've broken the rules on disturbing bords but you've broken the rules around plants/trees not causing a nuisance by blocking light or access.

To be honest it's your own fault. There's no way I would be happy having to pull back ivy just to get into my own property. You let it get out of hand even though they've told you before that they're not happy about it.

@category12

If they'd come and said the ivy was causing a problem, we'd have tried to cut it back ourselves carefully,

You wouldn't - last time they asked you told them you'd do it in Winter.

While what they've done is bloody awful and I don't agree with them causing harm to the birds, if your hedge is overhanging their walkway, you ought to do something to prevent that happening - they do have a right to cut back stuff that overhangs onto their property.

We DID cut it back last year and would have done again this year and happily would have done it again sooner if they'd asked.

You wouldn't - last time they asked you told them you'd do it in Winter.

Exactly.

You know the ivy is blocking the alley. Remove it.

I don't agree with what they've done but it does sound like they had already politely informed you it was a problem for them. How many times should they have to ask?

Why should they have to push past your overgrown plants to access a shared space? It really should have been better managed by you in the autumn and before nesting season. They shouodnt have done it but itd have been more neighbourly for you to have taken on board their request.

Ivy is a skin irritant. For DH with psoriasis it would be a major or issue.

That side of the fence should be kept clear year round so as not to block access. I think it's something you're going to have to keep on top of moving forward.

If they have to push it back, it is obstructing their access. If it is anything like the ivy in my garden it will have grown hugely in the past two months. So while I hate what they have done, you have to either remove it, or cut it more often as it is causing an issue for people trying to access their gardens.

I am all about wildlife. I have built a wildlife garden with nest boxes, ponds, bird stations etc, but I wouldn't allow my love of nature to potentially cause an issue to someone else.

OP, it's in your opening post This time last year, the neighbours asked to cut it back and we explained that it is always full of sparrows' nests and we would cut it back in the winter - which we did.

You refused to cut it at the time they asked you and did it in the winter as suited you, while they had to put up with it overhanging - you deem it a minor inconvenience, but it's inconveniencing them not you.

They probably thought you'd say the exact same thing if they asked again, so it was no point asking you.

Relieved to see a diagram, was disappointed with the first few pages when there wasn't one.
I can't believe people actively cut hedges whilst baby birds were dropping out and dying???
Seriously?
Did you take pics as evidence?
Personally I think you would be mad to confront them if they really did this heinous cold blooded bird cull. You can't change what's happened and if this happens then it's possible that they are a bit sociopathic with no fear of the law so you could be inviting further trouble

Once you realised that it was a problem for them why didn't you either remove or retrain the ivy so that it is on your side only?
If my hedges, weeds, whatever we're impacting on my neighbours I'd take action immediately to rectify it and keep on top of it throughout the year.
This way the poor innocent birds would have had plenty of time to build their nests in a different spot.

I also think you have been a self righteous for leaving ivy there the whole time whilst knowing its a regularly growing plant which causes access discomfort for your neighbours just because you think you deserve the pleasure of having birds for your entertainment.
You placed the birds in jeopardy by knowing that your overgrown weed is a problem for others.
Maybe your anger is slightly misplaced, but if they really did do this, use your map and photos to make a complaint to the rspb, rspca or whoever.
They have powers to take this further and will do it slightly better than a half drunk incandescent with rage woman who isn't exactly blame-free.

Last time we went down the alley was towards the end of May and you did need to push the ivy back but it certainly wasn't blocking access at all.

Can you honestly not see that this is unreasonable? Your neighbours shouldn’t have to move your plant out of the way in order to use a shared space.

We DID cut it back last year and would have done again this year and happily would have done it again sooner if they'd asked.

Well that's not entirely true is it. They asked you and you basically said "F you and your need for access to your own property, we'll do it when we want to*. It would have obviously been the same again this year.

@WeAllHaveWings

You know the ivy is blocking the alley. Remove it.

And this is why so much wildlife, from sparrows to bees are in serious decline.

You’d have righteous outrage at the destruction of a coral reef or rainforest. But it’s fine to wreck habit here in the U.K.

every hedge is precious.

You need to get rid of the Ivy. It's not working out.

My neighbours have ivy growing up against my fence. It's come over a lot and it's so heavy that my fence is sagging over on to my garden.

Cut it right back in the winter. It looks pretty but it's a nightmare

I would report it, and let them know that you've done so.

But you need to keep on top of the ivy. We just took a huge root out as we couldn't cope with the speed it grew up up the side of the garage. I can see why they got pissed off if they were having to hold it back to get into their garden. You're equally culpable here.

You need to get rid of the Ivy. It's not working out.

No, she needs to keep on top of throughout the year, tie it back / train it her way / trim it carefully to keep the walkway clear, so it's not causing a nuisance to the neighbours but is still viable for the birds.

Ivy is an absolute nightmare, it's not easy to contain so you are being unreasonable. You need to get rid of the ivy, your neighbours are angry because you aren't containing it.

I do feel sorry for the birds though

So is it the ones opposite you or next door who have complained a. If it's the ones next door without a gate then they aren't using the passage anyway ?

I agree, report to police wildlife crime officer, and RSPCA. Disgusting thing to do.

@category12

You need to get rid of the Ivy. It's not working out.

No, she needs to keep on top of throughout the year, tie it back / train it her way / trim it carefully to keep the walkway clear, so it's not causing a nuisance to the neighbours but is still viable for the birds.

She hasn't done that and clearly gives no fucks about doing so. Therefore she needs to get rid of it.

The RSPB web site has a link for reporting wildlife crime.
It is an offence to "Intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built."
Your neighbours are clearly in breach of the law.

Report them.