Last fucking straw

[sarahC40]

Handhold please and advice (on how not to utterly lose my shit or get arrested for this). It’s not been a great lockdown.

Saving Grace: my garden. Lovely tree, probably in the wrong place but predates the houses, was cut down without warning, so that my view, which was of said lovely tree, is now of the back of someone’s house. They have now closed all of their blinds because, yes, we are now overlooking each other.

The tree is in no man’s land between the gardens - it doesn’t belong to them. They’ve got down everything that overhung my garden (my son woke up to find men climbing over my fence and most of tree gone) and they’ve left a twenty foot high stump. My other neighbours were open mouthed in shock, so this isn’t just me sounding off; it’s horrendous.

I know there’s nothing that I can do, but I would like some vengeful suggestions that I won’t act on but will help me as I try to stop crying at the fucking awful sight of their fugly house.

Pollarding an ash that is growing between two houses seems a sensible way of saving it and providing denser fresh foliage for a more urban environment. Planting an aggressive fast growing “replacement” right next to it is a dreadful idea and will hurt the tree OP professes to love. I think OP had decided new neighbour was a slash and burn nightmare and is now unable to entertain the idea that new neighbour was possibly much more informed.

The rudeness is just unpleasant. I expect if you actually talk to the neighbour she will explain the plan (and probably has done you a huge favour).

Some consider pollarding to be fine, but some don't. The OP doesn't. I don't. Many others don't.
No-one knows the necessity for pollarding the tree mentioned in the OP. Coming onto the thread and being rude and argumentative to the OP because they don't get how she feels is not in the spirit. Make a point by all means.
Many have suggested growing beautiful specimen trees that have limited height and spread when mature, for the OP's modest garden. Other suggestions have been made in jest, mostly.
Pollarding to many people's minds, is a lazy way of maintaining trees, usually done by councils so they don't have to deal with it for another few years. It destroys the natural shape, to many a permanent disfigurement. Others won't be bothered. We don't all have the same approach to things
We've always managed our trees by taking out boughs and checking spindly regrowth, to keep the natural shape but limit pressure on root spread and canopy density
Often better to remove a problem tree altogether than pollard, and perhaps replace with something more appropriate to the space.
If you don't understand the OP's distress, it's no reason to be unpleasant or even post at all.

I should have said, before I am corrected - the OP's distress at the complete removal of tree branches and canopy, including those that reached into her garden; the subsequent complete loss of privacy to her home and garden; the report that neighbour had the tree cut - that did not belong to her/was not on her land, so had no right to do so and at the very least should have consulted everyone it would affect - because she didn't want leaves on her lawn.
I may have the wrong end of stick, but that's the gist of it.

@sarahC40 Before I completely outstay my welcome, I would say to find some specialist tree nurseries and talk to a few to get their suggestions. They will likely take into account the space/soil type/seasonal interest/facing direction, and can advise best time to plant etc.

Look at RHS recommendations too - for trees and nurseries :)

Coming onto the thread and being rude and argumentative to the OP because they don't get how she feels is not in the spirit. is this addressed to me @DoubleTweenQueen ?
I’m not sure OP was even aware trees are often pollarded especially in tight situations. Killing the Ash and replacing it with something else doesn’t seem at all in line with OPs sentiments expressed on this thread. She seems to love nature/this particular tree. I’d be annoyed at the lack of privacy but IF the tree is a pollarded ash she will soon have a dense green regrowth to help.

@5zeds Probably not. More likely @SylHellais, or any other angry person.

And I'm aware you consider pollarding to be acceptable,which is your perogative, many don't. It does destroy the natural shape of the tree permanently and more dense regrowth is not generally desirable. It may well also deny the OP the opportunity to plant something else more attractive within her garden as the tree hasn't been removed completely.

I would say she has every right to be upset and angry, and to offload her frustration here.

Of course she has every right to be upset about anything she likes just as @DoubleTweenQueen you have every right to prefer one form of pruning over another.

Personally I would prioritise an established tree over popping in something from a tree farm, even if it was pollarded and I preferred a more natural pruned style.

@5zeds I don't think anyone can say what was necessary or not for the maintenance of the tree in this case without all the relevant information, notwithstanding it likely did need maintenance, and our own personal preferences
It's not necessary or appropriate for people to be rude to each other, in any case. I see it all over MN. It is like a disease that has escaped from AIBU and spread without check. I don't like to see it.

DoubleTweenQueen
I don’t like it either. Pollarding is so unnecessary most of the time and what’s the f** point of having a tree without leaves or branches? It’s done by haters

It’s not about attractiveness -our planet is almost destroyed! We are experiencing environmental catastrophes.
Do people think destroying trees is the answer?

I wonder which IS better environmentally? I mean new saplings or pollarded older trees?

I’m happy to be corrected but I believe a pollarded one is better as the root system is there, the fungi under the ground is there.
Saplings take a longtime to establish and take a lot of resources to establish. Which is why chopping trees down to build houses and sticking a few saplings in isn’t sufficient

@EvilPea that’s my gut feeling too.

This happened to me, the full back end of my garden had beautiful trees blocking out everyone. Now I look into the back end of someone's garden with their silly trampoline and dog trying to get through. Extremely annoying

Could the tree have been under a Tree Preservation Order? The council could tell you this. If it were me I would plant some fast growing trees. A nursery could advise you on the best Regarding roots and height.