Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Felling Tree - Neighbours?

40 replies

SouthsideTexas · 08/06/2022 20:56

I have a large, ugly conifer (Lawson Cypress, to be precise) in my front garden. There is no TPO in place. Have owned the house about a year & the previous owners let it get completely out of control. It’s very tall and very bushy

I had hoped to somehow bring it back under control so got a couple of tree surgeons out this week to have a look. They have all said it’s beyond that and the only safe option is to get rid of it.

The tree is completely on my land, but the foliage encroaches slightly on my neighbours side. I don’t think the tree surgeon will need access to their side when completing the removal. There’s
nothing they can really do to stop me, as there’s no TPO & it’s on my side, but I think they might have a whinge about it going nonetheless. I am mindful though that they have small children who may nap in the daytime. Would you

A) say nothing

B) Tell them it’s happening but head off any whinging by explaining I’ve engaged three separate tree surgeons who have all said the tree must go, that all the mess will be cleared up & that they’re welcome to the chippings for their garden if they’d like, and it’s happening on X day just so they are aware for LO’s nap times.

OP posts:
unfortunatelyno · 08/06/2022 20:59

A), but pop a note in letting them know it's happening on x day.

Blimeyherewegoagain · 08/06/2022 21:04

It’ll be fine- the tree surgeons will do it from your side. If it’s very big they will take it down in sections. You don’t have to get into a debate with your neighbours . Just let them know it’ll be coming down once you have a day sorted.

Johnnysgirl · 08/06/2022 21:06

They can't stop you, but do let them know in advance of it happening,

Bettethebuilder · 08/06/2022 21:09

I wouldn’t tell the neighbours anything, unless it crops up in casual conversation. The tree surgeon doesn’t need access to their land, so it’s entirely your choice what you do.

AppleButter · 08/06/2022 21:13

Wait until Autumn please if you can, because it is still nesting season, and even if there are no nests in your tree, birds still rest there, and will nest nearby, and the loud crashing and chopping will scare them, leading to many abandoned nests, some possible endangered birds that we dont know are there. Even sparrows are suffering these days.

Londonderry34 · 08/06/2022 21:14

Please keep the tree! Just get it pruned. A mature tree is worth a lot - not just in monetary terms - but for the environment. You can not chop it down.

thekaratekid · 08/06/2022 21:20

In my childhood home the entire garden border was surrounded by overgrown ugly leylandii, so much so that the garden was significantly reduced by the trees. The house surveyor recommended they all come down. Parents subsequently employed a professional tree surgeon to cut them all down and fences were put in their place. Previously it had been leylandii and a hip height wire fence.

The house was surrounded on 3 sides by neighbouring properties. House 1 - that looks better! House 2 - thank you so much, they blocked all our light. House 3 - why have you done that?! You have removed our privacy!

You can't please everyone. The trees are on your property and you can blame the house survey for the chop. The neighbour can like it or lump it really, but give them due warning out of courtesy.

Just to note...the neighbours who complained about the "loss of privacy" moved within 18 months anyway.

Bettethebuilder · 08/06/2022 21:20

Londonderry34 · 08/06/2022 21:14

Please keep the tree! Just get it pruned. A mature tree is worth a lot - not just in monetary terms - but for the environment. You can not chop it down.

She’s been told it can’t be pruned. And it’s a Lawson cypress -hardly great for ecology. It not an oak tree or other native species.

Original poster
SouthsideTexas · 08/06/2022 21:25

Thanks for all your replies.

@AppleButter Yes, it’s likely to be autumn by the time they have availability.

@Londonderry34 I haven’t taken the decision lightly, the tree is out of control. My first preference was to have it pruned somehow, but once the branches are cut back they don’t grow again. I’m going on the advice of three tree surgeons / aborists.

OP posts:
Londonderry34 · 08/06/2022 21:35

it can be pruned! It's just unfashionable. Golly it's a positive on the environment. Poor tree. She can feel it.

Inklingpot · 08/06/2022 21:58

Londonderry34 · 08/06/2022 21:35

it can be pruned! It's just unfashionable. Golly it's a positive on the environment. Poor tree. She can feel it.

Don’t be ridiculous. Not all trees are worth keeping.

There’s no TPO on it and the OP has had advice from tree surgeons. My suggestion would be to plant a more suitable tree in the space once it’s been cut down.

TheseCowsAreSmall · 08/06/2022 22:00

Londonderry34 · 08/06/2022 21:35

it can be pruned! It's just unfashionable. Golly it's a positive on the environment. Poor tree. She can feel it.

Wise up.

AdmiralsPie · 08/06/2022 22:08

Warn them, but don't be too defensive or apologetic. Tree surgeons have advised it's the only safe thing to do so it'll be going sometime next week.

People react badly to unexpected changes, and having the view from your window or garden change substantially, with no warning, can be a bit of a shock.

Yamadori · 08/06/2022 22:21

To those saying get it pruned, the trouble with that particular species of conifer is that it doesn't grow back from old wood. The OP was correctly advised by the tree surgeon, and at least the work won't be being carried out until the autumn.

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 08/06/2022 22:40

Tell the neighbours you'll be replacing it with a nicer tree once it's been removed. You might need to condition the soil as it'll be acidic following a conifer, but you could get a lovely tree to put in its place.

MarmiteOnToast · 08/06/2022 22:42

I would just say
We have to have the tree removed, just to let you know they're doing it on x date. Incase it interfere with dcs nap. But it shouldnt hopefully take too long.
Is it ok to enter garden to clear debris?

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 08/06/2022 22:58

I would wait until the week before and then just tell them that you consulted a number of tree surgeons and unfortunately they all said it would be safer to cut it down.

Original poster
SouthsideTexas · 08/06/2022 23:00

I can assure @Londonderry34 that I sought advice from qualified tree surgeons, not ‘man with chainsaw and trailer’ on Facebook 😀

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation - yes they mentioned that too. I will probably leave it until next summer once felled, but I plan on creating / replacing the tree area with a lovely bee friendly array of flowers.

OP posts:
nightfairy · 09/06/2022 00:44

You have a large, beautiful Lawson Cypress. These are not ugly trees. They do not require shaping. I think you need your head read. As for this:

I plan on creating / replacing the tree area with a lovely bee friendly array of flowers.

As if.

And you plan to lie to your neighbours about the reasons for cutting it down. I very much doubt any actual tree surgeon would say a tree must go, unless it was a dangerous situation, which it isn't. It's aesthetic. It makes me sick when people buy properties with mature trees and then cut them down.

Bettethebuilder · 09/06/2022 01:05

Trees are often planted in unsuitable small gardens - and then they get huge. Of course they need cutting down. They shouldn’t have been planted in the first place. My neighbour has a 60ft tall forest tree in a terraced house garden that’s only 20ft.

Basilbrushgotfat · 09/06/2022 01:45

nightfairy · 09/06/2022 00:44

You have a large, beautiful Lawson Cypress. These are not ugly trees. They do not require shaping. I think you need your head read. As for this:

I plan on creating / replacing the tree area with a lovely bee friendly array of flowers.

As if.

And you plan to lie to your neighbours about the reasons for cutting it down. I very much doubt any actual tree surgeon would say a tree must go, unless it was a dangerous situation, which it isn't. It's aesthetic. It makes me sick when people buy properties with mature trees and then cut them down.

Blimey. I've seen some bonkers posts this week @nightfairy but what planet are you on?

Op has not said they're planning to lie to their neighbours and your accusation that the op is lying about their plans for the space and completely unfounded. I don't think the op is the one who needs to get their "head read".

Lawson Cypresses can grow to huge sizes and felling one that is no longer suitable for the residential space is not an ecological crime.

Ladywiddio · 09/06/2022 02:02

nightfairy · 09/06/2022 00:44

You have a large, beautiful Lawson Cypress. These are not ugly trees. They do not require shaping. I think you need your head read. As for this:

I plan on creating / replacing the tree area with a lovely bee friendly array of flowers.

As if.

And you plan to lie to your neighbours about the reasons for cutting it down. I very much doubt any actual tree surgeon would say a tree must go, unless it was a dangerous situation, which it isn't. It's aesthetic. It makes me sick when people buy properties with mature trees and then cut them down.

Dear me! How bizarrely bonkers!

Boxowine · 09/06/2022 02:10

Can't please anyone. We had an enormous tree that was dying so we took it down. My neighbor was so upset she planted a sapling next to my fence. Then they sold the house and moved. I now have a young tree that drops it's leaves in my yard. All because I was responsible enough to remove a dying tree before a storm took it down. Wish I had let it fall on her house.

Bettethebuilder · 09/06/2022 02:22

Boxowine · 09/06/2022 02:10

Can't please anyone. We had an enormous tree that was dying so we took it down. My neighbor was so upset she planted a sapling next to my fence. Then they sold the house and moved. I now have a young tree that drops it's leaves in my yard. All because I was responsible enough to remove a dying tree before a storm took it down. Wish I had let it fall on her house.

To be fair, there nothing wrong with a young sapling. It doesn’t matter if it drops leaves -that’s what trees do.

Boxowine · 09/06/2022 04:50

Which it could easily have done on the other side of her house. Trees don't just drop leaves. They also produce pollen, grow roots into foundations and septic tanks, drop debris into gutters and when they are situated on the wrong side of a house they can prevent roofs from drying properly.