Tree blocking light advice.

[rubberhead]

Hi all hoping you can help me. We moved house a few weeks ago into our dream house. Only problem is our elderly neighbours have an absolutely enormous tree at the side of their garden which really blocks our light in the garden and in the kitchen. We don't want to be the arsehole new neighbours as they seem very nice but I was wondering if there is a rule on height of trees and blocking light etc? For information the said tree is at the side of their house and causes them no issues at all so it'll never be delt with if we don't address it.

Thanks for any help x

Who here believes the OP when she says she's already taken down lots of trees, she actually meant a couple of bushes near the front door?

God I really hate people like you. You bought a house with an established garden and you want to turn it into a bloody car park.

FYI, birds also nest in bushes. I have 2 sparrow families nesting in my hedge at the moment.

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen yes that the kind of thing we would like done, just to make it not as full. We would indeed pay for any work that was allowed to be carried out. As I say tree is to the side of their house so they can't see it so it's not a feature in their garden as such. Leaves are making it seem so much fuller in the summer compared to when we viewed it

What type of tree is it ? If it has a TPO on it , it can’t be touched without the local authority permission and even then you are only allowed to trim dangerous or over hanging branches . I have a huge ornamental cherry in my garden , it has a TPO on it and is inspected every five years. If I even want to cut a branch, not that I’ve touched it in 4 years (unless dangerous and risk of harm ) I have to apply for permission

PS, how come you didn’t ask the tree surgeon you mentioned above about the rules & regs re: said tree?!

And you were literally asking if there was any way you can exert legal pressure on your neighbours to cut down their tree.

You're backpedaling so fast you've fallen off your bike

@Clymene, well I'm
Very sorry that you hate people like me lol 😂

Destroying habitats.

LOL

@Clymene I am obviously not going to go down a legal route with my neighbours. Gosh I don't know, think I'll sign off now as this isn't how I had intended on the post going.

What kind of tree is it?

Did you not consider this before buying the house?!

What does I was wondering if there is a rule on height of trees and blocking light etc mean if you weren't hoping to be able to tell your neighbours to cut their tree?

Lol

@VainAbigail, we really should have on reflection and we might give him a call. We initially wanted rid of the ivy and the bushes that were overgrown and blocking the front door

@Clymene curiosity I suppose?

@MissMaple82 the tree wouldn't put us off as it's a dream property.

Who here believes the OP when she says she's already taken down lots of trees, she actually meant a couple of bushes near the front door?

given that op then said “plus it was a qualified tree surgeon, not us” that took them down, not me. Why would a tree surgeon waste time on a couple of bushes and some ivy instead of trees? Why would anyone pay those rates when a gardener could tackle that, for half the price, if they couldn’t manage it themselves?

What's the obsession about ripping out trees these days? Can't bear it. Unless they are damaged or diseased, maintain them but otherwise leave them be.

Agreed @tattychicken. People just hack and tear down the older than them, we should have more respect for nature. It takes time for these trees to go, and people just remove them like it's nothing.

Do you want to live in a desert? Because that's what will happen if people keep destroying trees. We need trees more than you need your light. Why on earth did you move there if you knew there were mature trees. My neighbours asked me to get rid of my three Ash trees and I told them to get stuffed.
There are plenty of arid estates you could have moved to if you needed light. It makes me furious.

@Wellthatsjustswell well you're gonna have your opinion, and that's okay. My point was we paid the tree surgeon to do work, which he did. My hubby wasn't gonna swing round ladders and take ivy down from all round the house. While he was there he took out the bushes as part of the price.

There’s a tree at the side of my house which I can’t see from inside. It’s still part of the garden and I don’t want it trimmed, thinned or modified in any way.

I think you have backtracked due to the response you have received, otherwise why enquire about the law? Similarly cutting down a lot of trees has become ivy from the house and a few bushes. I don’t buy it. Anyway birds nest in the wisteria covering my house, last year we had goldfinches nesting in the buddlia and did you bother to find out what any of the trees and bushes you’ve destroyed actually were? The bush next to my front door is a form of honeysuckle which looks totally uninspiring but smells exquisite in the depths of winter. It’s such a shame when people destroy established gardens that have taken decades to create.

The tree predates you buying the house! Reminds me of the person complaining about the pub across the road that has been there since the 19th century, or complaining about a medieval church's bells.

The tree maybe older than you. You chose that house, don't be that neighbour

@PinkTonic we would like
The tree thinned a bit yes, not necessarily the whole tree taken away. The tree is about 80ft so I don't think if it was thinned it would take the look of the tree, but like you say it's not my tree and I respect that. I'm grateful that I have the house that I have so I can certainly live with the tree.

@motogirl thanks for your input.

'We have taken down lots of trees all over the garden' to 'oh, it was ivy and a few bushes' 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Yeah right

People like you, with no care or consideration for nature, make me sick.

Move into a new build if you don't want trees!

But our planet needs all the trees it can get.

You destroying trees in nesting season - and saying it was a tree surgeon doesn't get you off the hook, as some are shit and don't care about birds either- is just dreadful. You should be ashamed, and you should do your research first.

Jesus, we will be be living in an arid desert if we were all like you.

Birds also nest in ivy and bushes. Heartbreaking.

Have a good hard think about what you want VS what the planet needs, eh? FFS

@slowquickstep we will discuss with neighbours if / when time is right. Tree is about 80ft currently so will
Only get bigger, that's also a worry in high winds. All i would like is for
It to be thinned a bit. However I can tell how completely selfish, unreasonable and unrealistic I am being.