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

@bloodyunicorns there was no birds nesting it it, 100%.

This is becoming a bit of an unnecessary pile-on now. I think the OP’s got the point. She was being unreasonable to ask about the legalities of it. She’ll have a chat with her neighbour and find out her answer. Leave her be now.

@NatriumChloride thank you so much. Never did I think my innocent post would amount to this. Just to be clear though I only asked if there were rules/ guidance about tree height, I was never hitting my solicitor's office with demands

I don't think you're being unreasonable OP. But then I've just gone through quite a lot of negotiation with our neighbours over their massive leylandii trees, so may be biased! I couldn't find any legal grounds to make them cut down the tree (although there are rules for hedges), but then I wouldn't have wanted to go down down that route anyway. As it turned out I agonised for ages about how to ask them, then did it, then they pondered for a bit and decided they agreed with me, so have quite substantially cut back the tree. But had they disagreed I would have just had to live with it. So I think it's fine for you to ask OP, but also fine for them to say no.

I don't think people understand the impact on neighbours unless they've personally been affected by it. The neighbours my garden backs onto also have an enormous fir-type tree right by the fence. Their garden is 3x longer than mine and on a slope so it really overshadows my garden and would cause significant damage if it fell down onto my house. It was there when I bought 8 years ago but we're not all in a position to rule out a house due to a tree, I certainly wasn't. They've been saying over the years they're thinking of having the height of it reduced but nothing has happened... Meanwhile they have a lovely sunny garden and I have a damp, dark one.

I have a tree surgeon who is happy to cut back bushes and trees if needed. He would agree that some trees planted in urban gardens outgrow the space and maybe should be replaced with other smaller, more suitable trees. I pay his rates because he has a massive chipper machine that removes all the waste.

Also "new build estates" do have fucking trees on. Not all of them are build on cleared land. We are surrounded by trees and 4m high shrubs and parkland. I have removed a tree my neighbour hated because it was taller than the house and shaded their garden and mine. As I said the tree surgeon commented that it should never have been planted where it was in the first place or the previous owners should have had it pruned regularly.

I don't think there is anything wrong with informing the neighbours as to how much it impacts your house.

@MunsteadWood @fernz thank you for your responses. Like you both say my neighbor have a massive big bright sunny garden which makes it so frustrating. They seem so proud of their garden ( always brushing and tidying) and are probably unaware of how much it affects our light. I'd never ever have a fallout over anything like this, wouldn't be in my nature so we probably will have to suck it up

I don't think you've been the least bit unreasonable either OP.
I actually think it selfish and unneighbourly to allow trees to grow and grow and grow in gardens that aren't big enough for them.

I have quite a few very large trees in my garden but I look after them and get them Cut back when needed. I also cut down a LOT of trees. Not because I don't care about nature or anything like that but because the trees were the wrong trees planted in the wrong place.

I've replanted slower growing native trees.
OP I'd speak to the neighbours like you suggested and see what they think. Maybe if you can get them to come around and see the tree from your side it might help.
A lot of trees really benefit from thinning or crowning or whatever.

@Pleaseletmeconfirm thank you so much 😊 we will have a wee chat with them and see how it lands. Because it's out of sight and mind to them it's not really something that they will ever address on their own.

I do understand @fernz. There is a massive whitebeam on the pavement outside my house. Its roots go under my garden and my garden is in shade much more than it would be without the tree. And it's got a lot bigger since we moved here.

But I bought the house with the tree. So that's just life.

I have a pair of nesting birds who return year on year, I watch the seasons through it and I feel lucky that I'm one of the only houses on the street with a tree outside.

Should the tree be pollarded? Are you in a consecration area where planning permission needs to be obtained?

@Clymene and that's great that the tree brings you much happiness.

What kind of tree is it in your neighbour's garden @rubberhead?

@Clymene I'm not too sure, probably an oak tree.

There are plenty of trees around!

Is it one tree or several? How close to your property is it?

I’d have a word with your neighbours and see what they say, perhaps ask them over to view the problem. They may agree to let you cut it back a bit at least.

There’s high hedge law- but that’s usually for two or more conifers in a row. If they are reasonable they’ll allow it to be cut back, rather than risk it blowing down / damaging your property.

So you move, decide you don't like a tree that's always been there and start whinging?

Give over.

I have a tree surgeon who is happy to cut back bushes and trees if needed. He would agree that some trees planted in urban gardens outgrow the space and maybe should be replaced with other smaller, more suitable trees. I pay his rates because he has a massive chipper machine that removes all the waste.

Of course he is. He has a huge chipper he needs to use and he gets paid to chop trees down. That's all he cares about.

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat you're so pleasant. Thank you for your input.

Why do I have to be pleasant to people think everything is about them and what they want?

@Suzi888 it sits right beside our fence and is approx 80ft high and very wide. It would make such a difference it it were thinned out and it would look tidier too. We'll see what happens

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat then just don't reply to my post. You are just letting yourself down by being rude. I asked for advice, if you don't have anything constructive to say why waste your time?

Oh wow! I hope it has a TPO on it. If it's that big, it's probably hundreds of years old.

@Clymene it may well do, I'm not too sure to be honest. Would that mean it can't be touched at all? Even pruned back?

@Clymene the house that the tree belongs to have been build over 50years ago. We had thought it was part of the field when the house was built. Lovely tree just bloody massive 😂

You'd need permission from the council to change it at all - if you don't have permission it is a criminal offence.