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

@undermilkjug thank you for that advice. We'll have to find out the details on the tree. Before anything would happen.

Exactly.

That's how I feel, too. People are totally self absorbed and never think of the habitat or other species.

Jesus Christ.

@KosherDill you're entitled to your opinion I respect that. IMO I don't see much harm in a tree being trimmed back a little to let some light in.

Get some one to ring bark it😁 job done.

Our neighbours moved next door to us. We had a line of trees on our land between the two houses. The trees were far too big for the space, and the roots damaged their drains. We also aren’t arseholes, so had them cut down by a qualified tree surgeon, at the right time of year, and with all necessary permissions in place, and didn’t complain about the loss of trees or the cost. We still get on with the neighbours because they are lovely. We have now planted some much smaller trees, and will make sure they do not get out of hand. Just talk to the neighbours - it may all be fine.

@LadyHelenaJustina thanks for your reply. Nice to know there are people there that are decent. Hopefully we have some luck with our neighbours.

It's one tree. It can't possibly block all light to your garden. Just work round it, have your sitting area in a sunny spot. We shouldn't lose a tree decades of years old and oxygen producer and wildlife habitat just for.... A bit of chance for a tan.**

When we moved into our last house (renting), we were carrying in boxes and on our actual moving on day, the neighbour popped round to 'say hi' - really, to say that she hadn't had any luck asking the previous tenants to cut down a tree and so was expecting us to be more amenable. Bloody cheek! You shouldn't buy a house and put pressure and onus and guilt on your new neighbour who will want to please you so you don't act up. Really sad

Wow an 80 foot oak tree is surely gorgeous? And very old?

I would be very careful OP as it is likely to have a TPO.

Still totally out of order in bird nesting season. You’re being out of order generally- mind your own business.

@pushingpoppies despite what you might think I'm not wanting the tree thinned to top up my tan 🙄 an 80ft tree on a small garden can make a fair bit of shade. If I had a lawn the size big Wimbledon perhaps it would be different ( and my tanning opportunities would be vast) However I bought the house with the tree and if it stays then so be it.

@Keepingthingsinteresting I'll pass that on then to the tree surgeon that carried out the work.

How do you know that?? They may love the tree and think about it all the time. You have only just moved in!!

Are you aware this is illegal and OP might get prosecuted for it?

@meloncolic yes, it a lovely tree. Does make me slightly nervous though when there are high winds lol 🙈 but yes it's a nice tree

@bloodyunicorns they may well love the tree, that is true.

Yep. We've just suffered the same. Threatened with legal action, council, insurers, the lot. And all for a tree about 12 feet tall with a trunk the thickness of my wrist that was doing no harm and that I'd agreed to cut back anyway. Honestly. So we had to remove it.

So... we are now one tree closer to the extinction of the human race.

@gingersplodgecat oh know, it's a shame it all had to become nasty in your experience and has made an uncomfortable setting.

We have lots of other lovely mature trees in our ( front) garden too, I'm not opposed to having trees. This one in particular is only being mentioned because it does block out our light BUT I wouldn't dream of being an arse to the neighbours. We bought the house with the tree so that is on us, and it's not the end of the world if it stays

But they might not be bothered! I think a lot of posters are being unnecessarily harsh here, it's fine to ask (tactfully, politely). If they're not happy about it, they can politely say no. And tree surgeons will be able to reduce the tree / thin in a way which is sensitive to nature. My parents have a youngish oak tree on the boundary of their garden which they've had a tree surgeon work on in recent years - lifting the crown and slightly thinning the branches to allow dappled sunlight through. The tree still looks absolutely beautiful, but they also get a bit more light into their garden.

So you have loads of trees, both in the front garden and back. Lots that have been removed and then not. And yet a garden so small that an 8ft tree at the side of a neighbour's house shades that whole of your "small" garden? The tree that you want cut down, and yet only thinned out?

The neighbour might be content to have it thinned at your cost. You can ask. But if they say no you are stuck with it. Try to learn to love it. Trees are the earth's lungs. We need to take care of them. We just lost a massive beech. It was heartbreaking but part of it fell in the storms and the remainder was beyond saving and dangerous. We will plant some saplings but they won't replace what has been lost for many years.

@MaJoady my FRONT garden is larger than the back. I had bushes removed along with ivy in my FRONT garden. I still have mature trees in the front ( as do the people opposite me)

BACK garden is small, shadowy.

I've said I want tree thinned/ chopped down a bit to let light in. All I had mentioned was letting in light.

@MaJoady tree is 80ft ! Please read
My post

I'd check your council website and find a contact there. They may be able to tell you if there is a TPO on the tree.

Secondly in principle there is a right to light and our council tree advisor could tell that 80% of our garden was affected and we were able to take action. This was by looking at birds eye/satellite type views and calculating where the sun is dependent on time of year.

Of course, type of tree, TPO, and other things may come into play, but you can make enquiries. Even with a TPO trees can be pruned/crowned whatever the right term is.