Made an 'anonymous" complaint, now waiting for the fall out

[DewDropsAndCobWebs]

Sorry so long, I did not want to drip feed

Over the month or so, I have noticed the area behind my (rented) residence was losing small trees and shrubs.
On one particular day, quite a few seemed to be missing.
Today, while walking my dog, I came across one of my reasonably new neighbours, (also renting at same place) and caught them in the act of lopping off branches!
Like with a full ten foot reacher type thing!

To clarify, it is a rental property, in a protected wildlife sanctuary , and the trees are also protected and tagged.

I asked them what they were doing, they replied "nothing" gave a hard glare and left right away.
I carried on walking the dog, and while out, came across one of the property managers, and filled them in.

I said I wanted to keep it anonymous, they agreed and said they will do a walk around and "discover" it. The manager said to expect a property wide notice to all residents reminding them not to harm the land/trees/birds/animals. They also pointed out that the property could get a hefty fine from Fish&Game if it was discovered.

The errant neighbour will know immediately it was me, they share a balcony and stairwell with us, so will be hard to avoid.
It's going to be so awkward waiting for the first time we see each other after this. I don't know how she will react.

Up to this point we got on reasonable well for people who don't know each other , nods hello, I offered the use of my clothes line when they moved in, which they have used a few times , she offered me a box of sweaters she didn't wear anymore, that type of thing.

I know I did the right thing, but I hate waiting for the fall out.
Anyone else been in this kind of situation? Do I act like nothing has happened? Do I try to avoid her for a while?

I don’t understand why you’re feeling so apologetic and timid — find your anger! These people are vandals, removing habitat in a wildlife sanctuary! They should be worried about your response!

So what would be the point of moving/ taking / cutting trees, what did they hope to gain?

A tricky situation to be sure but I don't think you have done anything wrong. Do they know you well by sight do you think? If you were to dye your help or change dress style or a hat for a couple of weeks perhaps, or until it blows over? Might seem a little over the top but do you really want to start a rift?

We had neighbours who did similar on council
woods because they wanted more light.

So I think she is doing it for a better view, she is actually second floor and set back, but I am sure she wants a water view from her balcony.
We can't just go cutting down trees to see the water better when you are in a park!

I hate awkwardness, I hate feeling like ' a rat' I feel like I should have told her off more myself rather than report her....

There is no way to hide from her, and our front doors face each other kitty corner so she will see anytime I go on or out.

The guilt should be hers, not yours. Hold your stance and don’t fear a fall out.

Badly drawn diagram, she is cutting from the trees in her line of sight

Well you have two options: the truth or total denial. Either way you can say ‘play stupid games win stupid prizes’ or ‘didn’t your parents ever teach you to take responsibility for your own actions?’

You weren’t a rat. They were damaging nature.

@DewDropsAndCobWebs if she's a mumsnetter you've already outed yourself, and she'll soon know a lot more about you if she searches on your username.

@elizabeatle I'm pretty sure she isn't on here, MN isn't that common in this country, but if she is, and she sees it, well, at least she will see my side too!

Listen, first off she’s a vandal, and she’s damaging important natural habitats. Second of all, she’s a bad criminal. We all know you need to do your crime under cover of darkness - rookie move from her. She probably won’t say anything, she’ll silently seethe.

Oh I do love a diagram ! You have done nothing wrong hold your head up high and ignore if she says anything

Surely if you bumped into the person you spoke to, it's not unlikely they'd have carried on that eay anyway. Easy enough for them to say they'd noticed it was looking more sparse.

If she challenges you, just say they do regular inspections. She’s not to know otherwise.

As the others said, she is in the wrong. Just shrug and say you saw the property
manager on their rounds doing an inspection when you walked your dog the other day.

It's not a lie, you don't need to tell her you spoke to them.

So true, crimes take place in dead of night. She is clearly no Moriarty.

If she didn’t like the original view she shouldn’t of moved in, selfish cow

Ime i wouldn't expect much action! Our neighbours over the back had our tree cut in half... it had a protection order on it.
Man from the council said never mind it will grow back.

I love the Australian way of dealing with this.

Instead of your nature view you can look at this until it's regrown back.

So far I've managed to avoid her, notices have not been sent out yet though, so it could be still some weirdness to come, but as you guys have said, she was the one doing wrong, so I won't let myself stew too much.
I'm just so cross she thinks she can do this like it's fine, or like it's her own personal things she is destroying, rather than not hers, and specifically, preserved nature.
Silly cow.

That's brilliant! Perhaps the OP's local council could arrange for a large sign to be hung on a level with the trees she vandalised.

Small update, very sternly worded letters were delivered to every resident today, stating the landscapers hard found damage, explaining the legal consequences and that any fines administered to the property would be passed on the the offender.

I complained about a few neighbours fly tipping their garden rubbish into the park we all backed onto...I then moved down the road and that lot dont seem to see me when im out and about:) but was so abboying..some of us paid 70 a year for a green bin. They all got a letter saying the area was being watched and fly tipping was an offence

Good diagram . Especially impressed with the little fishies added into the water . 🐟

They’re the ones who should feel embarrassed and ashamed

The letter has dissociated you (in its timing of delivery) and indicated the landscapers have made the discovery. Throw Moriarty further off the scent by not avoiding her.