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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be furious that the man over the road is engaged in cutting down a beautiful and perfectly healthy small tree.

52 replies

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 14:18

The git gentleman has cut off all the branches and is trying to stuff them (unsuccessfully) in his green bin. I expect the trunk will be next but no idea about the roots He doesn't seem to have a tractor handy.....

I am LIVID. It was a really beautful tree. I asked what was wrong with it and he said it was getting too big and the roots were disrupting his drains. Arsehole! The tree was planted by the builders and like all the trees on our estate are on the edge of the boundary. I think the roots things is bollocks actually. Some people just don't ike trees and living things. I think these people fall in that class - their entire front garden is white pebbles.

So aibu to think he is a Telmarine tree hating vandal straight out of Prince Caspian?

(And don't give me any of that his tree, his choice bollocks! What is my cat going to climb down now?)

OP posts:

pollyblue · 03/06/2011 14:27

Maybe it was getting too big? Normally I'd agree with you, but I had to cut down a young, very beautiful plum tree in the garden a few months ago - was planted by the previous owners and was right in the middle of the lawn. While it was in fruit the (small) lawn was littered with fallen plums (not too bad) and shed-loads of wasps (bit bad). As have three little 'uns under 4, it wasn't ideal so sadly it had to go.

Could you plant another tree in your own garden to kind of balance things out (if you know what I mean?!)

Driftwood999 · 03/06/2011 14:32

Due to being told to agree with you, or as good as.

thefirstmrsrochester · 03/06/2011 14:32

If tree roots are growing into the drains, the only solution is to remove the tree, beautiful as it may be. Stinking sewage bubbling up from a cracked sewer is very unpretty. Shame though.

shirleyshortcut · 03/06/2011 14:35

we cut down a couple of trees in our garden as the roots were knocking the wall down and i was frightened in any wind, it would fall on next door and we would be liable

so yes you are being unreasonable

Original poster

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 14:36

Yes but I've seen no sewage - or any sign of problems and the drains he is so keenly protecting run underneath what should be garden but he parks one of his two cars on it.....so if the drains are knackered I'd be interested to know what part that's played!

Thanks for the biscuit Driftwood

I haven't really got room for a tree in our garden or I would have done so already - his front patch is quite big - the tree was about 12 feet from the house. In ours it would be two feet or 6 if I planted it at the other edge of my border but that would mean uprooting my lavender bush.

OP posts:

BovrilonToast · 03/06/2011 14:38

Until you've spent thousands having your drains repaired due to tree damage, you probably wouldn't think twice about what goes on underground.

So, YANBU to think cutting down trees is bad, but YABU to not consider the fact that it may be damaging the house...

Original poster

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 14:40

I am struggling to take his opinion on tree damage etc seriously not least because he is trying to cut down the tree with a small hacksaw blade..........I think he may be some time.

OP posts:

emmanana · 03/06/2011 14:43

The roots of most trees extend for at least the height of the tree, many are more. Large trees can lift 100 litres of water a day from the ground. If there is a dry spell (like now), then the roots grow a lot further. I would not want a tree right near my house if I could help it. We are battling with the local council to manage some 50 feet trees, on council land, 20 feet from our property. Our insurance company refuses to cover us if they are not reduced in size/properly managed. They have already caused problems lifting paving in the garden. I dread to think what is happening under the foundations...

ClaireDeLoon · 03/06/2011 14:48

YABU it is up to him, and if says it is causing drain damage then you have to accept that as true.

We cut down a tree soon after we moved in because it was really close (about 3ft!) to a neighbours garage and we didn't know if we'd end up liable for any damage it may have caused.

3littlefrogs · 03/06/2011 14:50

A tree in the garden of the rented property next door damaged our drains causing £12K insurance claim and a huge hike in our premiums.

I love trees, but large ones, innappropriately sited, can be a problem.

No idea whether the tree in question falls into this category though.

pollyblue · 03/06/2011 14:54

Northernlurker, shame you don't have room for one.....bonsai?? Doubt that would impress your cat though.

TechLovingDad · 03/06/2011 14:55

What business is it of yours? Are you just jealous that you can't have the tree that he's cutting down?

Original poster

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 15:01

Yes I am very jealous. It was a beautiful tree that I could look at every day and now I can't.

He's just driven off - to buy an axe?

OP posts:

Clayhead · 03/06/2011 15:06

I've just cut down two of our trees for the same reason.

It was really hard to do but the drains had been affected. The trees were planted by the developer 20 years ago and weren't massive but were planted within a couple of metres of the drains.

I love trees and living things but the cost of the drain repair was

katvond · 03/06/2011 15:07

Its his tree so let him do what he wants to Nosy neighbour :)

Toygirl · 03/06/2011 15:24

My neighbour cuts down his tree when it starts to get too big. Its a shame as its lovely, but its up to him. Maybe he was having problems as well

bonkers20 · 03/06/2011 15:25

Well, I am glad we live in a conservation area and you have to get permission to do any tree pruning. Some people feel the need to ALWAYS be chopping things down and then burning them.

TheFlyingOnion · 03/06/2011 15:43

oh dear, its a tree. He can do what he likes to it.

YABU (and slightly hysterical)

Original poster

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 15:44

Honestly has nobody read Prince Caspian?

OP posts:

Shoesytwoesy · 03/06/2011 15:46

yanbu

walesblackbird · 03/06/2011 15:50

We cut down three silver birch trees in our garden. They were too big and blocking our light. As well as blocking our beautiful view. We've replaced them with something smaller and more practical.

We have a beautiful acer which someone - before we bought our house - planted right outside the front door. When we moved in it was a bush, it's now a huge tree and you have to duck to get to the front door.

I don't want to get rid of it because it would cost a fortune to replace but it's planted in completely the wrong place and I don't know if I can prune an Acer?

His tree, so up to him really.

LineRunner · 03/06/2011 15:56

I'm taking a break from mega-pruning an apple tree in my garden. It has to be done. It means the loss of many of its sturdy old branches. In the growing season (ie now) the branches spread extensively and this year is the Big Chop I'm afraid. I can't have it encroaching on the neighbours and blocking light - and the roots need to be controlled.

Your bloke sounds like he's making a right hash of it, mind you.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 03/06/2011 15:58

No this isn't pruning or lopping - no problem with that. This is wholescale though cack handed destruction. I bet he doesn't replace it either

OP posts:

stillfrazzled · 03/06/2011 15:58

Maybe it's your cat he doesn't like?

MoreBeta · 03/06/2011 16:08

Sometimes trees really can be too big near a house, damage it, cast a huge shadow and generally reduce its value.

We have a 45ft high pine tree just 20 ft from our kitchen window.

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