Neighbour furious that I didn't consult her before I cut back some bushes!

[mumof2littlemonsters]

About a week ago I chopped down some (not all) bushes in my front garden. I moved a small half shed there (it holds a couple of child's bicycles) temporarily whilst we are having building work. My neighbour has just marched up to me very aggressively wanting to know what I have done with the garden. Why hadn't she been consulted? She had enjoyed a yellow rose on the corner for 10 years (we moved in about 18 months ago) - what had I done with it? We have a beautiful apple tree in our front garden which is still there. I have been told by her in the past that I should chop it down (more than once). She used to cut a lavender in our front garden (it wasn't overgrown). It's really bizarre but it's like she thinks our garden is an extension of her own. I wouldn't for a minute expect to be consulted if she wanted to change her garden/chop down a rose bush etc etc. I don't want to fall out with neighbours but I haven't a clue how to handle this woman. Has anyone had anything similar?

And ergo illegal by your reasoning Fitbit

I am a bat - quite old too - but whilst I think it normal parlance, I accept some sensitive souls may find it ageist if I associate the 2 - I would however never use the C word and I find that offensive. Back to the point - I have a neighbour who allows Russian vine to grow which invaded my shrubs and trees on the boundary and "pulled" them over - literally killed them so I cut it back and put the cuttings back in their garden as the law requires, allegedly as it's an invasive nuisance I could get an order to have them remove it at their expense and sue them for the damage, I've told them (I am a bat) and got abuse about it - their garden etc. So I just continue the rigorous pruning daily - of any strands that cross our boundary - they think I'm mad. I also have a new neighbour who has got a dog - noisy yappy thing, and wants us to replace our fence to stop it straying. We replaced the fence 2 years ago and the local foxes and badgers crash through it where it crosses their paths - I'm not replacing it again- they can chicken wire their side if they're bothered. There is a tree that was removed by said new neighbour which has benefited the areas light by removing it - but it did have a preservation order on it they obviously weren't aware of. I did mention it to them - I got abuse, I don't particularly care what they do in their garden but the Local Authority has endowed a lot of shrubs, trees and plants around here as "public amenities" so what's in your garden isn't necessarily for your good but could be for public enjoyment. I have one such tree - it's a nuisance Id like to out it, but apparently it enhances others views - not mine though, so be careful neighbours may have more say than you think.

But the person who said "ignore the old bat" didn't direct it at anyone on here. So to then be offended by that is a bit over the top IMO.

Some neighbours can get very 'territorial' about boundaries. Is the boundary actually shared with her? If so I suppose she thought it might have been nice to have been warned beforehand. If not you obviously don't need her permission to cut anything back.

It's a bit silly of her to mind quite so much about someone else's garden but some folks get like that. If she doesn't get out much your boundaries form part of her little world.

Yes please don't fall out with her just because you are in the right. She may have a strange view of the world, but you will still have to live next door.

When we had a falling out with our neighbours, although we were sure we were right, we took the view that good relations were more important. My husband took a bottle of wine round on the basis it was better to be friends than be right. We've never regretted it and are now friends.

I would discourage her cutting your plants though. Tell her they are particularly poisonous and you worry for her health if she goes near them.