To tell my neighbours their bonkers?

[Sparklyshoes16]

We've bought a house and absolutely love it and spending a lot of time and effort doing it up on the inside...as the weather is good we've decided to turn our attention to the garden and start clearing the jungle of overgrown bushes etc...as soon as we bought it we spoke to the neighbours and made it clear that we would be putting new fences up (matching the existing ones as our neighbour had taken out some panels) and getting the tree chopped back...the tree root is near the boundary but on their side...we had some people come round to give us a quote on how much to get the tree chopped back and to clear the garden etc our neighbour decided to come out and give them what for telling them it's a friendship tree and no one will be touching it as she hangs xmas tree lights up on it (there was non this Xmas just gone). I didn't actually know what to say so just smiled and said erm well no we discussed this and you agreed to have it chopped back and cut down a little and then ushered the garden people away from the mad woman...we know we have no legal standing on her cutting some of it down but according to her we can't make her cut it back either? We've checked the deeds over incased we'd missed something (we had already done that before we purchased) AIBU to tell her she's bonkers and to mind her own business? We've had no problems so far and always gone round to apologise for any builders noise but she has completely flipped on this...any advice?

All the pps who say you can cut back branches to the boundary are correct. You then have to offer them back and the neighbour can decline and you can dispose of them. Our neighbours just used to hurl them into our garden which made for good neighbourly relations. As she was always right, it wasn't fly tipping.

But you cannot "unbalance" the tree which you clearly will do. You cannot take anything off the height either.

"But you cannot "unbalance" the tree "

says who?

Why are people being so sentimental about an ugly conifer? It's just an overgrown bush and will only get bigger. I would want it trimmed back (only as much is as necessary and with care) to the boundary and the fencing continued, then I could put in plants of my choice.
From the photos it doesn't look like you'll have to cut that much, certainly not the "half a tree" that posters are clutching their pearl necklaces off.
I would have another chatty with the neighbour, be sympathetic, but firm and clear that the fencing needs to be put back.

As for posters saying they would fence around the tree, are you mad? It would look unsightly and you're effectively changing the boundary line, which would become legal after so many years. Also for that reason I would rip up the wire fence ASAP (now!) and give it back to them.

You can do whatever you like to anything growing on your land.

The 'unbalancing' comment is not true, nor is not reducing the height.

Basically if it's on your side you can do what you like - unless there's a Preservation Order in place. I don't think that monstrosity would qualify though

If it's a conservation order, it would be covered by the blanked tree protection in conservation areas - but I very much doubt that any sane Tree Officer would have to think more than 2 seconds before allowing works to it!

Nobody would put a conservation order on that fucker! 😂😂😂

Beyonddrinksandknowsthibgs yes it is...50% of tree plus around 20cm more.

If it's more on your land than hers, cut the fucking thing down.

Ooh, that's a real Privet Drive sort of a tree, yuk. And I speak as someone who LOVES plants and gardening.....
You can cut back any portion of it that's over your garden, If you don't like the branchy bit that's left behind, grow a clematis up it.

Did she move the fence and 'steal' the tree? I like the pp idea of older photos to check, and how far in her favour has the boundary been moved?

What an ugly, ugly tree.
I'd feign an allergy.

I agree with poster who said fuck giving her some of your land. Stop pussy footing around this horrible woman or you will never have any kind of peace from her. She needs putting in her place firmly ( iows on her side of the boundary) Also get rid of that ringfence around the bloody tree she has put up on your land. Sorry if already been mentioned but depending how long that's been there she could claim adverse possession if she keeps a bit of land fenced off unchallenged for so many years.

They're

If the fence is not on the true boundary, that also means that the tree could possibly be more on yours.

It's bloody ugly with its little green wire fence. If she claims that's hers as well, rip that up on your side and hand back.

When is the tree surgeon coming?

(Conservation area which wouldn't take any account of the tree but would still give it protection... )

I'm missing the whole point of this thread, but...

How is the grass in the right garden so green and lush! Makes mine look like hay bristles :(

I don't care what those hippy vegans say, we ARE sentient beings.

Will nobody think of the conifers?

UGALT, you ugly.

I'd let this one go op. It's so important to get on with neighbours were possible. If you were talking about an eyesore that would be different. My opinion is it looks quite pretty. Legally I have no idea.

Can u take a full on picture so we can see what it looks like, are their any gaps either side ?

Sorry just saw other pic

Kkkk123 sorry but no can't let it go yes completely agree it's important to get on with neighbours but at the same time we want it enclosing as previous posters have said for the reasons of children and in the not so distant future a dog...also for security.

Also something we also hadn't considered if we ever sell it in the future don't want any issues with selling because of boundaries etc we are putting a lot of time, effort and money into the house and don't want to lose that because of the garden.