To think my neighbours are CF's

[stayathomegardener]

So... new neighbours moved in about six months ago.
They are not next door, we are on a farm so they are up the road but our land adjoins their garden.
That particular piece of land is mixed woodland.
I first met them when they came round and asked us to cut the brambles down next to their garden.
I was slightly taken aback and explained that the only reason brambles grow there is that we cleared a 5m strip of trees for the previous neighbours so they were not overshadowed, because there is no tree cover to shade out the weeds they grow.
Neighbour appeared fairly shocked that clearing this area was not something we planned to do, I did say they were welcome to cut the brambles down.
Anyway gave it some thought and went round the next evening to say look we will clear it this time but if you want it maintained you need to do it yourselves in future. All I ask is you let us know if you need access.

At the weekend I noticed not only have they been round but have cut the boundary hedge down to half it's height cleared all the weeds/ivy away from their garden and dumped it in a very neat line in the field (the neatness annoyed me even more)
The pile of rubbish is 30m long by a metre high.

CF's?
And what next?

[Eliza9917]

At the weekend I noticed not only have they been round but have cut the boundary hedge down to half it's height

Is it their hedge? If so, its their waste to dispose of. Put it back on their side. If its yours, they shouldn't have cut it.

cleared all the weeds/ivy away from their garden and dumped it in a very neat line in the field (the neatness annoyed me even more)

Was it growing on their side of the boundary? If so, its their waste to dispose of. Put it back on their side. If its yours, withdraw access and erect something to stop things on your side growing on to their side (reasonably).

I'd erect a (very ugly) fence and then replant trees/hedge on your side to avoid this issue in future.

[TabbyMumz]

Hang on...you haven't been very clear here op. They asked you to clear brambles that were on your land but hanging over their boundary? You said no but you can do it. They did it and now you are cross? If they cut something that belongs to you they are supposed to return it to you by law as it's your property. Did you really expect them to do your job and dispose of your waste too? I think you are the CF, not them!!!

[MapleLeafRag]

Ivy is poisonous to humans so I imagine it may not do livestock any good either left in a pile in a field.

These are the sort of twats who would put yew clippings in your field if they had them.

Yes you need to revoke their access at the very least.

[stayathomegardener]

Ok will try and be clearer.

The brambles were definitely not hanging over their side as the previous family selling asked if we minded if they reduced the hedge slightly prior to the sale of the property.
This was no problem and they worked from our side as so much easier and they didn't damage the garden. Any brambles at point of sale would have been trampled.

Six months after the sale new neighbours decide it needs tidying and ask us to do so.
On the spot I say no, then reflect and say ok we will cut it back this once but you need to keep on top of it if it bothers you, just let me know when you require access.
I assumed they would need to go through the locked gate opposite our drive.
Can't decide if they have cut a hole in the fencing or now the hedge is much reduced just opened up a gap right next to their drive.

Will definitely need to deal with it and yes revoke any rights of access.

[stayathomegardener]

Oh and bonfire no good as houses are semi detached and we have a good relationship with the family next door (despite DH scraping their grandparents car with a farm trailer almost as soon as they moved in)

[stayathomegardener]

I'm not sure who owns the hedge. A corner of the field was sectioned of to build a pair of Victorian Farm cottages that were then sold off in the 70's.

I'm not too precious about it beyond it being a defining boundary.

[yodaforpresident]

Is there a ditch beside the hedge - if so the usual rule is, whoever owns the ditch owns the hedge/ fence and vice versa.

[stayathomegardener]

No ditch and really not worried about ownership beyond removal/rubbish dumping.
It is right next to their house and realistically as I can't actually see it day to day I'm not even that excited about the height.
If they hadn't left the rubbish I doubt I would have noticed.

[Charlieiscool]

I don't think it is helpful to do what some have suggested here such as light bonfires when the wind is blowing towards them, plant leylandii etc. Do you really want to act like a spiteful bitch and wage war? I think it would be better to just communicate and be civilised with your neighbours.

[HeebieJeebies456]

I'm not sure who owns the hedge.

so dump the rubbish THEY generated back onto their side

[Bluelady]

Won't it all rot down anyway?

[stayathomegardener]

I'm not planning on falling out with anyone but being what I consider reasonable hasn't gone well so far.
Yes it will rot down it's all organic DH was just going to flail it down but my view is not getting rid of it sets the scene for more dumping.
It really is surprising what people will lob over a hedge.

[stayathomegardener]

Was thinking of putting a note through the door saying.

We noticed you have cut the hedge back and left/dumped? the rubbish.
There must have been a misunderstanding as I did say if you needed access to cut anything back to let us know first.

I would ask that you now don't access the field for any reasons, nor dump any further rubbish.
Also please be aware that the hedge is a boundary hedge and must not be removed.

Would seem reasonable I felt.

[stayathomegardener]

We will drag it out with a digger and burn it further away.
Will still be in sight though which may bring home what an enormous amount of rubbish it is when not in a neat line.

[Allthecoolkids]

I think you sound more unreasonable than them tbh, sorry.

They asked you and you said they could maintain it. They have done so. You seem angry that they have not done so in the way you would have imagined, despite not being clear in your own mind at the time or since exactly what that would have been.

You are angry they’ve trimmed a hedge which sounds more likely to be theirs than yours (right by their house, you can’t see it and don’t care about it). And 30 metres of waste suggests to me it really DID need doing.

Look, check your boundaries. They will have recently done this via the conveyancing. I think if you go in all guns blazing it would set things off on a poor footing and you don’t actually know that they’ve done anything wrong. Just not how you wanted it- that’s not the same thing.

[SundaysFunday]

I would change 'don't access the field for any reasons'

To read 'don't access our field (or our property) for any reasons'

[stayathomegardener]

Coolkids in my head I didn't need to be clear about what they would be doing because I said to let us know first so at that point anything could be discussed.

The rubbish is 30 m long because that is the hedge length.

[HuskyMcClusky]

Why are you planning on putting a note through their door? Just talk to them, fgs.

To be honest, if the way you write here is typical of the way you communicate, I’m not surprised they are confused.

[MadAssHatter]

In the first picture which side is which? Is the land to the left of the fence yours or the neighbours?

[stayathomegardener]

@HuskyMcClusky
I'm dyslexic and have quite jumbled thought processes so totally appreciate what you are saying.
Hence wanting to gather thoughts and put on a note.
Trust me I'm far worse verbally and especially on the spot!

[stayathomegardener]

First picture we are on the left.
Put the stock fence up ourselves 15ish years ago, when hedge was wider.
Which is why I'm concerned about them removing the hedge.

[PuppyMonkey]

Haven’t they just dumped all the weeds and ivy that were overgrowing into their garden from your wild woodland back onto your side because... well, it’s yours really?

I’m probably just not understanding it.

[stayathomegardener]

Yes that could be said puppy.

[MadAssHatter]

Right I see so the hedge is the boundary and the the land between is therefore yours presumably.

Apart from the rubbish they've left you, they've done a fairly neat job, which is something I guess. If you see them regularly maybe just have a word next time to say that you had been expecting them to let you know and you'd prefer that they didn't continue to maintain the space in the future. Mention the hedge is a boundary hedge. They perhaps think the fence is the boundary line? I think a note might just set things off on the wrong foot, where a face to face chat wouldn't?

[Witchend]

Brambles grow under trees too, so you can't blame that. At any rate the ones round here that grow best are down the centre of the woodland. We go there every year to pick them.