They cut my gorgeous cherry tree down

[babyno5]

I know it’s not important in the grand scheme of things.
I had a garden maintenance business is to give me a quote to cut down couple of conifers, pull up some bushes and bring my hedge down to a manageable height.
I’ve come home from work to find they’ve also cut down my gorgeous 30 foot cherry tree. I’m so upset! We have zero privacy upstairs now and I hate how it looks.
I was really clear on what I wanted them to do. I text him and all I got was “sorry I misunderstood you”
Suggestions please to make a horrible hedge look better!
Aibu to be close to tears? (Be gentle with me-shit day at work dealing with idiots!!)

Do you mean completely cut down, as in just a stump left? Or severely trimmed it?

OMG.

I think I'd take them to court.

Honestly.

I am so sorry!

Get them to pay for and plant a replacement, they will have insurance!!!

30' May not be possible granted...

I don’t blame you OP. I would be distraught. He needs to replace it or give a percentage off his invoice. He didn’t misunderstand, he just didn’t listen!

Id kill them, yanbu OP. d be annoyed if it was a general tree / bush but even I know the difference between a conifer and your poor tree :(

Have you instructions you gave him in writing? If so, he needs to agree to replace the cherry tree with a very similar tree, or you should tell him you’ll take him to small claims.

I'd take them to court

Id be heartbroken. Yanbu

Sadly not in writing just verbal.
terramirabilis I have a stump left 😢😢

Tell him you expect a replacement cherry tree. A proper mature tree (it might not be 30 foot but you can buy big trees) and not a shitty sapling. And he has 30 days to sort or you’ll take him to the small claim’s court.

I would reply, acknowledge that THEY misunderstood and have said that is the case in writing. Then ask them when they plan to replace the tree with a like for like. If they don't reply or say they won't be replacing then take them to court.

Sue the arse off them . They must be a bit simple to not understand the difference between "cut it down" and "DON'T cut it down".
It's fairly fundamental...

Verbal contract is still a contract...

I would take pics and say replacement needed, like as possible. Or you will take them to court and crucify them on social media.

Oh no! The tree has a financial value no doubt and he should be replacing it with an equivalent or as near in size as you can get. Or paying you for it. Unacceptable!

Did he give you a quote in writing?

Fucking dickhead.

I'd be monumentally pissed off. Sorry, we misunderstood, would not cut it. How are you going to fix this, is your next question. We have a cherry tree in our, rented, garden, it's beautiful! Full of singing birds at this time of year, a joy to put bird seed holders in, in winter. I love our birdie population! I'd be crying too!

I’m so glad none of you lovelies have told me to just suck it up!!

Oh my goodness. I feel for you - we had an utter eejit in the allotments behind us take it upon himself to remove a good part of our very old hedge. It upset me too.

Have you got it in writing what you wanted them to do? Either way, as others have said try to come to an agreement for a replacement. We got £100 from the guy that decimated our hedge which paid for fast growing climbers to (sort of) fill the gap.

He quoted me by text and I’ve just found it and he’s been quite prescriptive in his text (specifying conifers and shrubs) and NO mention of cherry tree.

Cutting down a tree isn't something I would ever do lightly. I'd always check with the householder that they wanted me to chop down this specific tree here, not just crack on.

I agree with others - small claims.

That’s awful! I love cherry trees. I would be so upset.

Then he didn't misunderstand at all.

I would send his text back to him and ask where he mentioned the cherry tree in it. Then tell him he needs to rectify asap.

Ok you absolutely have it in writing.

Send the text back, be very polite and say you expect a replacement - a reasonable replacement - or you will take it to small claims.