To ask the vicar!?

[howmuchwoodwouldawoodchuckchuc]

...... to sort out their tree!?

Over the weekend, the High winds caused a branch to literally crack and hang down - the tree is in the graveyard, situated behind our house. Our house is lower than the graveyard and the tree hangs over us:

The branch that is hanging is around 20ft long, the branch width is around 3ft - so it's a big blighter!

I don't want it to take out the fence when it eventually drops.

The vicar says it's not the churches responsibility (?) and that hallowed ground belongs to the local council... but the council say they don't own this bit of land.

Aibu to think, the vicar is trying to get out of paying for a tree surgeon?

Photo and diagram below:

I work in this area. The Ministry of Justice will be able to say whether the churchyard is closed i.e. more than likely the council's responsibility.

How long has the baby full been there? He a’right?

^gull, not full

@chloworm Ministry of justice sounds brilliantly like a Harry Potter excerpt!

Don't ask the vicar - (s)he is unlikely to know. Best thing to do is to call the Diocesan Office tomorrow morning and ask to speak to the Secretary to the DAC - assuming it's CoE then that's the department responsible for church yards and will be able to advise (I work in a Diocesan Office...).

@JustHereForThePooStories his parents also join him. To sing the song of their people at 5am.

Definitely the best diagram I’ve seen!

Bear in mind that the church- depending on its size- may have no money. People don't realise that your local church is generally sustained entirely by the congregation. In my case, that is about 25 of us. The heating, repairs, and contribution to the cost of a vicar leave us struggling to find money for tree surgeons. Of course if it's our tree, we pay. Don't assume though that there is a big pot of money for the vicar to dip into at will!

That diagram is a work of art. You should print it out, frame it and hang it in pride of place. Also, you should attatch it to your CV when you apply for jobs as a professional diagram artist.

Seagull baby 🤣🤣🤣

@picklemepopcorn

I wouldn't expect anyone to pay if it wasn't their responsibility.....

And I certainly don't go about imagining the church to be full of gold coins like Scrooge mcDucks house!!!!

You are clearly right! The vicar must be lying as s/he has not produced a diagram to prove otherwise.

On a side note, my firstborn wants to be an architect. Will you raise him for me please?

😂😂😂

Good idea to call the Diocesan DAC. They might have a list but if not the Ministry will help. Their website has a phone number. Unfortunately the paperwork for these things is often lost. Both the council and the church have responsibility for health and safety though so keep all correspondence.

I see dead people ...

Tie off the limb, cut it free, lower to the ground, let the church and council decide who should clear it if they don't want it to rot there - job done.

Ooh diagram queeeeeeeen.
Did you use a font or have you got cool hand writing?

No advice about the tree, but the vicarious seems to be shirking his responsibility.

Most likely its the council.. ring them again and ask for their plans so you can confirm who is responsible.

Will no one think of the baby seagull????????? Nice diagram OP

I agree with PP, you should speak to your vicar's boss. Call God and get him to sort it out!

Our Parish Council has a tree warden (don't know if they all do) might be worth checking out.

Beautiful diagram. Nice picture too. A picture of your baby seagull would be nice and add context

That is the best MN diagram ever [star

sorry, here's the rest of your star

I would approach this from a Health and Safety point of view.

The enforcing authorities under the HSWA74 are the Health and Safety Executive for local authority-run burial grounds and the local authorities for churchyards

You should be able to work out who runs or owns the cemetery with a bit of googling. Look on your LA website.