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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour dug up boundary hedge without even discussing

50 replies

meandthem · 18/11/2018 01:01

I know there are terrible things going on in the world right now, and in the big picture this may sound petty, but today I have been reduced to tears of frustration as my bloody neighbour has hired a digger and totally uprooted and removed our shared boundary hedge (around 6 metres) at the front of our semi-detached property. He doesn't actually live there and has kept it empty and derelict for years but from time to time has a spurt of action in weird directions. It remains uninhabitable with no functioning bathroom or kitchen, but he is basically planning a carpark for 2 cars at the front, which he told me about ages ago. The environmental vandalism was done on Thursday but I only really saw the damage fully this morning, in the horrible light of day. I was taking photos when he arrived this a.m. and started casually chatting like nothing was wrong....The upshot is he is convinced the roots were in his garden, but now we will never know as there is nothing left of them. It looks like a battlefield and we have lost all privacy that the well established hedge afforded us - it has been there around 40 years we think, having discussed with last owners of our property who moved in in the 80s. Do I have any legal recourse as I know boundaries and hedges can be a nightmare to rule on from an ownership perspective or do I have to just accept its done and tolerate his planned iron railings (which he probably picked up from a skip somewhere knowing him). He thinks he is a builder but is an A-grade bodger by the way - I have seen his other "work". Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

OP posts:
naicepineapple · 18/11/2018 01:06

What do the property deeds say about who owns it?

Original poster
meandthem · 18/11/2018 01:16

I haven't got my hands on the deeds today but when I last looked the boundary was just marked out on the plan/drawing. I don't recall specific mention of a hedge but then I don't know how it works as the house is old (1870s) so hedge was probably not there then! The actual boundary is not in dispute, just where the roots of the hedge were or who "owned "it if that makes sense.

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 18/11/2018 01:18

If he owns it, then there's not a lot you can do. Can you plant your own hedge so that it is on your property?

HeddaGarbled · 18/11/2018 01:28

A driveway for two cars is not a car park! I would have some sympathy for you but that ridiculous statement has made me think you’re being a drama queen. Grow your own hedge up against his iron railings and all will be well.

Original poster
meandthem · 18/11/2018 01:33

Yes I can plant own hedge totally on my side, but it will take several years of growing to replace what was there, which was mixed foliage/shrubs with lovely berries and about 7 foot high. It wasn't a boxy privet thing, it was more a wall of mixed shrubs that somebody had planted with thought and care - we just don't know who planted it and when, and neither does he.. As he has ripped out the roots and in doing so ploughed up a wide stretch of earth that includes both sides of the boundary - we will never know where it was originally planted.

OP posts:
Original poster
meandthem · 18/11/2018 01:42

Hedda, I take your point that the term "carpark" may not suit a driveway for 2 cars and am using it to vent my spleen regarding his inconsiderate actions. All will be well after several years and several hundred pounds replacing ripped out planting I suppose..

OP posts:
BouleBaker · 18/11/2018 01:47

What an arse. The deeds may show who owned the boundary but it’s unlikely to be worth pursuing him even if it was yours. It would also probably make him behave even more like an arse if you did. Let him get his railings in and then plant some largish shrubs.

indieshuffle · 18/11/2018 02:04

This would make me so mad too. Nature is precious.

I guess all you can do is take pics and investigate the boundary and expect to replant on your side. If he has gone onto your property with the excavation then it suggests that it wasn't purely on his side, so maybe he would agree to give you something towards the replanting, but I wouldn't hold my breath :(

If it proves to be your boundary then you will have recourse I think and then it is probably worth asking for something towards the expense. If nothing else it might make him hesitate before he goes around destroying things but some people just don't care.

Shriek · 18/11/2018 02:11

What has he done with it? Has it been totally destroyed, as you could simply replant it if the shrtbs are still there and put it just your side of the boundary?
He will not be able to stick his railings on the boundary unless that boundary is his responsibility and his equivalent of a wall, where the boundary wall on one side belongs to one side and so on.

Original poster
meandthem · 18/11/2018 02:44

Good question - he usually stores the results of his labours. i,e, chopped down bits of tree, random large branches, in his living room with the cement mixer (can see thru patio door), unlike the general rubble/ bricks/ chunks of broken up cement which he likes to keep in the back garden for several years. I do not think anything is retrievable unfortunately and to be honest do not ever wish to have a conversation with him again.
By the way, attached "after" picture.
Thanks for comments - feeling calm enough to head to bed now.

OP posts:
Shriek · 18/11/2018 02:55

Oh, that's a shame....well gladit cleared your head a bit for a rest. After pic?! Am expecting devastation.

kateandme · 18/11/2018 03:06

meandthem I know it doesn't stop the upset of wahts done.what happening around the world is something to think about but it doesn't stop something relative to you and your life being upsetting so don't compare.you right to be a bit ufffffd bout this.
if it helps my cousin used to work for a company that did ready made hedges.so they are already where it would usually take years to be and u plant them and then they knit together and wam bam hedge!
some thing like this www.impactplants.co.uk/product/instant-hedges-portuguese-laurel-troughs/

Weenurse · 18/11/2018 03:09

Looking for picture as well. Sorry this is your experience. Is there anyway you can get some cuttings to identify the plants for planning new hedge?

RebootYourEngine · 18/11/2018 04:55

Your neighbour sounds like an arse.

I would look at replanting a hedge and be thankful that he doesnt actually live next door.

speakout · 18/11/2018 05:25

OP who owns the hedge?

A boundary can't be a hedge.

It will be a fixed line, sometimes marked by a fence or posts. If not will be a line extrapolated from buildings.

Happypie · 18/11/2018 05:38

There is no pit

Happypie · 18/11/2018 05:38

*Picture attached

Henrysmycat · 18/11/2018 05:52

I’ve had something similar. Well taken care leylandii that created a nice top half of a fence on the back garden between us and the neighbour. The trees were our neighbour’s but fence was common and we had replaced it with previous owners 4 years back giving both of us complete privacy and a back fence that’d make Buckingham palace green with envy.
New owner moved in and cuts the leylandii in half though he left 9ft stipped stubs and put right up to the fence a homemade shed made with random styrofoam pieces and old car matts. (I still find broken pieces of styrofoam on my garden). This is an extremely expensive property with big garden.
Within months, we planted our own privet with established Photinia red robin that grow fast. That was an expense I could do without but it was not my trees so can’t complain.

DartmoorDoughnut · 18/11/2018 05:53

I’d be so cross, sounds like it was a beautiful hedge

A580Hojas · 18/11/2018 05:55

God, people can be unbelievable knobheads can't they? I would be absolutely raging in your position too. I can only assume he dug it up because he's pretty confident it belongs to him - but to not even talk to you about it? It's still worth checking the deeds though. So sorry this has happened.

ROSE65 · 18/11/2018 06:06

Some people should live in the middle of a field.. totally selfish & to not even politely advise you..

daisychain01 · 18/11/2018 06:10

but it will take several years of growing to replace what was there, which was mixed foliage/shrubs with lovely berries and about 7 foot high. It wasn't a boxy privet thing, it was more a wall of mixed shrubs that somebody had planted with thought and care

We uprooted an old missed hedge at the front of our previous house some years ago because it was past it's best, and a bit of an eyesore, and replaced it with a mixed beech hedge (green and copper) which took about 3 years to get established. It was beautiful and gave privacy and nesting for songbirds.

Don't worry it probably does look very empty but it's easily fixable for not a lot of money. Get barefoot hedging, they're very affordable and better quality.

daisychain01 · 18/11/2018 06:11

mixed

daisychain01 · 18/11/2018 06:12

Bare-root not barefoot Grin

Nanny0gg · 18/11/2018 07:18

Can you contact your council about the state of the house? I doubt you are allowed to leave it in a derelict state. Is he planning to rent the parking spaces?
And a solicitor about the boundary.