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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbour stole our woodland?

983 replies

TwittleBee · 27/01/2019 07:00

Our DGrandad left me and my sister his woodland when he passed away a few years ago. It isn't anything that special (as in its not protected and hasn't any distinguished species) but does have a TPO on a couple of trees. It is a place that my sister and I visit occasionally and thought that perhaps we could use it as a place to "wild camp" with the kids this summer for a few weekends. Even had insipiration from what George Clark created in a piece of woodland in his series Amazing Spaces and thought maybe one day with enough money we could do the same.

Anyway, we went down there this weekend to have a look to see if we could maybe clear a patch for a good tent destination, Thought it be good to do this now before everything starts flourishing in the spring.

To our shock it's all been fenced off and there has been some very obvious clearing of trees and shrubs! We knocked on the nearest house to ask what's happened to our woodland and the couple that lived there informed us that they have now taken it as their own and have started keeping it in order for past couple months. They said that it now makes our land legally theirs?

Obviously we shall be seeking legal advice but in the meantime, can what they claim actually be correct?

Just seems so unfair? Surely that would mean I could just fence off any land and claim it as my own?

OP posts:

HazelBite · 25/02/2019 09:41

I can't believe that you and your sister are the only victims of the CFF's (Cheeky Fucker fencers).
It beggars belief that they think this is okay to do!

Aberforthsgoat · 25/02/2019 09:51

I hope you get this sorted OP and the neighbours don't drag it on and on

RandomMess · 25/02/2019 10:25

Presumably you can write and inform them if it is not removed by x date you will be instructing a contractor to remove it and you will take them to court to recover all costs incurred? If it's below small claims court value that isn't too costly?

PeterPiperPickedWrong · 25/02/2019 10:26

That’s a huge amount of fencing then! Lovely diagram, would be great if you and the other neighbours could join forces. Joint action might be cheaper? Glad those with tpo haven’t been touched. With the fence and the clearing they have obviously put a lot of work/money into their actions. Bizarre when it isn’t theirs and they will lose all their money.

What sort of ages are they do you know? Just curious as to what sort of generation thinks this is okay

ThanosSavedMe · 25/02/2019 10:31

Wow! They’re unbelievable. Think you need to go back to the solicitor. Good luck

SoupDragon · 25/02/2019 10:32

You kind of have to admire their cheek. How on earth did they think this was OK?

Original poster

TwittleBee · 25/02/2019 10:47

@PeterPiperPickedWrong I think they are in there late 50s - he is certainly a builder or at least knows the trade.

And yes to joint forces, I think that is a sensible route to take.

OP posts:

ALargeGinPlease · 25/02/2019 11:38

I liked the idea of a pp suggesting (in writing) that you offer to buy the fencing from them, or if they don't agree within a short timescale, to assume it is a gift, as the cost of that must have been quite high (assuming it's good fencing).
The other thing to factor in, is the cost of the wood they have stolen from you. If they have cleared quite a lot, they could be using it themselves on a wood burner and the cost of logs is not cheap, so that could be offset against the cost of the fencing.
It never ceases to amaze me how cheeky some people are.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/02/2019 11:44

he is certainly a builder or at least knows the trade

Ouch In that case do make sure that, if any contact has to be made with regulators such as the local council, it's done strictly by the book and that you have proof of absolutely everything

In my experience of these things, such types will often have contacts who can be ... err ... persuaded to see things their way, and sometimes this can complicate matters

Hopefully this CF is just a common-or-garden tosser without undue influence, but it's worth keeping in mind

Brahumbug · 25/02/2019 12:45

Excellent diagram. You should take a straight forward approach, get an injunction to cease and desist with the trespass. If you can afford it, put up a fence between the woodland and the CFs. You really should keep Twittlebee wood as its name!

flumpybear · 25/02/2019 13:26

Goodness!!!!
I'm sorry but I'd be putting up signs all along the fence saying private land owned by .... Twittlebee Woods keep off private land or you will be prosecuted to the FULL extent of the law

SoupDragon · 25/02/2019 13:30

he is certainly a builder or at least knows the trade.

Ah. The first thing that I noticed on your excellent diagram was the nice roadside frontage of your wood. Is there any chance, however small, that panning permission would be granted on the land? It might be worth checking no applications have been made - you don't need to own the land to make a planning application.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 25/02/2019 13:31

Original poster

TwittleBee · 25/02/2019 13:34

SoupDragon It is Green Belt and whilst it could potentially be classed as infill land the area is outside of a settlement boundary. Plus it is a designated woodland in the LP and has TPOs so I dont think any one would risk getting planning unless it was their land?

Still cant believe they took a chunk of our neighbours land too along with ours! Our neighbours were away on holiday and came back to the fences! Needless to say they were shocked! They intend to take the fences around their land down this week if the CF doesnt.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 25/02/2019 13:41

Isn't there something called "outline planning" or lplannkgn in principle". Something where the council says whether you are likely to get a full planning application through.

MyOtherProfile · 25/02/2019 14:36

@TwittleBee thanks so much for the diagram. Can't believe they haven't moved the fences yet!

WiddlinDiddlin · 25/02/2019 14:45

Thankyou for the update...

Joining forces with the other neighbour sounds great - I'd be inclined to send a solicitors letter demanding the fence removed or you'll burn it... and then I might book a four day rave party on the site... :D :D

Jux · 25/02/2019 14:46

Outrageous! I think I a joint.offensive from you and the other neighbour is definitely the way.to go. I suspect you can take the scenes down if you give them back to the CFs, a bit like popping off I overhanging branches from neighbours trees or plants.

That diagram is indeed a Thing of Beauty.

Darkbaptism · 25/02/2019 14:52

I wonder if they realised they were also stealing another neighbors land or just assumed it was all yours.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/02/2019 16:06

Still cant believe they took a chunk of our neighbours land too along with ours!

I can Once types like this start they don't let go and they don't appreciate "being told"

I agree with SoupDragon that it's worth checking the planning application site even though it's unlikely anything's been submitted, but in the end your only way out of this will be the legal route ... unfortunately nothing else is likely to work

Original poster

TwittleBee · 25/02/2019 16:14

I have checked planning actually, nothing submitted and those that have recently applied for planning in the area have been refused

OP posts:

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/02/2019 16:21

Good news about the planning; at least that's one problem less

All you need now is your solicitor back on the case - and if this idiot's the type of builder who'll pull such a stunt, I'll be very surprised if they've not already heard similar stories. I had something broadly similar myself, and when I told the legal bod the name she just put her head in her hands

Hittapotamus · 25/02/2019 16:23

I think those neighbours are going to prove useful as your eyes and ears to compliance with solicitors letters.

YetAnotherUser · 25/02/2019 16:26

Disposable BBQ, lit and pushed up against a fence panel.

Just saying...

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 25/02/2019 16:33

That would be a brilliant idea if the OP owned a small piece of swampland YetAnotherUser. But it's a small wood, consisting almost entirely of ... wood, the same burnable material as the fence.

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