Emergency - stop neighbour’s trees being cut down

[woodpigeons]

I live in an area with a lot of mature, very big trees.
Our next door neighbour recently died. The house is for sale and I have just heard that the people who inherited it plan to have several mature trees, where birds nest every year, cut down.
The trees are not causing any problems at all. We are the only neighbours who would be affected and we love them, they are beautiful, and love seeing the birds come back every year to build their nests.
They already sent some sort of cowboy gardener to cut back the dividing front hedge where birds are nesting. DH noticed when they’d almost finished and when he spoke to the ‘gardener’ about it he laughed and said he was always finding eggs but never enough to make an omelette.
I know about applying to the council for a tree preservation order if there isn’t one already. Also about the Countryside act and will contact them on Monday.
However these people who have inherited the house are not reasonable. They are most likely to send unqualified people to cut down the trees, even this weekend.
If that happens can anyone tell me if there is anything I can do please?

Don’t get involved op
The son might move in just despite you

Let the house sell and hopefully the new owners will plant some trees

@TruffleWuffle we've been strictly told that we can't "look after" them. We can't do a thing UNTIL they're diseased. I would suggest you take the advice of the council rather than the tree surgeon that wants your money.

We would love to keep them healthy rather than wait, but that's not an option.

@OhNoooNotAgain - thanks, that’s such a shame. I wonder if it varies for county council. We lived in the same borough previously, so know the department involved. The tree surgeon submitted the planning application and photos for me, but it’s the council tree officer who comes to my house to inspect the trees before granting permission (fairly lengthy process of 6-8 weeks, I think because he’s so busy).

ppeatfruit, it's not shade where we can sit sadly! Some is flowerbed and some is steps. I won't be doing much about it as I like the doves, and we can't afford to pollard it anyway. The honeysuckle and the climbing rose are making their way towards it and we'll see what happens then - other than it becoming very pretty and fragrant!

Your tree is helping to oygenate the world though jux I'm pleased because the remaining very nude looking leylandii is now host to a fast growing clematis montana which is scented too, I put honeysuckle under it, hopefully that'll join it.

@TruffleWuffle we were told not to waste the money on an application because it won't be approved until diseased or proven danger. Good luck with yours anyway!

truffle That's a real shame about the oak though, they are best trees for wildlife; more than any other esp. a very old one.

Trying to protect nesting birds isn't straight forward. A developer has recently (1st June 2020) removed several protected trees (as approved as part of an approved planning application where the trees where impeding the development). He did this during nesting season and I thought it illegal so I informed my Council who told me the Police Environmental agency cover this in legal terms and therefore the Council don't. When I looked at complaining about this on the Police's web page it stated nothing about nesting birds and instead is anyone injured in immediate damage etc. In other words it seemed not to be an appropriate web page for complaining about nesting birds. Also if the developer had had a proven bird nest survey carried out , that would have been okay. But also, the requirement for a bird nest survey are limited to such things as old barns, conservation area etc. So it's not at all straight forward. The Council has now granted permission for him to trim back and lay the remaining protected trees on the site and he won't bother about nesting birds. I tried to stop the Council given permission for the developer to cut back and lay protected trees for no sound arboricultural reason but I can't find how to do it. When the developer was asked if he knew the trees were protected he said "I don't care a S*". And he really doesn't! He'd say the same for nesting birds when he lays that hedge too. It's hard to do anything it seems about developer's or anyone that doesn't leave this type of work till nesting season is over! Soory for the rant!