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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour keeps cutting my hedge

56 replies

Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 12:55

I moved in over a year ago, and the neighbour to the back of my garden keeps cutting my laurel hedge. Now he's not even had the decency to come round and let me know he's going to make a huge mess of leaves and cuttings in my garden, he just happily starts cutting it. I've got a young baby so I've had an hour's sleep last night and wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable in being a bit peeved. It might be useful to add that this is NOT a boundary hedge - it's actually our property. I don't mind him cutting any overhanging branches on his side but the fact is, he was standing on ladders, reaching over at least 3-4 ft onto my side and cutting or should I say, hacking at my hedge so that our side looked a mess. Luckily my other DC wasn't out at the time because he was happily throwing the hedge trimmer over to get a better reach. God forbid that he threw it too far and it caused injury!
I don't know what to do, I hate confrontation... And I'm worried about it being cut back too far because I've heard a very loud, big dog round there sometimes and I worry for the safety of my children if it gets through the hedge.

Any advice is very much appreciated

Signed off - a very tired, stressed out mumma.

OP posts:
BogglesGoggles · 28/09/2019 12:58

YABU to be put out. You just need to go over and tell him to stop politely. It doesn’t have to be a confrontation just a ‘Hi, I’m neighbour behind you. Please stop cutting our hedge. Thanks’

Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:01

Thanks - I should have explained, I said confrontation because I know that's what it will become. I've heard him talking to another neighbour over the fence and he's very stubborn and rude and I think that's what worries me to go round

OP posts:
HennyPennyHorror · 28/09/2019 13:01

I can't believe you didn't tackle him! There are three ways to deal with this.

One: Go round there and knock on his door and say "I see you've been cutting my hedge, well I'd much rather you didn't do this again. Thank you"

Two: Write a note and post it.

Three: wait till you see him over the hedge in his own garden and call out breezily "Please don't do the hedge again, I want it left alone. You can of course trim your own side but don't touch mine.

It won't feel nice if you're not fond of confrontation...but you're not confronting him...you're protecting your property because h'es a cheeky person.

BlueEyedBengal · 28/09/2019 13:02

It's not going to stop and he needs to get the message, so tell him firmly that you will be the one cutting it in future and he is not to trespass over your garden as well. If that doesn't work then contact the council for advice

CallMeRachel · 28/09/2019 13:05

It's vandalism he should not be damaging any plants on your property.

I'd be wrapping electrical cable round the hedge so he gets zapped the next time he interferes with it. GrinWink insert evil laughter

He is obviously one of those busybodies who believes he has the right to decide on the height and appearance of neighbouring trees and bushes.

Watch for him doing it again and go out and shout in a headmistress type stern voice, what on earth he thinks he's doing to your property.

TheAlternativeTentacle · 28/09/2019 13:08

How is he getting into your garden?

Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:09

Thank you for the replies. Our garden slopes upward towards this hedge so it's a privacy issue too. I have reason to believe he wasn't very nice to the previous owners too about this. I guess I need to realise it's a necessity to confront sometimes but I'm quite a reserved person after years of bullying at a young age. I know he will belittle me and make me feel awful, going by how he spoke to another neighbour. I just feel overwhelmed with trying to keep on top of everything right now (don't we all!) And he's just added to it - when I'll find time to clear his mess up I don't know..

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:10

Callmerachel haha! You made me chuckle! But yes you described him perfectly.

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Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:11

@TheAlternativeTentacle he's using a ladder and leaning over very dangerously whilst flinging an extended hedge cutter over.

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Stayawayfromitsmouth · 28/09/2019 13:15

Maybe he thinks he's doing you a favour? Just pop round and ask him politely to clear up his mess and to ask you if you want the hedge cutting next time he gets the urge. Keep it friendly first time. If he kicks off be prepared to have a go back at him. Don't be a pushover.

DontCallMeShitley · 28/09/2019 13:19

Some tall metal spikes or those metal supports covered in green plastic hidden in the hedge would stop him cutting it, just the height you want to keep the hedge. If he hit them with his hedge cutter although he might be upset about damaging it, you could then point out that he should not be interfering with your property and that he should leave the hedge alone. You are perfectly within your rights to support your hedge to keep it upright.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 28/09/2019 13:20

You can send him a note saying please refrain from handling my bush but that might send the wrong message.

Or you can go round, say, very politely, thanks you for helping us with with the hedge but we will take over from here. No confrontation at all.

Mummyoflittledragon · 28/09/2019 13:23

He’s obviously used to getting his own way. If you think he is going to be an arse, you could confront his cheeky fuckery face on. “I did not give you permission to cut my hedge. For the sake of neighbourly relations I will not be pursuing you for damages. However if you continue to destroy my property, I will be forced to do so.”

zebra22 · 28/09/2019 13:23

We had this issue with light neighbour. Asked him politely to stop and he didn’t, so we pooped a note through the door explaining that what he was doing was trespassing, along with the relevant legislation, and that we would take it further if he didn’t stop.

He never did it again

BlackCatSleeping · 28/09/2019 13:25

If you don’t want to talk to him, maybe just pop a polite but firm note through his door. It sounds like he will probably carry on regardless though.

RosemarysBush · 28/09/2019 13:25

I like Dontcallmeshitley ‘s advice.

CatsOnCatnip · 28/09/2019 13:26

I’d be chucking that mess back over into his garden. Cheeky bastard.

CallMeRachel · 28/09/2019 13:29

So, if I'm picturing this correctly...his property backs onto yours and is of a higher position. Therefore his house is overlooking yours, so by growing the bush up in height you feel this gives you a bit of privacy screening from his property?

If yes, why does he feel it necessary to chop it down to allow him a view into your private property?

Do you have children?

Mummyme1987 · 28/09/2019 13:29

tell him not to touch it again as it’s criminal damage, that might shut him up.

Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:31

You're all giving me a good giggle - thank you that's just what I needed! But also some good advice here - I wasn't sure what I was allowed to do because it was around 7ft tall and I've heard there's some max height of 6ft but I'm not sure. The funny thing is, this man has a hugeeee tree that completely blocks his poor neighbours sunlight almost to their entire garden so for him to have to audacity to cut our hedge is beyond me. Thank you all for some great advice, laughter and for letting me have a good old moan. I think I will watch like a hawk and ask him to stop the next time I see him do it. @zebra22 that's good to know, this is what I need to do but baby brain won't allow!

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Original poster
Daisyzxcv · 28/09/2019 13:33

@CallMeRachel yeah I've got children. This hedge runs along the back of my garden, but to the side of his, so not directly looking into our house but for definite he can see over easier now from his windows upstairs. It does make me feel quite uncomfortable

OP posts:
Grambler · 28/09/2019 13:35

How often does he do it? I'm thinking one of those fox deterrent motion activated water guns pointing at him Grin But you could write to him formally to tell him to desist from cutting it again and warn him that you have placed spikes/posts in the hedge preventing him from doing so if he trespasses again.

Tonnerre · 28/09/2019 13:42

You need at least to ask politely before getting more formal. Ask him when you're both out in the garden, that way you can simply walk away if he gets rude. If he does start arguing, say loudly "It's not up for discussion, this is my property on my land and I'm asking you to stop now." If he carries on after that, consider formal notes threatening legal action.

CallMeRachel · 28/09/2019 13:43

If it's not a boundary hedge you can grow it as high as you like, there's no regulation about that.

Your options are;
1/. Tell him to leave your hedge alone, make clear it's solely your property and not shared and what he is doing is criminal damage.

2/. Put spikes on the inside (your side) if the boundary fence/wall so that if he's leaning over it to cause damage to your hedge he will become tangled and clothing torn.

3/. Wrap chicken wire round the hedge or on a frame behind the hedge to act as a physical barrier from the pesky twat.

Personally, I'd probably do all three.

Smelborp · 28/09/2019 13:50

You’ve been there a year and he keeps doing it so he’s also doing it too often even if he was allowed.

If birds are nesting and he cuts it, he could be breaking yet another law.

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