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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Enormous tree in neighbour's garden

287 replies

treewoes · 27/10/2019 13:08

I live in a small terraced house. At the bottom of my next door neighbour's garden there's a huge tree. I'd say it's at least three times taller than the surrounding houses... probably about 100ft if I had to guess?

Every day the tree blocks the sunlight in my garden for about 3 hours solid in the early afternoon, before the sun swings back round again in the late afternoon/early evening.

I would really love to get the tree either significantly reduced in height or removed altogether, but obviously it's on my neighbour's land so it's not my call.

I don't know the neighbours at all well (we only moved in six months ago and have barely seen them) and am really nervous to ask them, in case they're annoyed or think I'm interfering.

I'd be willing to pay for some or all of the work if the neighbours weren't happy to do so. DH thinks we should go halves but since we're the ones who have an issue with it, I think it's only fair that we cover the full cost if need be.

Does anyone have any advice on how they would deal with this situation? Do you think it's worth exploring getting the tree cut since I do get sunlight in my garden for about 6 hours a day (but none at all from 12-3)?

And does anyone know how much it would cost to get such an enormous tree cut back or chopped down? Logistically it could be a challenge as the tree is located between two rows of terraces.

Thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:20

Thanks Dollymixture - I agree, in fact there are some other trees in the neighbouring gardens that are lovely, and about a third of the height of this one.

OP posts:

Sammyp235 · 27/10/2019 16:23

I can understand it being frustrating for you, however you bought the house knowing the trees were there. I had this happen a few years ago in an old house I bought. The trees has been there for years and they were huge. The neighbors next door hoped we’d chop them down but we didn’t. It’s lovely seeing trees in the garden and in that particular situation they weren’t affected by it at all. We just laughed at them and thought if that’s their biggest worry, they’ve got it easy.

FlamingoAndJohn · 27/10/2019 16:24

The houses were built in the 1950/60s, so the tree might have been around then but has probably grown substantially in the last 70 years!

Yes, but not in the last 6 months since you moved there.

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:25

Sammy if the neighbours weren’t affected at all then why would they hope for you to chop them down? Doesn’t make sense.

OP posts:

heartsonacake · 27/10/2019 16:28

Hearts I haven’t refused to do anything, I just don’t want to engage with rude posters as there’s really no point.

Multiple people have asked you that question throughout this thread, OP. Are you calling all of them rude?

I think the reason you don’t want to answer it is because you can’t.

Confuseddotcotton · 27/10/2019 16:28

I paid about £600 for my huge tree to be removed, safely from my garden. That didn’t include removing the stump as we wanted to keep it for the insects. I’m not how how much more that would have added.

They were a proper tree surgeon company. I used to work in construction procurement so know how to ensure a company are legitimate. I had all their paperwork upfront and they gave a very detailed description of how they were going to work. I was there when they worked and they were very professional so they were def not a cowboy outfit.

Tens of thousands of pounds to remove one tree sounds extremely exaggerated..

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:30

No Hearts - not all of them. I’m calling you and one or two others rude. And of course I can answer why I bought my own house, what a strange thing to say. I just don’t see why I owe you a response!

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 27/10/2019 16:31

My neighbour would love rid of her sycamore but can't afford to go halves with me.

We got a price of around £2.5k, we're in Liverpool.

There are better small trees that are wildlife friendly, than people often choose. She loves the holly and we both have ivy at the back. The sycamore is causing structural damage, but her HA just patch up the house and leave the tree.

In cases were the grass is dying etc environmental health can help.

Mosaic123 · 27/10/2019 16:31

There was a very old Leylandii tree at the bottom of our garden but the trunk was in my neighbour's garden.

One very stormy day it fell down into our garden. It was so tall but didn't quite touch the house.

The neighbour managed to get someone to remove it (although they did ask if they could remove it through our house as they had no sideway (but we had no sideway either, so NO!).

The increased level of light in our garden was rather lovely.

Fatshedra · 27/10/2019 16:35

What type of tree is it.
If it is a huge deciduous tree it might have a protection order on it, which you need to check up on, but the neighbours might be sick to death of sweeping up leaves and glad to get rid of it if it's not protected.
If it is a leylandii or some other fir tree, they might be glad to see the back of it.

If it is an ancient oak I doubt you would be allowed to remove it but could perhaps have it pollarded but you need to speak to a tree surgeon they will know what it is and the local regulations.

isadoradancing123 · 27/10/2019 16:35

Trees belong in the country or in woods not in small suburban gardens

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:37

“It was so tall but didn't quite touch the house.”

That is lucky! This one looks to me like it’s tall enough to fall on a number of nearby houses. Let’s just hope if it does fall down it lands in the gardens.

OP posts:

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:39

“Trees belong in the country or in woods not in small suburban gardens”

I think 30 or 40ft trees belong in small suburban gardens, but not 100ft ones!

OP posts:

IrenetheQuaint · 27/10/2019 16:39

I got my sycamore pollarded for £300 earlier this year after my neighbours complained it was blocking their light. I have no problem with them asking me and my garden is lighter now too. These situations can be drama free!

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:42

Thanks Irene - you sound like a lovely reasonable neighbour, unlike a number of posters on this thread!

OP posts:

PickAChew · 27/10/2019 16:44

If you didn't like the tree, you shouldn't have chosen the house.

mankyfourthtoe · 27/10/2019 16:48

What kind of tree is it, it'll affect the cost to take it down. Do you have another neighbour it might be annoying, could you ask them if anything's ever been said about cutting it back?

PanamaPattie · 27/10/2019 16:51

I have many trees in my garden that were there before I was born and I hope they will there long after I'm gone. My answer to any requests to cut them down would be met with a firm no. I'm sorry that your garden in in darkness 3 hours a day OP but you bought the house knowing your neighbours had trees. Caveat Emptor.

frostedviolets · 27/10/2019 16:52

Thanks Irene - you sound like a lovely reasonable neighbour, unlike a number of posters on this thread!

😱

Unreasonable for what exactly?

For telling you that they wouldn't want to cut down their tree that they love, that is in their garden, that was there before you moved in?!

How bloody cheeky and arrogant can you be?!

If you didn't like the tree you shouldn't have bought the house...

Perhaps we should all go and buy houses then demand the neighbours get rid of their cat because we are allergic, or demand they get rid of their lawn because we have hay fever or demand they paint their door a different colour because it's too dark and offends our eyes...

mankyfourthtoe · 27/10/2019 16:52

But equally the tree owner might be sick of it taking over, and might be happy with a smaller tree.
No one will know without a civilised conversation. As long as the op is happy to hear a no, no harm done.

1984isnow · 27/10/2019 16:54

Many of my neighbours have massive trees (also 50's terraces in the Midlands OP🧐), I just have 2 puny fruit trees so I'm jealous..

One of them has 3 massive leylandiis, and I do sometimes get a twinge of nerves about them falling. No idea how likely it is, but they would definitely reach my house and squish me like a bug!

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking. I doubt you will end up in feud lasting several generations, like some posters seem to believe..

But it's very likely that the neighbours like it as it is, especially for privacy reasons.
The trees around us sometimes make it feel like we're the only ones here, which is great when you live in a terrace.

FlamingoAndJohn · 27/10/2019 16:54

But equally the tree owner might be sick of it taking over, and might be happy with a smaller tree.

Then they can get it cut back.

Dollymixture22 · 27/10/2019 16:55

I don’t understand why people are being so hostile. All OP is doing is asking and will pay for it.

Neighbours can say no.

Original poster

treewoes · 27/10/2019 16:57

“How bloody cheeky and arrogant can you be?!”

Frosted you sound like the arrogant one - not to mention rude and inconsiderate to boot.

Luckily there are many posters on the thread who sound like they’d be perfectly prepared to have a civilized conversation with their neighbours about such things, so thankfully not everyone is of your mindset!

OP posts:

FlamingoAndJohn · 27/10/2019 16:57

This is my garden.

I knew there were many trees when I bought it. Most of the trees are on the other side of the fence.
I cut my trees back when they need it, the other trees just do their thing.

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