To not want to cut my tree?

[Rhodri]

I have one tree in my garden. It’s a mature tree about 20ft tall. It’s on the north side of my garden so it casts a shadow over the fence into next door. They have flowering bushes growing in that corner but the surrounding grass is in dappled shade and is a bit mossy.

The neighbours are whinging that they don’t like the shadow and want to cut the tree back. I said they’re permitted to cut it level with the fence even though that won’t make it look very nice from their side (I won’t see the hacked branches from my side so I don’t care). But it’s not the overhanging branches that they’re complaining about - it’s the height. Cutting it level with the fence won’t do anything to reduce the height.

I don’t want to start hacking at my tree. It’s a lovely flowering tree and is a nice natural shape. The rest of their garden has full sun. Doesn’t everyone have a shady corner? Surely people just put a shed there or something, or grow plants that enjoy shade? Also I’m not convinced that cutting 6ft off the top of my tree will do much to improve the shadow in their garden - to get rid of the shadow I’d literally have to cut the tree to the height of the fence.

AIBU to refuse to reduce the height of my tree? They’re threatening to cut it themselves if I don’t. I’m worried they’re going to mutilate it.

A decent tree surgeon will not advise cutting it back (pollarding) as it makes the tree ridiculous and sprout lots of little branches. What they usually do is thin them out but that will be of limited use to your neighbour.
This is exactly my point. Lopping off the top just makes it look a mess and sprout quickly upwards. Thinning would be ok but I don’t think the neighbours would be satisfied. They would still have a (more dappled) shady corner.

Some people are weird about gardens, and some whackjobs do indeed think their entire garden should be sun. I suspect they share the same bit of a Venn diagram people who like plastic grass.

I agree with getting pictures of the tree, and also pictures of the amount of shade cast, and where, from an upstairs window.

OP, send a letter pronto.
I know of a friend who returned from a weekend away to find a huge unauthorised hacking of trees ar the back of her property.

When its done its done.
Record a letter so they can't claim a misunderstanding, as my friends neighbours did!

Also if their entire garden was in shade I too would accommodate them, but not for a patch.

Personally i would clip branches overhanging their garden only.

I would certainly not entertain the removal of your sole tree because it causes a little shade in theirs.

Make it very clear that will NOT be happening.

They are living with it 40 years, they need to get over themselves.

I also wouldn't tolerate someone blocking my entrance.

They think you can be bullied.

Stand strong.

I love my leafy cherry's.

a tree IS a view oh well I prefer sunlight streaming into my bedroom- shoot me!

When its done its done
This is my concern. They brutally cut their own tree to the trunk. They could easily just hack my tree.

tell them they can only prime the tree width ways, and are only permitted to cut branches which overhang their property. If they cut further than the fence line, it’s criminal damage.

Also tell them you are not prepared to reduce the height.

It sounds like neither of you are particularly neighbourly - I suspect this won’t be the only battle you have over the years😊. Try and keep the emotion out of it, wars with neighbours are expensive, exhausting and all consuming.

I no longer trim the branches which grow into my garden because it’s not worth it, I want to enjoy my home and my garden without being shouted at. I will need to tackle the issue again at some point when the trees take over my very small garden, but at the moment I let the asshole win because I value my peace and my sanity.

They can't force you to do anything, nor can they cut it down themselves absolute crap!
Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for starters.

Your neighbours have no right to hack your tree, neither do you have the right to let it grow to such a height and width that it cause them a problem.
I would engage with them to find a solution that satisfies you both

We actually did cut a tree down on a neighbours request... wish I hadn’t now. It’s left a horrible stump and I miss the leaves and blossom.
We only did it because they complained and we wanted to maintain good relations but with hindsight I regret it.

Tree haters eh? Get a stiff letter sent pronto. Once these types get a saw into their mucky paws, carnage will ensue.

If they want more sun they can move to Greece.

Keep your tree! If they touch it, it’s criminal damage. Trees are an asset and actually increase property values.

How close to your property is the tree?

I only ask because we have just taken down a tree in our front garden - having checked with the neighbours that they didn't mind us doing that.

It was quite an attractive tree but way too close to the house. Its roots were stretching right across the lawn towards the front of the house and its topmost branches getting very close to the gutters. Also it was gradually killing the lawn.

Is there any chance that your tree could be a risk to yours or their property?

I am a massive fan of trees BTW but am not sure that large trees are always appropriate for small gardens

Please take pictures of your tree ASAP OP just in case! 📸

Do not cut the tree down and tell them if they touch it without your permission then it's a criminal offence. Currently dealing with neighbours who have taken it upon themselves to chop ours down and I'll be buying a few more massive ones to line my whole boundary with and we have the police involved. They've killed nesting chicks. Get a security camera trained on it, they can be pretty cheap. Youd be surprised how entitled people can feel about this.

I suspect they share the same bit of a Venn diagram people who like plastic grass

I suspect that you are correct.

They've killed nesting chicks

Apalling and illegal. WTF is WRONG with people?

Appalling, sorry.

Please don’t listen to the tree murdering twats.

Also, it’s active nesting season and generally a bad time to cut or prune hard anything.

They can Fuchs off.

. They've killed nesting chicks

Bloody hell, how can a decent person do that?

Pruning cherries is difficult and can cause problems to the tree, they can “bleed”. Reducing height significantly would probably kill such an old tree.
They have no rights to chop it themselves, and I think you need to tell them that they will face police action if they do, otherwise they may get into your garden and do it out of spite.
I would not touch the tree. It sounds as though it is a lovely part of the group of houses, that they all have this one tree. Also mature cherries are so lovely, and it must be happy, to have lived so long.

But I agree with all wise and lovely posters that you need to protect it.

YANBU. Take lots of photos of the tree. Then send a legal letter telling them you will take them to court if they touch it- they have absolutely no right to do so.
For max effect get a CCTV camera and point it at the tree.

20 ft isn't that high but in the interests of good relations (which are hugely important) I would get it pruned a little shorter and also do the sections overhanging their garden while you're at it. Obs do this at the appropriate time if year, whenever that is.

We have an apple tree which overhangs the neighbours shed.. we prune to the extent possible and clear away the fallen apples.. it's just the neighbourly thing to do.