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.

Pruning cherries is difficult and can cause problems to the tree, they can “bleed”. Reducing height significantly would probably kill such an old tree

This. I would write to them explaining this, and request that they appoint a tree surgeon who is an accredited member of the regulatory body, the Arboricultural Association, and that you do not consent to the removal of any branches save for those that over hang the boundary, and not to any reduction in overall height.

I'd add that you will hold them responsible for any adverse impact on the tree that may occur as a result of any works that they may have done, and that, should the tree die as a result of their action, you will expect them to bear the cost of its replacement.

I would also tell them that any work must not be carried out until after 1 September because of nesting birds, and quote the relevant section of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Trees are so important for the environment and for wildlife, even if only to host insects that provide a food source, that it's a huge loss to remove them.

We have a hazel tree that my neighbour keeps telling me has got too tall, but I'm having nothing done to it. My nuts provide enough food for an army of birds and are probably the reason why one of our resident wood pigeons is so fat he struggles to achieve take off.

@Unravellingslowly thanks for that, will look into it.

I often wonder if the ‘never cut a tree down’ brigade ever buy anything made of wood

Buying things made of wood that is sustainably sourced is fine.

My DSS is a tree surgeon and has an BTec higher in woodland management and some other stuff as well as his arboriculture qualification. He's spent 5 years studying how to manage woodlands in a sustainable way that benefits the environment as well as the trees themselves, and gets Forest Stewardship Council for woodland he manages. He sells oak and beech to some very high end furniture makers, too!

get it pruned properly as an appeasement gesture to the neighbours, but not lopped.

Grow more trees! Start a tree empire! Plant them all around the garden in a circle then sit in a deck chair in the middle and just cackle triumphantly.

So how come they haven't addressed this in the previous 37 years as this tree hasn't just grown in the last 3 years.

And a quick google indicates that it is near the end of its life.

They can’t cut it themselves as it’s on your land. If you got someone in to cut it for you it will be tine for a year or so then start growing again, possibly even worse

I would suggest getting a good tree surgeon in to look at it and see what they suggest, if they are good and no work is required they will tell you

Then once they have been you can tell them you have taken advice. I would also mention you have the same situation but haven’t asked for the tree to be cut, oh and stop parking over the dropped curb

I would wind up the neighbours by saying you were thinking of replacing it with a Leylandi!

Don't cut it, however if you think they may hack at it in the hope it will die I'd get a tree surgeon and cut the overhanging branches just to be safe.

I’ve called a tree surgeon to get a quote for thinning and removing some of the taller branches. It’s obviously been pruned before to stop it spreading into neighbouring properties, judging by the cut off branches next to the fence that have re-sprouted. I’m afraid if I don’t deal with it myself the neighbour will just go out with his saw and start hacking off branches, and potentially drop them on my roof.

*I often wonder if the ‘never cut a tree down’ brigade ever buy anything made of wood8

No, everything I own is made out of plastic and unicorn silk.

And if the tree was planted after you move?

Move on as in move on and find another house and another neighbours, not move.

I'm so emotionally invested in this tree.

I lived in a village where people hacked down a lot of trees and it became ver prone to flooding. Don't underestimate the importance of the trees!

I wonder if the people so intent on chopping down trees actually breath oxygen.

This is a mature cherry tree?

And it is close enough to your house for fallen branches to land on the kitchen roof?

Cherry tree roots can cause structural damage to paving and drainage. I think you've got more problems than just the neighbour wanting it cut back...

From a quick google I see it is possible to thin a cherry tree, it will also do the tree some good, and who knows might last longer than it's predicted 30-40 years The link below is a forum discussing it, and I think the photo in the last but one post is the original, though the original is not there.

forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/301498/pruning-mature-flowering-cherry-tree

It’s your tree and it’s causing someone else issues, engage a tree surgeon and discuss options with them.

It's your neighbours who are the issue, not the tree.

Take photographs of the overhang on their side so you have visual before-and-after evidence if they do butcher the tree when your back is turned; in that eventuality take them to court for damages. Reduce that possibility in the first place by knocking into them with printouts of the photographs, having circled which branches are overhanging their fence and they are at legal liberty to remove. Once you've visually identified which branches overhang their garden, tell them you're happy to engage a tree surgeon to remove these and you'd really prefer the work was done by a professional. Offer to pay, that makes you more than fair. If they refuse, tell them to piss off.

Your neighbours are lucky they're not living next door to me. I adore my trees, they're living things and I'm responsible for them. You can bet that you've inherited this problem. They'll have tried to bully the previous owners as well and been told where to go. They'll be hoping you're a soft touch. Show them you're not.

Anyway, I was going to say it would be best for you to do something about the tree as I have a feeling the neighbours will do something themselves sooner rather than later. I suspect lockdown has taken its toll on them, what with probably looking at your tree every day.

I love trees and am about to plant several in our garden, but they are birches so don't block the light as much as a cherry. Though we do have a cherry (a baby from the large tree we had in our previous garden) which is being planted right at the end and won't affect anyone apart from the person who lives behind us and constantly looks into our garden/bedroom/kitchen whilst talking loudly on their phone.

So how come they haven't addressed this in the previous 37 years as this tree hasn't just grown in the last 3 years of course it’s possible that it’s only caused issues recently. The tree causing issues for me has been fine for 4 years but the last two summers is bloomed hugely and is now in need of trimming back.

It's your neighbours who are the issue, not the tree and you know this because?! Mature adults can reach a compromise

That is a sad story billy. I agree that some people are heathens. No wonder the planet is in the state it is in.

We have a shady patch which causes issues with the grass in that corner, in autumn our garden is full of leaves from the tree, and it takes over lot of the view from my upstairs window. I plan to speak to them about it more once lockdown is lifted, otherwise I will start writing legal letters.

What legal grounds do you have to complain? The law can't be used just because you don't like the view or the leaves. You have to have a valid legal reason.

If it's been there 40-odd years then it will have reached its mature height, and is probably spreading out a bit. Hence the increased shade issue.

Find out the best time of year and tell the neighbour you will get a tree surgeon to do it then, so it doesn't endanger the health of the tree.

By the way, was it mentioned on the survey when you bought the house?