Rude not to ask first

[Hackedtree]

I moved into my house about 6 years ago.
There is a large birch tree at the back of the garden. A few months after we moved in my neighbours asked if I would consider cutting it, they complained it had grown a lot over the years. I refused as I love the tree and we didn’t have the money to do it either.
Last year we had some bushes and trees trimmed in our garden, the tree surgeon said our tree is in good condition and doesn’t need cutting. The tree is at the back of our garden but side of the neighbours house where it doesn’t affect light.

Today I noticed that the neighbours had cut the tree. The tree splits into three and a third had been loped off. I did hear noises yesterday but didn’t even consider they would be cutting my tree.

Of course I understand that they are allowed to cut any over hang but AIBU to think you inform your neighbours (we’ve never had any sort of disputes, just say hello if we pass each other). Also as a third of the crown has gone I worry about the integrity of the tree and would have liked to be consulted to know that it’s safe and won’t die prematurely.

@honeylulu there isn’t a power cable but I can see where you think there is one. Yes, they have cut too low removing parts which effect the shape and balance of the tree.

The tree is massive but not at all out of place, most of the gardens have similar size trees (but not next door). This development was built 25 years ago and many trees look like they were planted when the houses were built. The streets are also lined with trees. I did ask a tree surgeon if it needed any work last year and he said no so the tree was not in need of work.

But the tree was in need of work as it hung into their garden and they didn’t like it.

They are entitled to cut the tree back if it’s on their side.

The red circle also looks like the branch went up but everything connected to it would of also been in their air space.

It's just a birch tree?

I have neighbours behind me who are a bit like you, I asked them to cut back their mountain ash nearly 18 years ago and they said no. So every couple of years I do it myself, although it hasn't stopped the roots from ruining my fencing and stopping me from growing plants underneath, but they aren't bothered because they just don't care.

@JoeBidenIsGreat

It's just a birch tree?

It's a silver birch and I bet it's beautiful. OP did you say they cut the crown? They are definitely not allowed to do that. They are also not allowed to come into your space to cut anything, only stuff that is literally overhanging.

After 5 years I'd have done what they did too

I asked our neighbours several times to cut their bastard tree that hangs into our garden and sheds leaves all over for months a year. They didn't do it despite being asked to for 6 months so we did it ourselves and put the cuttings over their fence.

Yabu, they legally have a right to light which is probably why they wanted it cut. Some People have had negative experiences dealing with people so have avoided any conflict and stuck to the book and done what they can legally without talking to you as they may be scared of interaction.

They have a legal right to cut overhang only.

I'd do the same, and have done on a smaller scale. Next doors bushes and ivy comes over so we cut the top back when it comes over the fence.

I'm dreading asking our neighbours to cut theirs back.

They've done their side and left it to grow unchecked on ours for years. I keep hoping they'll do it as it's a magnolia that makes a terrible mess.

They're really standoffish and it puts me off, I'd happily pay for it to be cut down but it's a conservation area

the tree surgeon said our tree is in good condition and doesn’t need cutting.

OP is managing the tree. And the neighbours don't have the right to cut anything that doesn't overhang.

Why on earth didnt you get tree surgeon to chop tree back when he was there. They had asked you even if it was years ago.

That's a ridiculous tree to have bang on the boundary 🙄. You hadn't the manners to sort it yourself, and you're still whining now they've saved you the trouble?
You can't grow anything over someone else's property, it's technically trespass.

I refused as I love the tree
The world doesn't revolve around you. It was obviously bothering them and they asked you to do something. You ignored them. I would have done exactly what they have.

People who have trees at the end of their garden that don't affect them often turn a blind eye to how it affects their neighbours
Out neighbour had one we spent all winter picking up leaves and had no sunlight in garden for moat of the day
It was one of the best days when i came home and they had to chop parts of the tree off as was diseased , we could finally use our garden and had less leaves to pick up as well as all the little trees that used to root ( helicopter type tree )
I like trees , we need trees but is it too much for people to consider the impact on neighbours and keep the tree trimmed

"Not in need of work" means no diseases parts, no off balancing parts etc. It does not mean that it doesn't need maintenance to keep it at a socially accepted size and spread.

You knew how your neighbours felt yet you've done no maintenance on it for 5 and a half years. Of course your neighbours have had it chopped back.

Be a bit more mindful of your nieghbours and your responsibility to maintain your garden so it doesn't encroach on theirs.

Can I check if I have understood correctly and that the crown they cut was overhanging but that branches from it were then growing back into your garden?

Why on earth didnt you get tree surgeon to chop tree back when he was there. They had asked you even if it was years ago.

I wondered this too @Waveysnail. It would have been the neighbourley thing to do and OP would have had more control over how much was cut off. OP's lack of generosity has bit her in the butt.

You say it doesn't affect light have you been in their garden or house to check this out

I imagine it has annoyed them ever since they asked, if not long before, and after seeing the work carried out in your garden and the fact it didn’t involve cutting back what was overhanging into their garden, they took matters into the own hands and have legally cut it back.

birch trees grow really quickly. In six years it will have grown massively. YABU.

Also, it might not affect their light but maybe the leaves falling into their garden are really really annoying.

It's very selfish to pay no consideration to how a large tree in your garden affects other people and their enjoyment of their gardens. Our neighbours had huge trees on the boundary that blocked the sun from our garden from mid afternoon onwards and also hosted a ton of pigeons that would shit all over the kids' play house and trampoline so we were forever hosing them down. Fortunately our neighbours were more understanding and had the trees removed when we mentioned having them cut back. We can now enjoy our garden in peace.

Why the tree hatred on here? Tress are beautiful, and they enhance our environment. Moaning about having to rake up leaves in the autumn, but completely missing the joy of what trees give: shade, habitat for insects and birds, biodiversity, soil cohesion and soaking up water. No big trees = more flooding. I bet you all have astro-turf lawns too.