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.

My neighbour tree is huge and a complete eyesore whole garden is an eyesore but he like wildlife I have cut alot of the tree as it gangs so much into my garden I think its actually on the boundary line an just been fenced of around it do its in his garden the leaves are a nightmare cannot see my grass at mo for leaves an can't be bothered tidying them up yet again no sunlight in garden either not everyone likes trees trim it bk yourself then they won't have to.

They should have discussed it with you, but you had already shown reluctance several years ago.

As you say, they did have the right to cut back overhang, but they went further than that.

Were they perhaps concerned about how tall the tree was getting and how it was behaving in high winds etc. How close is it to their house, garage or garden shed? They can fall, and that can damage nearby buildings which can be costly to repair.

We have a silver birch, and do have to watch how tall it gets.

They cut back the crown. That is the growing point. Removal of the growing point usually does no harm and means that what remains of the tree will recover and start to bush out. Our silver birch has behaved like this, and in fact some of the "bushing" is now almost as tall as the tree used to be and could need pruned back again soon.

Yes, they should have approached you, but I can see why they did it and if it is a one-off I wouldn't make an issue out of it. Perhaps be more receptive to neighbours who want to discuss problem trees with you. We own a property (not the house we live in) where a neighbours oak trees had been left unchecked and were too close to our building. The roots have undermined our foundations and caused subsidence with a lot of cracking and movement of our building.

Don't dismiss concerns just because you love a tree. Yes, trees are lovely, and they are necessary. They can also cause issues sometimes.

I sympathise OP. Our neighbours have a horrible huge holm oak tree which deposits hundreds of metal-like leaves in the spring which go all over my patio and garden, and then in the autumn drops hundreds and thousands of acorns into my garden. They then stealthily cut branches off my beautiful cherry tree when I am not around in the spring/summer because it grows and hides their hideous solar panels - which is why I want it to grow!

I think that's too big to be at a boundary personally. Our neighbours have trees like that and the roots kill everything in our garden. I also personally think that the responsibility is yours - you did not maintain your tree so they did what they needed to. Did you ask before you let it encroach into their garden?

at the number of people who consider that tree 'massive' and that it should be cut down.

Here is S London we have loads of trees amongst people's gardens, and they don't cause issues - not often, anyway.

They had no business to cut anything, not 1" of branch, on your side of the boundary. I would be furious.

@Covert19

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.

Came on to say the same.

It's no wonder the environment is fucked. But as long as you don't have to clear up a few leaves eh.

What kind of world will our children inherit?! It makes me very sad.

I too am astonished and appalled by those who want to live in a sterile environment and are triggered by leaves. Go and live in the Barbican!

OP, find out if the tree has a TPO on it (council will know) and then tell the council the neighbours have illegally had work done on it. If a tree has a TPO you cannot touch it under any circumstances without permission .

If I see concreted fronts (and I don’t live in a busy area so no parking issues) and (shudder) astroturf, I stand and point outside their house and say (shout) , “Oh dear, they should pay a penalty for destroying the environment!” The dcs just die but I feel I must make a stand!

Why are people so bloody grumpy abput a beautiful tree! Ever heard of shared landscape!

@IrmaFayLear

If I see concreted fronts (and I don’t live in a busy area so no parking issues) and (shudder) astroturf, I stand and point outside their house and say (shout) , “Oh dear, they should pay a penalty for destroying the environment!” The dcs just die but I feel I must make a stand!

Wow.

@HappyDays10101 what's the for? My elderly neighbour slipped on wet leaves and broke both her arms. She has never been the same since.

I’m with your neighbour, they asked previously and you said no. What reason did they have to think your answer would be different this time? If you’re not getting rid of the tree, the very least you can do is make sure your tree is not encroaching on your neighbour’s land. For the posters saying you should ask for your property back, I’d say given your lack of good neighbourly behaviour for the past 5 years, that would be taking the piss and I’d be telling you to do something else with the branches. Instead of using this as a reason to start an argument, if I were you I’d post a letter through their door saying sorry you’d not realised it had grown so much and impacting them but in future you’ll be more mindful to get it cut professionally. Otherwise you’re likely to begin a frosty relationship with your neighbour which isn’t worth it when they live next door to you IMO.

Trees are beautiful in woods and parks, not in small suburban gardens

If I see concreted fronts (and I don’t live in a busy area so no parking issues) and (shudder) astroturf, I stand and point outside their house and say (shout) , “Oh dear, they should pay a penalty for destroying the environment!” The dcs just die but I feel I must make a stand!

You're joking of course ...??

I don't understand the tree hate either.

@IrmaFayLear

If I see concreted fronts (and I don’t live in a busy area so no parking issues) and (shudder) astroturf, I stand and point outside their house and say (shout) , “Oh dear, they should pay a penalty for destroying the environment!” The dcs just die but I feel I must make a stand!

Wait is this a naice joke or for real??

@IrmaFayLear

If I see concreted fronts (and I don’t live in a busy area so no parking issues) and (shudder) astroturf, I stand and point outside their house and say (shout) , “Oh dear, they should pay a penalty for destroying the environment!” The dcs just die but I feel I must make a stand!

If I saw you outside my house pointing and shouting I'd assume you were mentally impaired, to be perfectly honest. Have some bloody dignity, fgs! Other people's gardens are none of your business.

YABVU and you’ve been really selfish ignoring it for so many years when you knew it was a problem.

They’re entitled to cut the tree back and no, they don’t have to inform you, and I can see why they wouldn’t out of courtesy considering your response last time.

To all those saying they asked. Yes they asked 6 years ago, I had just moved in and my children were young. I had a long list of jobs to do in the house and the tree wasn’t one of them. They asked me to take it down, I said no and as far as I was concerned that was it as it was never mentioned again.

I have just looked online and I’m in a conservation area. I did suspect that as when the tree surgeon came last year he did say we didn’t need permission to cut our shrub.

You just ask the council to issue a permit. It really doesn't mean it can't be touched

They asked you to cut it. You refused. You had other tree work done and still did not do it. It clearly caused them an issue and if they had told you then you would probably have said no. I dont blame them at all

@WhatATimeToBeAlive @Suzi888 I agree with you, and I feel sorry for the neighbour.

OP, the tree was causing them problems 6 years ago but their request fell on deaf ears. It's right at the back of your garden so isn't causing you problems, but it's anti social and unneighbourly to not care about the problems it's causing for your neighbours. I'm in a similar position to your neighbours and totally understand why they did this. IMO the law needs to change, as too many people let trees outgrow gardens and cause problems for neighbours. Massive trees in parks - great. Massive trees in gardens, which affect neighbours' light/quality of life and possibly undermine their property - wrong, on so many levels.

For those saying 'other people's gardens are none of your business' etc - you show a lack of understanding of how everybody's environment affects everyone. Trees improve the air, for everyone. Trees make flooding less likely etc, and this affects everyone, even people who want astroturf gardens or paved front gardens. Perhaps you might reconsider when your property gets flooded...

Many years ago there were lots of reports of the increasing issue of people paving their gardens to park. I can only find a very old link now, but in a year (ish) in 2005, 22 times the size of Hyde Park was paved over:

"The trend to pave over front-gardens in London has led to a dramatic loss of surfaces that absorb water from heavy showers. The permeable land area lost recently is 22 times the size of Hyde Park, according to the London Assembly's Environment Committee's 'Crazy Paving' report in 2005.

Each decision to have a parking space rather than a front lawn has combined to increase the city’s vulnerability to flash-flooding several times. According to the Stern Review last year, “Each individual decision may be rational, but in aggregate this loss of permeable land will leave a legacy for future generations living in London.” "

www.newstatesman.com/blogs/sian-berry/2007/06/british-flood-climate-london

Sadly, I doubt facts like these will make that many people reconsider their short sighted decisions. And that is exactly why there are so many environmental problems in our world.

I salute you and your beautiful tree, OP - thank you for fcaring for trees, for our environment and for the future environment.

You sound as bad as my neighbours.

One has trees that massively overhang our garden making it dark, damp and difficult to grow things. We have asked for him to cut it back yet the last time he got a tree surgeon out they only had their side trimmed!
I was so pissed off. We went out and hacked at it ourselves as far up as we could reach.
He then said next year he will get the surgeon to do our side (which he should have done in the first place!)

The other side has a tree which is similar to yours - the only way to stop it overhanging and not have to pay someone to cut it is to cut branches lower down on the neighbour's side, as the point at which they overhang is too high and the neighbour won't cut it at all.

I usually go out when they are at work and cut one branch at a time so they don't really notice.

Just cut your bloody tree so it's not causing a nuisance to your neighbors.

YANBU You’re right. They should’ve said they intended to trim their side.