Reporting a neighbour AIBU?

[Rhayader]

Our neighbours have recently had their garden landscaped. They have chopped down 5 mature native trees and replaced them with palm trees.

We live in a conservation area and these trees were protected. I want to report them to the conservation area but DH says I’m being ridiculous. AIBU?

Don’t want to drip feed: these trees are on a planning application from the same neighbour 5 years ago where they have sought permission to trim them back 20% each so there is an official record of their existence. I believe you can get a fine for chopping down trees here (London).

Yeah, I'd report them. Trees are important too (but then I am literally a tree hugger, just because I can hug trees and I feel like it, and I think they're beautiful.)

You to reach a really high level of toss pottery to want to replace native trees with palm trees. Report them for being fucking morons.

@Suzi888

Well I hope you never intend to sell your house, as you’ll need to declare a dispute with your neighbour. What do you hope to achieve exactly? They can’t magic them back. What they did was wrong, but I think you’ll get yourself into a lot of bother.

Not a dispute, the OP will be reporting a crime. Chill out.

Of course you should report them. People need to stop doing this!

Landscape Architect here. It is a breach of planning regs. All trees within a conservation area are protected. They can be legally removed or otherwise altered but permission is required. The contractors have strict liability but are unlikely to be punished as they would probably say the householder told them it was legal. Contractors who did this unlikely to be trained arboriculturalists, who would know better.
Report to development control via the local authorities planning web site

But do you know anything about the trees? There might have been a reason? There might have been a problem with the roots. I have hardly any light in my garden now because of neighbours trees and I wish I could do something about that!

That’s disgusting and to plant palm trees ffs 😡

Christ, I couldn't be bothered.

What were they going for? Maspalomas beachfront?!

Definitely report them. Hearing about it will deter others from doing similar. You’d be doing a good thing.

That's disgraceful.
Where my mum lives now the trees are protected. It was a newer estate around 5 years ago.

The houses were built around them and some people (I can see from my mums bedroom window) they have these lovely big trees in their gardens with enough space and they look gorgeous.

Definitely report the bastards!

The birds will still have lost their babies 🥲but hopefully at least they'll be made to replace the trees with some mature trees.

Palm tree...fucking muppets!

And palm trees? Really. We're in the UK not California.

@Maggiesfarm

Reporting your neighbours won't bring the trees back. What would be the point?

Reporting a murderer won’t bring a victim back, but I’m guessing you’d still do it

I am surprised that they found someone to cut down 5 trees if there really was a tpo on them or they didn’t have permission, especially in a conservation area. I used to live in a conservation area and when I wanted a conifer cut down no one would touch it until I had confirmed with the Council that it was okay.

The contractors who did the job could be fined, so usually they won’t risk it, even for obviously not protected trees, without being absolutely clear that it is okay.

Don’t get into a battle with your neighbours unless you are really sure that they have broken the law/ violated planning. I would suggest discrete inquiries first.

Er, yes Bag, I would report someone whom I believed to be a murderer or for any violence. I wouldn't report a neighbour for cutting down a tree.

@Maggiesfarm

Er, yes Bag, I would report someone whom I believed to be a murderer or for any violence. I wouldn't report a neighbour for cutting down a tree.

Won't bring the victim back though, so what's the point?

She obviously meant that your reasoning for not reporting someone cutting down a TPO'd tree was stupid. Cause it was.

Yeah I suppose so. Can't argue with that.

Definitely report.

Report. Despicable behaviour. I'm on the trees' side.

I’d report them. We’ve had a similar incident and the tree officer was very responsive.
Besides the fines, they can be made to replace protected trees.

People should not be allowed to get away with this sort of thing.

Mind your own business! Why on earth would you report your neighbour? It is nothing to do with you. It won't bring the trees back. You would be attempting to get them into trouble for the sake of getting them into trouble.

@Maddermax

Mind your own business! Why on earth would you report your neighbour? It is nothing to do with you. It won't bring the trees back. You would be attempting to get them into trouble for the sake of getting them into trouble.

Why do people keep saying this? If you cut down a tree with a TPO, you have to replace it. So in a way, yes you will bring trees back.

What is going on?? It’s their land! I wonder how unhappy you would be if they were blocking your light or putting leaves all over your garden?