We moved into our house in 2000. Neighbours are strange (too long to explain the many reasons) but tried to argue the boundary line between gardens - we're the end of a run of houses so our garden is wider than theirs and they were after some of it! We checked with the land registry and put a fence between the two gardens on our side of the boundary to prevent any further dispute (standard 6 foot fence, nothing aggressive!) Within a year, they planted 12 leylandii right up against the fence. So roll on 18 years and the trees are out of control. They're about 40 feet high, and block the light to our garden and patio (which is south facing and now dark!) the roots have damaged our fence which needs replacing (costly), and there's also the constant gutter clearing from the dead bit, and that my washing takes ages to dry in the shade.
Local council won't get involved until we've tried to contact them and gone through mediation. I've got a (kindly worded) letter prepared to put through their door, saying we'll help and that we're prepared to deal with this which ever way they prefer, eg through emails/letters but it's going to be a can of worms - it's going to be a costly job for them, and they will have to allow people on their property. They don't speak to people (and when they have they can get weirdly argumentative and aggressive). I'm pretty confident they won't reply to the letter, and they're the types that will now start lighting fires when my washing's out/loud music at midnight etc just for spite.
Has anyone successfully got their neighbours to sort problem trees out without causing too much drama?