AIBU to think that people should have to get permission from all surrounding neighbors before cutting down a tree?

[ElberethGilthoniel]

I live in a third floor flat with a lovely surrounding of trees on each side giving a treehouse sort of vibe.

Two times over this summer, neighbors in houses with large gardens have chopped down huge trees (approx 30 meters) that must have been over 50 years old.

This has really affected the views and amount of light from both sides of our flat, and made the whole area less appealing. Is it unreasonable to think that there should have been some neighborhood consultation before they did this? Or some sort of democratic process?

Op yabu and totally unrealistic!

YABU, if anything there should be laws to ensure that a) people don't plant trees too close to neighbouring properties (especially varieties that have potential to grow into massive trees that can impact neighbours' light levels and undermine foundations) and b) people are required by law to manage existing trees in their gardens responsibly, by keeping them pruned/trimmed so they do not grow into massive specimens that impact neighbouring properties.

Large trees in a park - lovely. Large trees in small gardens - unwise and unneighbourly, IMO. There are plenty of small varieties of trees to choose from, for small gardens.

@ElberethGilthoniel

It was a linden tree.

In my experience, people who use the word townie in that context are awful to the manor born types who know everything about ownership and nothing about responsibility

Wow, talk about inverted snobbery! IME, people who are "to the manor born types" are often well aware of the responsibilities that managing large areas of land and/or woodland involve, having grown up in houses which may have several acres of land around them.

Also, Linden trees are a pain in the a** in suburban settings, for many reasons that PPs have stated. OP - surely this is a wind up?

So, how about doing an elderly neighbour’s shopping for them once a week? Cat-sitting for another neighbour? The odd bit of free babysitting, window-washing, hedge pruning etc. Would you do that, in your time, with your money, for your neighbours, to foster a better sense of community, be polite, show you’re a responsible citizen?

We cut down some small -ish conifers that were 2m away from our patio doors in our living room. We live in a ground floor flat, and it was only our flat that they affected. They blocked so much natural light. As they were on OUR land, and were inconvenient for US, why the hell would we need anyone else's permission to cut them down? That's batshit.

I would love to live in a community where trees (healthy and causing no partic problems) were all more protected than they are. So I agree in principal.
If I were ever to consider removing a healthy tree I’d have to have a good reason (for me this would mean not to pave over the area or to build on the area or because of falling leaves etc). I would also explain to close neighbours my reasons for doing so. Can only really imagine sever topping or removal for house structural or very significant light blocking issues (which would likely involve structural damage also).
If consultation were attempted there would be too many who would just say ‘get rid’ surely ?

@MoiraRose4

Hilarious. You sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder about living in a flat while they ‘have a mortgage on a piece of land’. One of the weirdest posts ever.

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking.

While I hate the idea of healthy trees being felled, it's got as much to do with you as what colour car your neighbours drive. You don't get a say. Get a grip.

As others have said either the trees are protected or not.

I would find something else to worry about rather than what other people do with their own garden .

YABU

When we moved into our house we had a few mature trees cut down because they cast so much shade not even the grass would grow. Neighbours on one side were very huffy because we could now see onto their deck. Of course, their garden is entirely grass for their kids to play on. In fact, two years later and they still haven’t planted anything on their side. Apparently we are the only ones obligated to uphold neighbourhood privacy. 🙄

Although it’s none of your business I do find it sad when people cut down such large trees. They must be very old to be so big, and while they’re not sentient they are living and their survival moves me. And think of all the wildlife they are habitat to. There is something really sad about it.

@KittyWindbag

Although it’s none of your business I do find it sad when people cut down such large trees. They must be very old to be so big, and while they’re not sentient they are living and their survival moves me. And think of all the wildlife they are habitat to. There is something really sad about it.

THIS. I also find it very sad, and I wish that trees were more protected - mature trees are so amazing for wildlife and of course climate change. Kind of crazy how much it happens in spite of this.

Yep. I also think trees should have more protections. Asking the neighbours is bonkers but I also fully appreciate the grief that comes when a much loved focal point tree is removed. Large trees sustain so much life that you may have spent time watching that life and hate to think of it disturbed. Plus, green out the window is far better for mental health than concrete is.

Hell has a special little spot set aside for people who cut down mature trees for aesthetics or convenience.

Absolutely ridiculous.

YA, of course, BU.

So much so that I suspect this is a fake thread.

YANBU! I would make felling mature trees unlawful without planning permission and only granted on the limited basis of health and safety, danger to property or construction. Trees are too important to the survival of this planet. Deforestation is a huge issue in the UK.

yanbu
I think all trees above 3 meters height should have a tpo on them and should need council permission to cut down which can only be given if an equivalent replacemeng tree is planted.

@LeafOfTruth

Yep. I also think trees should have more protections. Asking the neighbours is bonkers but I also fully appreciate the grief that comes when a much loved focal point tree is removed. Large trees sustain so much life that you may have spent time watching that life and hate to think of it disturbed. Plus, green out the window is far better for mental health than concrete is.

Hell has a special little spot set aside for people who cut down mature trees for aesthetics or convenience.

100%

Hedges too.

I think it’s sad too if it was a healthy tree not causing any issues. Of course it’s their choice. On the street I grew up, there were older ladies who maintained beautiful or somewhat wild front gardens, that we would play in whilst mum had a chat. Now I when walk down that road 30 years later, all the front gardens are concrete or brick. It’s much more convenient for the neighbours, but’s still sad that not one actual garden remains.

It could be just as easily argued that it's entitled to think just because you have a mortgage on a piece of land that the tree happens to be growing out of, you have a right to disrupt other people's enjoyment of it without consulting them

This might be the most ridiculous thing I’ve read on Mumsnet, and that’s no mean feat 🤣

@TheRebelle

It could be just as easily argued that it's entitled to think just because you have a mortgage on a piece of land that the tree happens to be growing out of, you have a right to disrupt other people's enjoyment of it without consulting them

This might be the most ridiculous thing I’ve read on Mumsnet, and that’s no mean feat 🤣

Isn't it just a description of a TPO using other words? A TPO might not apply in this specific case but the very point of them is to make sure that landowners don't deprive the neighbourhood/local area of a tree just because they own the land it grows on.

I very much like that we have TPOs.

AIBU to think that people should have to get permission from all surrounding neighbors before cutting down a tree?

You are describing what happens when a tree has a TPO on it. Owner of said tree fills out form describing what they want to do with a tree and why, including a picture, the council then go through the whole put it on the planning website so that anyone can object, and the council arborealist comes round and gives his opinion, and a few months later you can, or can't do what you want to your own tree in your own garden. Even if it's just trimming a bit off a branch that's over 4 cm thick.

We live in a conservation area so every tree in our garden, even nasty conifers are covered.

Who even has time to go and consult with everyone - potentially dozens of people with different opinions - just for the sake of community spirit?

Reminds me when I lived in Yorkshire in the 90s someone local was trying to get a tree removed about 15 miles from his house as it obscured their view through a telescope of a lighthouse that was about 30 miles away.

Op are you in the USA?

YABU - we reduced a tree in our garden by half as it was too large for the garden we have and completely overshadowed the neighbours next door.

That neighbour was thrilled but the one behind was annoyed as the tree had offered a lot more privacy - it's a lot smaller now. How should I manage that op? One neighbour keen for it to be reduced and the other not?

We have trees at the bottom of our garden. We’ve had them cut back a few times in the 12 years we’ve lived here. Last year, as they were starting to get bigger since being cut back about 4 years previously, we had neighbours hassling us about when we were going to get them done as it was spoiling the extra time they were spending in their garden during lockdown 🙄. By your suggestion, I was supposed to ask everybody who could see the trees what they thought and weigh up their own biased little viewpoints? Then what I wonder? I’m a homeowner, not Anne Robinson on Points of View.