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?

No.

@ElberethGilthoniel

I'm not really asking about the local authority rules on this, more just the morality of the issue or if it was the polite thing to do?

The trees seemed pretty healthy, plenty of leaves and everything. I assume it was a light issue for other neighbors

Healthy tree roots can cause big problems for buildings. Maybe you don't know it all?

You live in a flat, presumably do no yard maintenance for your neighbours but think you should be able to control their landscaping?

It's a no from me.

If you want big trees then buy a house with a yard that has big trees.

So for more context, I live in Denmark and have since found out that there are protection orders on certain trees that can't be cut down.

Of course I had no idea why they were cutting it down, which is exactly why I thought some consultation or prior information from the house owner would have been preferable. Otherwise it's just some workmen turning up at 9 on a Monday morning and starting to ruin a part of the neighborhood.

As it turns out it was taken down due to a consultation between the owner and the collective on the other side (who own their house) regarding the safety of a leaning tree. Again, it does rankle somewhat, but of course safety comes first. A consultation/prior information would have been more polite though and prevented annoyance on our part 🤷🏻‍♂️

Healthy tree roots can cause big problems for buildings. Maybe you don't know it all?

I guess some can - but perhaps not as often as people think...

www.jp-associates.co.uk/the-jp-associates-knowledge-hub/myth-busters/myth-bustertree-roots-will-damage-my-house/

Op you can’t seriously think they need to consult with everyone?,can no part of you understand why that is totally not feasible? And how can you be annoyed a tree was taken down for safety reasons?

@Bluntness100

Op you can’t seriously think they need to consult with everyone?,can no part of you understand why that is totally not feasible? And how can you be annoyed a tree was taken down for safety reasons?

Apparently if someone can see a tree, then they should be consulted as to what happens to the tree.

Can't see any problems with that idea at all, no siree!

Oh, didn’t they tell you? Must have been none of your business then!

THEIR land, THEIR tree, THEIR decision. No one else gets a say.

@Bluntness100

Op you can’t seriously think they need to consult with everyone?,can no part of you understand why that is totally not feasible? And how can you be annoyed a tree was taken down for safety reasons?

Well. I wouldn't agree that 'somewhat rankles' equals 'annoyed'.

As for consultation, there is a neighborhood Facebook group, and there are a lot of other avenues here for local consultation rather than having to knock on every door. I mean at the very least it's a noise disturbance that people should be warned about

😂 If it’s their tree then they can cut it down as and when they please.

Where I am there is a lot of long term private rentals and housing assoc etc. Many of us chipped in to pay for a huge tree to be surveyed when it was going to be chopped down as it could be seen by one whole side of road and the other side above the 4 storey terraces and was one of the few mature trees visible for a lot of us.
Thankfully the survey showed the damage caused by a bonfire lit at the base of it hadn’t caused terminal damage and I can still see its crown and the birds who nest there.
Of course you can do what you want if it’s not protected but it’s also good to do what you can to preserve trees as much as possible for ‘the area’ - we all benefit from them.

I've read your updates and I still can't figure out whether you're joking.

OP I love your user name.

I agree while heartedly. If you move into a house with loads of trees in the garden with the aim of cutting them down that shouldn't be allowed. buy somewhere else!

Finally, some props for the name 🙂

As I said if a tree is being cut down for safety, then of course that's what needs to be done. The fact is that nobody else knew this, which therefore made us feel annoyed that they were potentially ruining what is a very green area for bad reasons. Maybe it was the idea of having to get permission (or more likely the misuse of the word by me) before doing anything you want that upset the property owning mumsnet class? 🤔

Also, for all the people saying it was a very entitled thing to think…I should come clean that I am one of those people with male genitalia, so maybe that's where I get it from!

So you think the tree owner has an obligation to inform everyone about the justification for cutting down a tree?
And then what if people object?

And for the noise… do people have to consult their neighbours if they want to pollard trees?
Drill some new shelves to the wall?
Have the telly on loud?

Living in an urban area doesn’t mean a guarantee of silence or a ‘tree top vibe’

upset the property owning mumsnet class?

Would you like to some salt and vinegar to go with that huge judgemental chip on your shoulder?

Whatever loss you have, that happens naturally every winter. So all they basically did was match summer to the winter.

Maybe it was the idea of having to get permission (or more likely the misuse of the word by me) before doing anything you want that upset the property owning mumsnet class?

😂 I don't own any property and I still think you've sounded like an entitled bellend throughout this whole thread.

@ElberethGilthoniel

So for more context, I live in Denmark and have since found out that there are protection orders on certain trees that can't be cut down.

Of course I had no idea why they were cutting it down, which is exactly why I thought some consultation or prior information from the house owner would have been preferable. Otherwise it's just some workmen turning up at 9 on a Monday morning and starting to ruin a part of the neighborhood.

As it turns out it was taken down due to a consultation between the owner and the collective on the other side (who own their house) regarding the safety of a leaning tree. Again, it does rankle somewhat, but of course safety comes first. A consultation/prior information would have been more polite though and prevented annoyance on our part 🤷🏻‍♂️

oh but if there hadn't been annoyance, you'd have had nothing to -moan- be concerned about

@ElberethGilthoniel

So for more context, I live in Denmark and have since found out that there are protection orders on certain trees that can't be cut down.

Of course I had no idea why they were cutting it down, which is exactly why I thought some consultation or prior information from the house owner would have been preferable. Otherwise it's just some workmen turning up at 9 on a Monday morning and starting to ruin a part of the neighborhood.

As it turns out it was taken down due to a consultation between the owner and the collective on the other side (who own their house) regarding the safety of a leaning tree. Again, it does rankle somewhat, but of course safety comes first. A consultation/prior information would have been more polite though and prevented annoyance on our part 🤷🏻‍♂️

Why would they consult you when it’s literally nothing to do with you?

So done for safety after all.

And the owners did consult with the property next door, the ones who would be affected by a fallen tree.

Nothing therefore the most be "rankled" about.

No wider consultation needed. Tree needed to come down.

Be grateful you don't live near me. Railway have been clearing trees. Done at night for safety reasons and no notice given to the whole community.

@bobandhisburgers

Maybe it was the idea of having to get permission (or more likely the misuse of the word by me) before doing anything you want that upset the property owning mumsnet class?

😂 I don't own any property and I still think you've sounded like an entitled bellend throughout this whole thread.

😂

Yep, agree with you and I don't own property either

@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.

I have been sad with every tree that I have had to have removed for whatever reason (a total of 7 over 30+ years. Three were dying, three were unsafe in their postions and one had out grown its limited space). Every tree has been replaced with a native species that is a better choice for the location. The wildlife in my garden thrives. many many people who have trees on their property love and care for them (it blooming costs enough!) Both DH and I were born and brought up as townies and it was a real delight to us to buy our own very very small forest. Tree owners are NOT ecological vandals.

OP were you the woman who stopped to tell my DH he shouldn't be chopping down the oak tree in my parents front garden last autumn because she 'liked looking at it when she walked past'? Never mind that the roots were causing issues with the house and the man who lives opposite was practically throwing a party because his living room was finally going to get enough light that he wouldn't need to put the lights on in the middle of the day, just so long as she got to look at the pretty tree as she walked past! Some people are truly batshit.