Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

They've cut our tree!

291 replies

Auntieobem · 01/03/2022 15:03

We have a twisty willow at the bottom of the garden. I love it. Had it topped a couple of years ago - cost £££ but looking good. It overhang/ overhung next doors garden. Neighbours moved in a while ago - we've only spoken briefly but all pleasant enough.

I've just noticed that half the tree has been cut off. Tree looks ridiculously lop sided. Why onearth didn't they speak to us? I know they have a right to cut off anything which overhangs, but who not just warn us?? I feel really sad. Poor bloody tree!! Don't know when it was done, I've been working from home and never saw anything? They must have waited until we were all out? Aibu for being a bit annoyed?

OP posts:
xxxsuper · 01/03/2022 15:04

What difference would it have made if they spoke to you?

FelicityPike · 01/03/2022 15:04

They also need to offer you anything they cut off.
I’d be going round and calmly (as you can be) and have a serious word!
Dicks.

WeDontShutUpAboutBruno · 01/03/2022 15:12

If they spoke to you and you didn't agree to them cutting it then you would have been even more annoyed when they did it.

They didn't handle it well, but there options were to either just go ahead and do it, or consult you and potentially cause a massive argument.

Its a shame though, it sounds like a lovely tree.

Original poster
Auntieobem · 01/03/2022 15:14

@xxxsuper - we would have had someone do it properly so the tree didn't look so daft!

They've cut our tree!
OP posts:
Dumblebum · 01/03/2022 15:15

Why did you need to be told, to emotionally prepare yourself or something?

Dumblebum · 01/03/2022 15:16

[quote Auntieobem]@xxxsuper - we would have had someone do it properly so the tree didn't look so daft![/quote]
How would that work fhen?

WeDontShutUpAboutBruno · 01/03/2022 15:18

Having seen the photo I'm not sure anyone could have cut the overhang and not make it look lop sided. That went quite a way into their garden.

Whatsthestoryboringglory · 01/03/2022 15:18

I think if the options were possibly piss you off by asking you, or definitely piss you off by just doing it, they should have come and spoken to you first.

My DP had a tree that grew very quickly and he wasn’t really on top of things like that. Neighbours would politely suggest it was time for a trim and then get out there with snippers!

Bigboysmademedoit · 01/03/2022 15:25

The problem is that the tree has been planted on the border of your garden - if you don’t want neighbours to act independently, don’t impact on their garden. The tree should have been planted more centrally. Willows have long roots and need a lot of water so this may also adversely your neighbours garden.

LosingTheWill2022 · 01/03/2022 15:25

Your tree is in a completely unsuitable position. It will inevitably overhang your neighbours' (more than 1) gardens. The only way that tree would be a decent shape would be by them allowing it to encroach on their gardens.
You're annoyed they didn't speak to you when it should have been you apologising to them for the inconvenience of your tree.

SirChenjins · 01/03/2022 15:26

To be fair to them, it looks like it's been hanging over by quite some considerable amount and knowing that, you could have got someone in before now to deal with it properly. That being said, I understand why you're upset - trees are beautiful things.

junglejane66 · 01/03/2022 15:27

Planted far to close to the fence, this was always going to happen, sorry for your loss OP

Choccyp1g · 01/03/2022 15:27

You shouldn't have been storing your tree in their garden.

TheOrigRights · 01/03/2022 15:29

That's quite a large tree to have in the corner of your garden ie where it cannot grow anywhere other than your neighbours' property.

Willows grow very quickly though.

Maybe now is the time to go round (to collect your branches) and ask if they would be willing to discuss subsequent pruning with you so you can agree something which keeps them, the tree and you happy.

GordenBennett · 01/03/2022 15:29

It would have been the polite thing to do but to be fair perhaps you should have approached them first if you could see it was overhanging so much

fallfallfall · 01/03/2022 15:31

It looks fine and it’s a reasonable time of year to do this. I was expecting much worse.

KStockHERO · 01/03/2022 15:31

For you, from your house it might look lopsided. But I bet it looks a damn site better for your neighbours, from their house. Not having loads of branches hanging over their side must make their garden look lots bigger and tidier.

If I was your neighbour, I wouldn't have come around especially to 'warn' you. If I'd bumped into you, I might have told you that it was going to happen in passing. But I definitely wouldn't be making a trip round to let you know I was tidying up my own garden.

KStockHERO · 01/03/2022 15:32

@Choccyp1g

You shouldn't have been storing your tree in their garden.
This made me properly laugh Blush
MsFogi · 01/03/2022 15:32

Mainly annoying for your neighbours because they had to spend their money cutting your tree.

Itsbackagain · 01/03/2022 15:33

You really should have been keeping it from overhanging then this wouldn't have happened.

mugoftea456 · 01/03/2022 15:34

What a stupid place to have planted it in the first place. Was it there when you moved in ? . Your neighbours have done nothing wrong except not offering you back the cuttings.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 01/03/2022 15:34

Your neighbours did nothing wrong

What would talking to you have achieved? The tree needed chopping back to your fence line, so that's what they did.

Purplepepsi · 01/03/2022 15:34

We have a twisty willow they grow like crazy ours does 6/ 8ft a year easy. It will grow back!

MrsWinters · 01/03/2022 15:35

You should’ve been maintaining it properly.

mugoftea456 · 01/03/2022 15:36

@Purplepepsi

We have a twisty willow they grow like crazy ours does 6/ 8ft a year easy. It will grow back!
So the poor neighbours have to keep dealing with it ? How annoying for them