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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:
godmum56 · 01/03/2022 16:46

@fudging

But waiting until you all went out before damaging your property (even if it is legal to cut it back to the boundary, your tree might not survive it is not the right time of year for pruning due to frost etc) makes it clear they are shitheads.
actually it is the right time to prune. once the birds are nesting its not allowed.
fudging · 01/03/2022 16:47

@fromdownwest, I don't think the neighbours could have anticipated a negative response based on the OP. They are just cowardly shits (IMHO of course, they may just be very well disguised responsible people who normally communicate well and are reasonable, just hiding it very well by waiting until no-one is in before cutting off half of someone's tree without mentioning it first Hmm)

GatoradeMeBitch · 01/03/2022 16:47

your tree might not survive it is not the right time of year for pruning due to frost etc)

I was told that late winter was the perfect time to prune our apple trees. Something about the sap (I wasn't really paying attention).

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 01/03/2022 16:48

I’m totally with your neighbours on this, why should they put up with loss of light, falling leaves and encroaching branches just because you planted it too close to their boundary?

godmum56 · 01/03/2022 16:49

@BitOutOfPractice

It's not "overhanging" as such. That implies its causing a nuisance in their garden / invading their space. They must've had to get a ladder to even get to the lowest branch that even encroached on their air space (there must be a correct term for this but it escapes me!)

I agree OP, it's really upsetting to see, YANBU

if it is over the fence, no matter how high up, its overhanging.
Sceptre86 · 01/03/2022 16:49

The polite thing to do would have been to cut it back whilst the old neighbours were moving out, before the new lot moved in. I would definitely keep on top of pruning it in the future.

theemmadilemma · 01/03/2022 16:49

@WeDontShutUpAboutBruno

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.
This.
alwaysontheloo · 01/03/2022 16:49

Posters on here are always total arseholes on here about trees.
Always drivelling on about how trees must be cut to the fence and woah betide any branches should have the temerity to overhang a fence..Hmm
They hate trees. OP could have got a professional if the neighbours had asked.
Give me trees over people any day of the week. We need trees to survive. People - not so much.

alwaysontheloo · 01/03/2022 16:51

And anyone banging on about loss of light 😂😂😂
Have you seen the tree in the photo? Get a fucking grip!

buddylicious · 01/03/2022 16:52

Jeez, the OP is upset about the tree and she has had some really harsh responses!

Original poster
Auntieobem · 01/03/2022 16:54

Tree was there when we moved in has been there for about 20 years. Neighbours there for less than a year. It was already cut so it didn't overhang by much was alittle lopsided. Streetlight is on path behind houses, tree qas cut so it didn't interfere with the light.

I just wish they'd spoken with us first

OP posts:
fromdownwest · 01/03/2022 16:54

@alwaysontheloo

And anyone banging on about loss of light 😂😂😂 Have you seen the tree in the photo? Get a fucking grip!
errrr - Loss of light is not just for someone sat in their living room.

A tree that size would create a significant shaded area in the neighbours garden, that could possibly hinder growth of their own plants/flowers/ grass etc

BitOutOfPractice · 01/03/2022 16:56

@godmum56 but what actual harm was it doing? That's what I can't get to grips with! Just because it's in the air above their garden it doesn't mean they have to rush out with a chain saw because they are entitled to, just because they are entitled to. I honestly can't understand why they had a problem with it. It must look far far worse than before they bodgingly hacked it.

Outlookmainlyfair · 01/03/2022 16:56

That is such a sad sight, I can’t believe that there is any sympathy for the drastic haircut. Trees are beautiful, it makes me think of the Lorax!

HumunaHey · 01/03/2022 16:56

@Auntieobem

Tree was there when we moved in has been there for about 20 years. Neighbours there for less than a year. It was already cut so it didn't overhang by much was alittle lopsided. Streetlight is on path behind houses, tree qas cut so it didn't interfere with the light.

I just wish they'd spoken with us first

Please tell us what would have come out of them speaking to you first?
SandyIrvine · 01/03/2022 16:56

I sympathise. Had a lovely crab apple which overhangs neighbour on left a little. Original neighbour didn't mind the overhang (said it was the nicest thing in her garden). New neighbour not so much and they butcher it each year when we go on summer holiday (despite me offering to prune in winter). Tree doesn't look so good especially in winter but looks much worse from the neighbours side than mine. I thought about replacing it with one of those columnar cherry trees but instead I prune my side a little (in winter) so not so one sided. Has survived the annual butcher for 5+ years. Yours might look better come the spring.

Chely · 01/03/2022 16:57

I cut the neighbours trees when they come over the fence too, never spoken to them about it before or after. Having a tree like that so close to a fence is daft if don't want anyone else touching it.

godmum56 · 01/03/2022 16:57

@alwaysontheloo

Posters on here are always total arseholes on here about trees. Always drivelling on about how trees must be cut to the fence and woah betide any branches should have the temerity to overhang a fence..Hmm They hate trees. OP could have got a professional if the neighbours had asked. Give me trees over people any day of the week. We need trees to survive. People - not so much.
I don't hate trees, my garden is a wild one like @SoupDragon I have got about nine of my own trees in the ground and around 15 more in huge tubs. I do keep them out of other people's gardens though and would quite understand if anyone removed overhanging branches. Its not up to me what other folk want in their gardens, similarly its not up to them what i have in mine.
godmum56 · 01/03/2022 16:57

@Chely

I cut the neighbours trees when they come over the fence too, never spoken to them about it before or after. Having a tree like that so close to a fence is daft if don't want anyone else touching it.
this
Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 01/03/2022 16:58

I would have cut it without asking you too. It's a tree, they've not killed it, just trimmed it, it'll grow back. 🤷

BitOutOfPractice · 01/03/2022 16:58

And yet @fromdownwest they have a horrible tree what would cast much denser shade in their own garden, right next to their fence which is "overhanging" the OP's garden. Odd eh?

alwaysontheloo · 01/03/2022 16:58

@fromdownwes

Really? Right next to a street light? Hmm

rwalker · 01/03/2022 17:00

@PoshPyjamas

They are the type that think that because they have the right to cut the tree back then they should. They probably are the types who feel quite powerless in their lives and so they take some kind of satisfaction in this kind of idiot behaviour, will have made them feel quite pleased with themselves.
Or they could be pissed off with having tree overhanging shading garden and dropping leaves that they have to deal with
LookItsMeAgain · 01/03/2022 17:01

Please be sure to trim back their cordyline that appears to be hanging over your garden in the same manner they 'trimmed' your tree back. Oh, and be sure to return the cuttings to them for them to dispose of once you're done.

Original poster
Auntieobem · 01/03/2022 17:05

All the plants in the pic are ours.

OP posts: