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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:
Ijustreallywantacat · 01/03/2022 18:03

As are an abudnance of pollinators that would not thrive in the shade

Pollinators do not require direct sunlight all day. Besides which it's not a particularly tall tree which is taking up a small corner. Plenty of space for other plants. What the neighbours have done is petty and unnecessary, imo. Of course they had every right to do it. Just really irks me.

BuyDirt · 01/03/2022 18:08

The neighbours HAVE done something wrong, they've hacked at a beautiful tree that could have been dealt with by a professional IF they'd bothered to talk to the OP.

They haven’t done anything wrong. They’re allowed to do what they have. And if they literally wanted nothing of the tree on their side, this is what it would have looked like on that side regardless of who did it.

livinthedream1995 · 01/03/2022 18:11

I’d of cut it too 🤷🏼‍♀️ If you’re so worried about it looking mine, don’t let it grow into other peoples gardens or plant it somewhere else!

EthelTheAardvark · 01/03/2022 18:11

[quote BitOutOfPractice]@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.[/quote]
They probably wanted to grow something in the area overshadowed by the tree. We can't grow a thing under the area where our willow overhangs because I cuts out the light.

livinthedream1995 · 01/03/2022 18:12

Looking nice*

LeapYrBaby · 01/03/2022 18:14

It’s about courtesy, our neighbour has a massive beech tree in their garden quite near the border it’s been there longer than both our houses as originally it was a pub garden and our 1940s house would have been the end of the street. Then in the 60s four more homes were added to the street. Next door had lived there since it was constructed and we moved in 1995. Owners of the beech tree maintained it well, leaves always covered our lawn - pesky wind! They always told us it had a TPO. Neighbours die and three years ago a new neighbour moved in. Tree hasn’t been pruned for 3 years. I contacted the council about the TPO only to discover there never was one!! Spoke to the neighbour to say we were looking to get someone in to prune it and did he want the whole tree doing as if so we could split the cost. He was happy for me to arrange but insisted as it was his tree he would pay. Bought him a crate of beers as a thank you. I’m not saying the OP should offer to pay but the neighbour should have let them know what they were wanting to do.

EthelTheAardvark · 01/03/2022 18:14

The neighbours HAVE done something wrong, they've hacked at a beautiful tree that could have been dealt with by a professional IF they'd bothered to talk to the OP.

I don't understand how a professional could have made much difference, given the need to stop the branches overhanging the neighbour's land? Short of shifting the tree, surely it would still end up lopsided?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/03/2022 18:15

It's March. It has no leaves.

Yes, but it won't always be March @Auntieobem Grin

They won't be able to prune it later in the year due to nesting laws.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 01/03/2022 18:17

@FantasticFebruary they've done nout wrong. The op didn't see them do it so how do you know they didn't get professionals? They are allowed to cut it back to the fence line. That's exactly what they've done.

TatianaBis · 01/03/2022 18:18

I would always speak with a neighbour before trimming their tree on my side, and would give them an opportunity to do it first. It's definitely bad form, but it doesn't look that bad.

And to be fair you can even it up by trimming it on your side.

Anniefrenchfry · 01/03/2022 18:19

@LeapYrBaby

It’s about courtesy, our neighbour has a massive beech tree in their garden quite near the border it’s been there longer than both our houses as originally it was a pub garden and our 1940s house would have been the end of the street. Then in the 60s four more homes were added to the street. Next door had lived there since it was constructed and we moved in 1995. Owners of the beech tree maintained it well, leaves always covered our lawn - pesky wind! They always told us it had a TPO. Neighbours die and three years ago a new neighbour moved in. Tree hasn’t been pruned for 3 years. I contacted the council about the TPO only to discover there never was one!! Spoke to the neighbour to say we were looking to get someone in to prune it and did he want the whole tree doing as if so we could split the cost. He was happy for me to arrange but insisted as it was his tree he would pay. Bought him a crate of beers as a thank you. I’m not saying the OP should offer to pay but the neighbour should have let them know what they were wanting to do.
Courtesy works two ways, it’s her tree, th least she could have done is be courteous and asked them if they were ok with the over hang and If not dealt with it, why is the only person who needs to be courteous the impacted neighbours?
TatianaBis · 01/03/2022 18:20

No I think the onus on the neighbour to say they're not happy with the overhang, because some neighbours would be fine with it. I'm not remotely bothered by the overhang of trees into our garden.

Lockheart · 01/03/2022 18:21

I can't believe the conniptions some posters are having over a tree. I had no idea a mature living organism which could well be older than OP or her neighbours and which in turn helps support entire ecosystems, including ours, could provoke such offense because it drops leaves (which rot down) and casts shade (what do you think your house - which is rather larger than said tree - does?).

We need more trees, not fewer.

OP they should have mentioned it to you so you could have arranged for it to be done professionally.

PossiblyDreaming · 01/03/2022 18:22

How would you have had it “done right”? They removed the parts of the tree that were in their garden. I imagine your idea of it being “done right” would be for them to have had less removed which isn’t what they wanted and not what you’re entitled to demand.

Emilyontmoor · 01/03/2022 18:25

Those trees are thirsty and grow like weeds and are ultimately massive, it will soon come back and I feel sorry for your neighbours having to keep up to it and even so when it reaches one hundred feet it will dominate their whole garden. Basically you are upset because you feel entitled to take up their garden with your “pretty tree” which will create dry shade on their side. There is no means for it to be”done properly” that wouldn’t look like that or still hangover.

I think they are pretty too so I grow two in pots to keep them under control.

I do the same to the trees that overhang my garden, and throw it back, I don’t tell the neighbours because it is their thoughtlessness that lets trees (multiple self seeding elders etc.) grow on the boundary and shade my garden in the first place. I also hack back their Ivy and pull it off my fence as far as I can reach and throw it over the fence. I doubt they notice though.

I wouldn’t behave that way towards my other neighbours because they are pleasant and considerate.

Bouledeneige · 01/03/2022 18:27

I wouldn't mind a tree like that overhanging my garden - its a bird habitat after all. Still at least you've now got a lovely view of the lamppost.

CambsAlways · 01/03/2022 18:30

They did what they wanted to do, it overhung their property, it’s planted far too close, I can’t see a problem! You are lucky they didn’t hand back the branches to be honest!

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 01/03/2022 18:31

Bastards.

There is special place for them in hell. It's hot, dusty and not a drop of water to be had.

Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 18:32

It’s polite to speak to someone before you damage their property. The tree is the property of the op, therefore the neighbours should explain their predicament if they have any decency at all. Would seriously judge them for their actions . Not a great start to a neighbourly relationship!

WutheringHeights66 · 01/03/2022 18:32

We’re about to do the same, but that’s because twat of a tight landlord next door won’t do anything about it or about the roots that have lifted our path so they will also get chopped through as well as a pretty, but too close to the house tree, being split in half.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 01/03/2022 18:33

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Bastards.

There is special place for them in hell. It's hot, dusty and not a drop of water to be had.

There are bigger things in this world than chopping some branches off a tree. Get a bloody grip. Christ on a bike.
Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 18:33

@ChardonnaysPetDragon quite! Plus there are loads of over hanging branchesGrin

Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 18:34

@AllThingsServeTheBeam yes there are but this is a thread about a tree so if it’s not to your discernment, scroll on.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 01/03/2022 18:35

[quote Benjispruce5]@AllThingsServeTheBeam yes there are but this is a thread about a tree so if it’s not to your discernment, scroll on.[/quote]
It's pathetic. I come on here to stick up for the neighbours so I'm in the right place. Thanks for your concern. Can anyone decide to be the thread police?

Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 18:35

@Emilyontmoor god what an awful neighbour you are!