To be so sad neighbours cut down a Pear Tree

[danny735]

Just that really.

There was a beautiful pear tree right on the border of our garden. I returned from a trip and the neighbours had chopped it down.

It was on neighbours side of the fence but half of the foliage was in our garden. I love nature and adore tree silhouette.

We've only lived in this house for 2 years and the pears were blooming when we moved in. There are usually beautiful blossoms in spring time. I'm so devastated that it's gone - I can't work out if I'm being silly I not 🥺

Disease was my first thought. We had to cut ours down after a heavy crop split it.

We had 2 Victoria plum trees. Lots of delicious plums in the Autumn but had to cut one down as it was diseasd.

@HoveringDonkeyofKnock

That’s a disgrace and you’re not being silly. They’re philistines. You can’t easily replace mature trees like that. They take decades.

I know someone who chopped down a mature cherry blossom. Heartbreaking.

Cherry blossom has a limited life though and when they fall they cause a lot of damage

When you have your own OP at least it’ll be under your control

We took down a huge cherry tree a couple months ago (hi if any of you are my neighbour ), we had a few reasons for doing it- safety being one- and have planted half a dozen shrubs, a maple and a rowan in the space it covered. The lawn was completely trashed all round it so we’ve gone for a deep border which be great in a couple of years and the birds are already busy in the new branches.

At the end of the day it’s our garden, and we’re not responsible for providing a view to the neighbours. If a plant is precious to you then get your own so it’s ‘safe’.

@balalake

I think you should ask them why, and if it was not for reasons of disease express your view.

I’m sure it was a lovely tree, but go around demanding answers from the neighbours is a bit unhinged.

@nightfairy

I despise people who cut down trees for no good reason.

Such an odd thing to despise people for. I despise people who are racist or sexist or bullies.

And also you have absolutely no clue what someone’s reasons are. It’s not op’s tree. She can feel sad about it but unless she was offering to share in all the care and cost of the tree and it’s possible issues it’s really none of her business and all she can do is plant a new one in her own space.

Easy to love a tree when you’re not the one collecting and disposing of the fruit, watching for pests, having it treated and pruned, watching out for root issues etc.

@Lagarthatheviking

Have you spoken to the neighbours? It’s a bit suspicious that they did this while you were away, however it could have been diseased? I’ve come to realise that you can’t rely on others to give you what you want. Why don’t you just plant another pear tree on your side?

Why is this suspicious? It’s not like they waited until OP was away and cut down HER tree.

@balalake

I think you should ask them why, and if it was not for reasons of disease express your view.

And do you do that often with other people’s property? Ask why they’ve had drive laid and express your view when told why? Ask why they have a paved garden and if you don’t like the reasons denounce them as idiots?

Just makes you look stupid and a bit weird. It’s their garden, they’re entitled to do whatever they want in it regardless of whether or not it spoils the neighbours’ enjoyment of looking at someone else’s trees.

I'm another one who has had to have trees felled for safety reasons. We had the most beautiful silver birch tree, from the main road it was stunning, you'd never have thought it might have been diseased But when an arborculturalist examined it he condemned it immediately as over 2/3 of the trunk was rotten at the base. We had it taken down shortly afterwards. It was far too dangerous to leave it.

We also have fruit trees (apple and pear) which are lovely and produce delicious edible fruit BUT I also spend hours and hours in autumn sweeping up dead leaves and manky half rotten fruit that the birds have pecked to death. They are a lot of work. I can see why people don't want them.

At the end of the day, as sad as it is (a) there could be a safety reason why the tree had to go and/or (b) if there is no TPO on the tree there is no reason why they shouldn't take it down.

But I can understand why you feel sad. There is something about a beautiful tree that is good for the soul.

Have you got a photo that includes it OP? Being able to still 'see' it might be a comfort. (I'd like to see it if you can find a pic - I love trees.) (I know you might not want to post it if it's too outing.)

@rwalker

We have a pear tree at the bottom of our garden . Pears always rock hard and inedible . Pain in the arse to prune all the windfalls that no one want rot on floor and kills grass .Puts a lot of shade and grass all mossy and nothing grows .

They could be in the same position

I think your pears may be Conference Pears,. They start off like cobble stones but if you pick them and put them in a bowl for a week or so you'll find that they become soft and juicy. 🍐

Plant one in your garden. I planted a Comice pear tree in mine about 3 years ago and we had about a hundred fat, fragrant pears off it last year.

Oh yes, I'd feel the same. I would plant a new one on my side in remembrance of the old one!

My Mum and Dad lived in a beautiful 1920s house and the new people gutted it and extended it. They chucked the original solid wood doors in the skip. I have no idea why they didn't just move into a new build box with no character.

@rwalker

We have a pear tree at the bottom of our garden . Pears always rock hard and inedible . Pain in the arse to prune all the windfalls that no one want rot on floor and kills grass .Puts a lot of shade and grass all mossy and nothing grows .

They could be in the same position

Pears only ripen off the tree. You pick them and then they ripen over the next few weeks. Try it this autumn - you might be pleasantly surprised!

I had ivy grown up the side of my house. Due to the layout of the house I could see it from the living room and I absolutely loved it. I felt it gave it such a cottage/country feel even though I know it's not good for the house. I can't remember how it came about but my dad, bless him, was helping me out with the garden. He was doing it one day when I was at work and when I came home he had torn all the ivy down. I was absolutely heartbroken, I really didn't expect to have the reaction I did, I was so angry with him and he was only trying to help as it's bad for the house. It took me a while to get over, I'd feel sad each time I looked at it and it was just a white wall.

It's sad to take trees down but we did also remove a pear tree last year. No one really liked the fruit and we got SO many wasps and it was on the main lawn where the children usually have their paddling pool and bare feet. We did plant 10 apple trees, a magnolia and 5 silver birch trees elsewhere last year though.

It's sad to lose mature trees, but maybe they are sad about it too? I had to have two mature apple trees taken out. They were diseased, and though they blossomed well they grew rotten fruit, and were gradually dying off limb by limb. I've replaced them with other trees but it will take many years to reach that lovely size and shape.

It was their tree.

Our neighbours have a lovely pear tree along with other fruit trees in their small garden. . They also have rats in their garden eating windfalls which come into our garden.
I’d like if they cut down their fruit trees.

@balalake

I think you should ask them why, and if it was not for reasons of disease express your view.

Imagine being arrogant and batshit enough to think this is in any way appropriate

I have an apple tree in my garden it's awful. They splat all over the floor. Makes the floor manky They are mostly half eaten by parakeets. I have seen rats in the garden apples are probably their food source. I'm moving soon. But if I was staying I would get rid of it . All well people saying how wrong it is. But they are not having to de with all the mush and crap.

Poor you. This would really upset me too. Are they the sort to be making room for a bar, hot tub and some plastic grass?! Sadly not a lot you can do. But I would be bearing a grudge for the rest of my days.

@RandomNumb3rs

I’m on the other side of the argument at the moment.

25 years ago I planted trees on a plot of land that we weren’t otherwise using.

Now I want to use the land for something else but neighbours are trying to have a preservative order put on the trees.

I planted them - I should bloody well be able to take them down.

This is what stops me planting trees on my land!

It’s ridiculous, the immediate “all trees are important” reaction that people have, regardless of what variety and the general biodiversity of the area. But they won’t plant their own because they are just a bit inconvenient…

We sold our house (to a friend) some years ago, and shortly after our moves she let me know they'd cut down the beautiful pear tree outside the back door, and were going to fell another huge beautiful tree in the garden that was amazingly pink in spring.

I wish I'd never sold it to them!

My neighbours diverted a small river/ stream along my boundary. It used to be a beautifully natural meander and they converted it to a dead straight drainage channel.

YANBU.

In my case I complained to the authorities as they're not supposed to do it without permission and it's cause no end of problems. They never miss an opportunity to yell at me now. Fun times.