Neighbour has cut my tree...a lot!

[NeighbourCutMyTree]

How much is usual? I know they can trim overhanging branches, they've gone right to the top of the tree. I'll see if I can add a photo.

If it's all overhanging their side then it's fine. Does your tree need trimming?

They can't cut the top even if it is causing them to have less light in their garden. They need to go through environmental health. However it would be better if you can reach a compromise.

If it overhangs they can cut it and they don’t have to make it look the way you would like it.

Yes they can. Anything that is overhanging is on the neighbours land.

If it was on their side, they can!

Here's the picture.

How much was overhanging?

Looks like they've just done the bits that overhang. They can cut it.

I’m sorry, I don’t think you have much recourse at all: www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/the-law

Do you get on well with them? Did you know they had a problem with the tree?

The trouble is, assuming all of the cut part overhung their garden, that the tree is too close to the boundary.

I don't see what they've done wrong.

Looks reasonable to me, they've taken off what they didn't want on their side.

They can cut back anything that is over-hanging their boundary. So in theory they could draw a vertical line up from their fence and cut back to that.

It's a dangerous thing to do though because obviously the tree is out of balance and can be destabilised, depending on what tree it is. It would have been polite of them to consult you and agree something a bit safer in advance.

They haven't cut to the top, you can clearly see they have just cut overhang. That's ok.

It looks like they've cut what was over hanging - I'd say you need to trim your side to balance it out now!

Looks like it would now benefit from a tree surgeon to balance it.

It looks like there are several trunks? If so perhaps cut the now lopsided one, and keep the one that's fully in your garden?

If you had maintained it they wouldn't have needed to. It's selfish to have trees overhanging your neighbours.

Op I feel your pain /anger. Currently waiting for the council planning man to arrive after ndn had our tree butchered.. It has a PTO on it but she has it done anyway.. Apparently nothing to do with me as I only rent. .

I don’t think they’ve done anything technically wrong(unless there was nesting birds) they’ve just cut overhanging branches. But they could have damaged the tree with such an imbalanced cut. If you’d can afford it, get a tree surgeon to come and have a look.

What they have done is totally fine.

that’s far too big a tree for a back garden

It looks like a multi stem tree from the photo, I'd remove all of the left hand side stem that has been trimmed if I was you, it will balance out the shape after a coupeleof growing seasons. Is it a holly? If its a holly it prunes well.

Sorry OP you’ve planted a tree (or inherited one) on a boundary. It shouldn’t be there since it was always going to encroach on another property. They were within their rights to do it and you now need a tree surgeon to sort it out

As someone who is forever contending with their neighbours poorly maintained hedge I'm afraid to say as the owner of the tree, and presuming you don't want to cause them nuisance, you should be having a regular conversation about whether they'd like you to prune your tree that's infringing on their property. Looks like they've sought to cut back the nuts they're entitled to. I would go round and ask if they'd like to to dispose of the cuttings for them (as it is your tree!)

Uhmm, trees provide shade, maintain humidity, prevent soil erosion, provide habitat for multiple species, and release oxygen that combats climate change.

God help the environment, with an attitude like that! 🙄