Is it a sin to cut down a tree?

[Mamabear04]

I have a very big eucalyptus tree in my back garden, it's about 60ft tall! We moved into our house last year and I've always loved the tree but lately it's been dropping branches. The branches are really heavy and I'm worried one of them falls on my kids and hurts them. Ontop of that I have a small garden room underneath it and I'm worried it could damage it (I use it as an office space). I just had a quote from a guy who says it will cost £750 to get the tree cut back and into order then it will need maintained regularly. He also said he can chop it down completely for £950 and cut off the VAT. I'm in 2 minds as to what to do. Here are my thoughts on cutting it down;

Pro's
Safe for children
Won't damage the garden room
Will be financially beneficial in the long run
Won't be a risk to property and neighbours property if there is a big storm/high winds

Con's
It feels like a sin to cut down such an old tree
It will be home to wildlife and I'll be taking away their home
It offers some privacy to our property

Yes, I've started seeing home insurance questionnaires asking whether there are any trees within x metres of the house. Must be the apparent increase in trees falling down, perhaps as a side effect of the current trend for people not pruning/removing old/tall trees.

If its any consolation, eucalyptus is not of much value to UK wildlife.

I agree with this. Next door had a beautiful weeping willow that used to overhang our garden. It was one of things I loved about our house. Neighbour died and young couple moved in that didn’t look after it.

I came home home one day to find a bunch of (clearly not professional) tree surgeons climbing into OUR garden to chop it down. They left loads of damage and took all our privacy away. They didn’t even cut the thing down properly - just left an ugly stump. I was gutted that they didn’t even speak to us about their plan.

Mind you they also cut down a tree that was on our side of the property boundary on another occasion that I was furious about. I’m not too fond of those neighbours.

They have always asked this question

for the purposes of subsidence / heave

I had a big tree cut down earlier this year. Did I fuck discuss it with my neighbour. I had it taken down because it was causing me problems and next doors opinion would have been completely irrelevant.

Presumably he's a tree surgeon

Not necessarily!

could just be someone with the equipment

Not read all the posts but I'd say it would be a sin NOT to cut down the tree. Eucalyptus trees are a terrible choice for domestic gardens. They aren't suitable for lots of reasons. I'd cut it down, then wait a while then replant a more suitable, prettier native tree that's more beneficial to the local wildlife ( assuming you don't have a local Koala 🐨 population)

It's a garden. You don't need a tree felling license.

I really think @Honeysuckle16 suggestion is good sound, about your tree 🌳

So this will lesson mimise the risk to your children

Just maitening properly effectively cutting it back
Op@Mamabear04

You cannot cut it in nesting season. Can you have the height taken off and keep some of it for birds?

I've just reported a company for hedge cutting at the weekend. People like me report everything 😁.

Our neighbours have half a dozen eucalyptus trees that the previous owner planted about 5 yrs ago. One is taller than the house, 2 others fall over when it gets windy and have to be tethered to concrete fence posts. Bloody awful trees.
Don't worry about nesting birds. We have loads of sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, tits, robins and woodpigeon that won't go near the bloody things, let alone nest in them.

Get them to take the stump out if you can.

😂

I find the hate of non native trees weird. What about a huge ginkgo or a magnolia would you want to take them down and replace with a hawthorn? It’s a garden not an ancient hedgerow. Personally I think eucalyptus is beautiful and ours is full of birds and squirrels etc. Just get it pruned don’t kill it.

The farmer behind our house planted about a dozen eucalyptus trees when our estate was built - maybe he thought they'd be a screen but they shot up rapidly so they were tall spindly trunks with the leaves high up. And then some of them fell over in high winds, I think one damaged a neighbour's fence but also blocked the farm lane. This was within maybe 15 years, they were not venerable old trees!

Anyway, he got rid of them and has replaced them with much more appropriate trees, hazels I think.

As others have said, these are not appropriate trees for a U.K. garden. Get rid and replace with something else. Your neighbours and wildlife will thank you.

Not all non-native trees. But eucalyptus specifically has problems as a garden tree - they're very fast growing and tend to have fragile branches prone to breaking. They're just not appropriate unless you're prepared to put in regular maintenance.

For wildlife value a native species is best, but as you mention it I think ginkgo is probably the finest of all garden tress - it looks stunning in spring and autumn. A close runner-up is katsura. Unfortunately I don't have a garden big enough for all the trees I'd like to have!

Trees in gardens often outgrow the space they were planted in, don't think there's anything morally wrong in cutting one down that's got too big, especially if you replace it with something more sensible

Are you my neighbour?

We had a large eucalyptus tree in our garden when we moved in, along with various other trees and large shrubs. We have a tree surgeon we have used for years (so respect his opinion greatly) and asked him round to have a look at the various trees in the new garden. His first recommendation was to take the eucalyptus out - for all the reasons highlighted by PP.

Eucalyptus trees are beautiful - their leaf foliage is so lovely - but they just grow too big, too fast. I would have it taken down OP but check for TPOs first and definitely don't mess around getting a random garden person to do the work for you - get a qualified tree surgeon and check out feedback on their work before you hire them.

I had a giant eucalyptus and the shallow roots extended to the front of my home, hit the foundations and doubled back leaving 20 ft cracks along the paving stones.
I had it trimmed down significantly but on a follow up visit the tree surgeon recommended removal as the shallow root system meant it just wasn't stable.

A eucalyptus will not be subject to a tpo.

I wouldn't cut a tree down for fun but in this case I would and replace it with something native.

Did the neighbours and their amenities if they want a tree they can have it on their land!

I had Leylandii with a TPO in my garden.

@Tiredalwaystired

Are you my neighbour?

Obviously not, I said their opinion was completely irrelevant, not that we used their garden and caused damage.

Hi OP - my two pennyworth:

Your reasons for removing the tree are perfectly valid and I would do so. I say this as one who loves trees and owns a plot of land full of them ( also known as a woodland!), and I have no qualms about cutting down a tree for any number of reasons. Trees are a replaceable and sustainable resource so, no, it is not a 'sin', especially something like a Eucalyptus which is totally alien and of no wildlife value, unless you happen to be in the Antipodes!
Contrary to popular belief, conservation does not mean the preservation of everything at all costs - sometimes some species or individuals need removing, just ask the RSPB which routinely cull foxes, gulls, crows and some other injurious species on their reserves to allow other less successful species to have a fighting chance of increasing their numbers. They won't tell you this though, for fear of alienating their members, donors and benefactors.
Nothing wrong with removing a tree which is too big, in the wrong place, dangerous, diseased or for a host of other reasons - just replace it with a new tree of a more appropriate species and suitability for your site.
Cannot comment on the liklihood of a TPO being in place, some local authorities are more proactive than others in this regard, but unlikely on a Eucalyptus, but do check, just to cover your backside.
Not willing to comment on the quotes you have received, but since this work would require a 'climber' to carry out safely and qualified 'climbers' do not come cheap (their personal and public insurance liability premiums are horrendous!), not outside the ball park. I would expect it to include chipping of the 'arisings' and small limbs. You could always sell the larger sections to someone with an open fire or woodburner to defray costs a little - once seasoned Eucalyptus would burn well and smell gorgeous.
And, yes, since Eucalytus are so vigorous ( they regenerate even following forest fires), you would need the stump grinding out, including the roots, to prevent it suckering and regrowing.

Oh yes, it IS nesting season, but very few species of bird actually nest in trees and, provided a thorough check is made beforehand, it need not be an issue