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

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'm trying to remember how the eucalyptus near us were felled - they were so tall and gangly I'm not sure if they could be climbed. I think they had to chop them down from the base and ensure they fell the right way. Could be tricky in a garden, and all the more reason to deal with it before it gets any bigger.

It’s not protected is it? There’s a massive redwood near where I live and nobody’s allowed to cut it down.

It doesn’t sound too cheap to me, I had to have a mature Ash tree cut down (ash dieback) and it was £600. Proper tree surgeon.

Yes

I'm reading this with interest as we've just moved into a house with a massive Eucalyptus tree at thd bottom.of the garden. It's nowhere near our house but it's incredibly close to the house behind - 20 feet I think as their garden is minute. The house behind was only built two years ago so the developer knew it was there when the house was built.

It’s a shame to cut down any tree, I wouldn’t unless absolutely necessary 🤷🏼‍♀️

I would plan on cutting it down once bird nesting season is over.

Take into account it may affect foundations, and it will probably mean that area of your garden is now much wetter so plan for those costs too.

I murdered two massive leylandii in the garden of my old home as they cut out so much light... and then found that once they weren't slurping up the water, my garden was a fucking bog! That winter thanks to water and dogs bouncing around out there, I had a foot of black mud... digging a big soakaway drain was so much fun (and we did it all ourselves as zero money for anything but the gravel!)

Yeah, but didn't Jesus bump off a fig tree at one point?

I love Eucalyptus, put grown in the wrong place they are a pain in the….
They do grow really quickly, if you do have it reduced, you will need to do this every 5 or so years. If you do not want this cost every 5 years but feel bad, remove and replant with something more manageable.
You don’t need to notify neighbours at all, it’s your tree.
Your tree surgeon should check for any TPOs or if you are in a Conservation area. But it is really easy to do yourself should you wish. Just call the planning department at your council and ask for a TPOand conservation area check done, all they will need is your address. If it is covered by either, you will need to submit applications, but your tree surgeon should do this for you.
You do not need a felling licence. You also do not need to wait until nesting bird season ends, As long as no birds are nesting in the tree. If they come across any as they work, they should stop and not continue until the bird has finished nesting (it is illegal to disturb nesting birds during the nesting season).
Price seems reasonable (price would indicate it will take them a day), dependant on where you are in the country. Just ask for a written quotation and ask to see their insurance certificate.
I own a tree surgery company 👍

Get done more quotes

• some, not done

Less than 1k to get a huge tree cut down? That doesn't sound right. I had a tree cut down that was about 40ft high, and it cost over 2k (it was in a difficult position right next to the house, but even if it had been in a different position it wouldn't have cost just £950)! I'd definitely get another quote.

Cut it down and plant something small, manageable and native - which Eucalyptus aren’t.

you quote sounds reasonable. We were quoted £2k for a conifer half the size. Still get a couple more though.

you’ll be left with a stump that will need grinding out. What about keeping the stump about 6ft tall and having it carved?they can look cool.

This

Hi op as another poster has mentioned , it is. It's nesting season . So if you cut down the tree and fledglings will die . Please wait another few months until you cut it down so the birds can then find another home and nesting area x

Also I always think it's horrible to cut trees down . I think all trees are living things and without them we would be screwed . I would go for just cutting it back and maintaining it . But at the end of the day it's in your property and it's your choice x

Quote doesn’t seem unlikely.
Our tree surgeon is good value and we paid £570 recently for a big conifer including chipping and stump grinding.
Cutting down trees is not morally wrong. It’s part of responsibly managing your environment. Do it thoughtfully and replace it appropriately.

No, it isn't a sin. If your life becomes easier with it gone, I'd get rid of it.

Best thing we ever did was rip out the massive hedge we had. Life is easier. The other one will be going soon.

If the tree is on your property, you don't need to "consult" the neighbours, it's none of their business.

I love trees and intend to plant several trees in our next garden but I'd get rid of the eucalyptus if I were in your shoes. It only works well in a garden if you cut it back to the ground every year or buy a dwarf version. I have France Bleu which grows to a max of 3 m.

You need an arborists report not a tree surgeon, they are climbers and want the work... your money.

Dependent on that, you could have dead branches removed, pollard it or even felled.

I relied on a tree surgeon who said a mature ash had Die Back, 30m tall, 2 stems, after felling the first stem, i saw there was no die back, the centre of the trunk was fine, so i got them to leave the rest, we had an unusual spring summer last year and trees have been shedding leaves v early, hence the signs of "ash die back" which isn't.

these people are neighbours and out of common courtesy I would want to go around and give them heads up that substantial work was shortly to commence on the tree

This is an interesting point. I would tend to err on the side of communicating with neighbours but see your point re TPOs.
However do you think it is really likely they will be able to get a TPO put on a eucalyptus?

Perhaps it was a threat to his garden room...

I would say an ancient oak or Yew yes it is a sun but a eucalyptus not. They are massive trees often planted in stupid places where they shouldn’t be and non native.
I would get rid and plant a nice smaller tree in its place

@Youheshetheysaid

these people are neighbours and out of common courtesy I would want to go around and give them heads up that substantial work was shortly to commence on the tree

I don't need to extend common courtesy to people who have never spoken to me for over 20 years. People who refuse to take in a parcel on the odd occasion they have been asked. People who create more drama than a drama club.

Substantial work took place on my tree, in my garden. It didn't affect them.