Page 4 | To not remove the tree?

CoachBeardsJane · 2023-06-12T14:04:10+00:00

We have a very large Californian Lilac (ceanothus) tree in our garden, it's gorgeous. It's also massive. It does not overhang our neighbours garden because I've had it pruned to not do that. It's covered in bees, honey bees, miner bees, bumble bees etc. it's currently got 100s of bees a day on it. Each blossom probably has 2/3 bees at one time on it. It is literally crawling in bees and butterflies. It is next to the access path our other neighbour uses to bring his bin through. He's asked us to chop down the tree because of the amount of bees that's on it during the day.. I will say his bin is in the communal bin area and he just uses the access path to take his rubbish to the bin. The tree doesn't overhang the access path, but when you walk past it you can see and hear a lot of bees. I've had a bee keeper round and there is no nest, or hive in the tree. it is just a very nice plant for bees and they love it, at night time they all go home and then they come back during the day. There is currently 2 birds nests in the tree one I think is a robin and the other one is a tree creeper. So the tree isn't being pruned or removed at all until September minimum. They're not angry or swarming, it's just very big and the bees love it. Would you get rid of it? Right now there are probably 200 bees on it

EsmeSusanOgg · 12/06/2023 17:13

YANBU. Team Tree.

But because this is AIBU... Could we have an MS diagram outlining the tree location, bin access area, and complaining neighbour?

TheHandmaiden · 12/06/2023 17:17

Keep the tree

ChimChimeny · 12/06/2023 17:37

GeekyThings · 12/06/2023 15:59

That's insane, why is the communal access area through people's gardens?? And from how you've described it now he is walking past the tree, like I asked initially, and with no fence between him and it. I'm not bee nervous at all but hundreds of bees in and around tree a few feet away are very loud, if you are nervous around them you probably would struggle to walk past that.

I don't think the solution is anything to do with you though, it's to work out the access problems, and why you're all having to walk on each others properties to get from a to b, that's ridiculous.

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It sounds like he's making more trips than necessary though, taking his rubbish to the bin whereas normally people just take the actual bin back & forth for collection day

Scousefab · 12/06/2023 17:39

Wow that’s beautiful! I agree don’t cut it down!

Wednesdaysotherchild · 12/06/2023 17:49

BeautifulBirds · 12/06/2023 15:05

The tree stays!!

No way would I cut it down

This and he’s a CF!

HareRaising · 12/06/2023 17:51

NO WAY must you cut this down. It's a wonderful wildlife haven. He will asking you to get plastic grass next...

MushMonster · 12/06/2023 17:56

I have one and it does not get excessive number of bees, though it is yet small indeed.
I would resist chopping it. I love them!

slithytoveisascientist · 12/06/2023 20:31

Definitely need a diagram

PinkPrincessPhilo · 12/06/2023 21:05

You’ve inspired me to buy a ceanothus now, OP.

GeekyThings · 12/06/2023 21:26

ChimChimeny · 12/06/2023 17:37

It sounds like he's making more trips than necessary though, taking his rubbish to the bin whereas normally people just take the actual bin back & forth for collection day

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Most people I know fill it up throughout the week, they don't keep rubbish in their houses until bin day. And I empty more on hot days too, it keeps flies, fly larvae, ants, and just pure smelliness at bay!

But I also keep my bin at the front of my house, it would be awful if I had to cross other people's gardens to get to it! There should at least be alleyway access or something, I just think that's mad.

ChimChimeny · 13/06/2023 07:33

GeekyThings · 12/06/2023 21:26

Most people I know fill it up throughout the week, they don't keep rubbish in their houses until bin day. And I empty more on hot days too, it keeps flies, fly larvae, ants, and just pure smelliness at bay!

But I also keep my bin at the front of my house, it would be awful if I had to cross other people's gardens to get to it! There should at least be alleyway access or something, I just think that's mad.

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I think (hopefully OP can clarify) that he leaves his wheelie bin in the communal areas so is.walking back and forth to put rubbish in it, rather than.keeping the wheelie bin at his house and then moving it for collection day.
So if it was outside his house he could put rubbish in it as much as he wants then only has to.walk.past the tree twice - taking bin out, bringing bin in

Nannyfannybanny · 13/06/2023 07:49

We need a diagram. You are not allowed to prune remove trees with nesting birds and at certain months of the year. We've got bins in our garden,3 never seen anything other than flies or maggots and that was during dustman strikes. Never seen a bee or wasp anywhere near them.. We've made a specially planted a wildflower meadow area at the bottom of our garden
Because of fruit trees, fruit,veg,we plant for pollinators. Watching the bees on the annual poppies today. But one of my DD is terrified of bees/wasps/hoverflies,so if he was like this, I would move the bin for him,as we do with neighbours at work

TheNoodlesIncident · 13/06/2023 08:15

I also have a ceanothus which is humming with bees at the moment. But as far as I know Ceanothus don't have long life spans so I would be considering planting another - you know, for continuity's sake. And you can buy varieties that flower later in the season, some in autumn even. Just saying...

Ask your neighbour if he'd like you to move his bin past it for him, save him going near it if he's not comfortable. Or as PP suggests, while it's in flower he keeps his bin on his property and OP moves it past the tree for him.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 13/06/2023 09:02

Can you train bees to attack annoying neighbours, I wonder... of course the tree stays.

caringcarer · 13/06/2023 12:08

It's lovely, I've got one and they attract so many bees and butterflies too. Don't chip it down. Tell him no, it's on your property.

RudsyFarmer · 13/06/2023 12:09

A straight ‘nope’ from me.

PaperNests · 13/06/2023 12:27

What an awful man! Keep the tree of course. I might get one myself, it looks stunning and I'm always trying to attract more bees. It reminds me of our neighbours who got our landlord to chop down a buddleia in full bloom because 'bugs' were falling off it onto his concrete patio. If they'd just waited a week the flowers would have finished.

I'd have laughed at him too. Bees are far more important than him.

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 13/06/2023 12:30

Keep the tree. I have 3 lilacs along my boundary and the bees and birds love them. One of them has to go at some point because of how it’s growing in but I’m holding out as long as I can!! 🤣

Isthatarealname · 13/06/2023 12:38

Can't bins just be taken round the front past all the terraces or is the only access to the communal bin at the back?

HowcanIgetoutofthisalive · 13/06/2023 12:40

The tree and bees have to stay!

Your neighbour could take his rubbish out to the bins later in the day/evening (i.e. when the bees have all gone home) if he is so concerned about them.

Lindy2 · 13/06/2023 12:41

Thank goodness for trees like this helping our pollinators.

The tree stays. It's beautiful.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 13/06/2023 12:43

Tree stays. I now seriously considering getting one, it’s bloody gorgeous!!

Original poster

CoachBeardsJane · 13/06/2023 15:38

TheNoodlesIncident · 13/06/2023 08:15

I also have a ceanothus which is humming with bees at the moment. But as far as I know Ceanothus don't have long life spans so I would be considering planting another - you know, for continuity's sake. And you can buy varieties that flower later in the season, some in autumn even. Just saying...

Ask your neighbour if he'd like you to move his bin past it for him, save him going near it if he's not comfortable. Or as PP suggests, while it's in flower he keeps his bin on his property and OP moves it past the tree for him.

This one is 20 years old. I don't know how it is still alive! it flowers 3 times a year!

OP posts:

Original poster

CoachBeardsJane · 13/06/2023 15:40

Isthatarealname · 13/06/2023 12:38

Can't bins just be taken round the front past all the terraces or is the only access to the communal bin at the back?

He could, he just like to assert his authority over the access path although next doors dog keeps getting through the gates he leaves open deliberately to be a prick, and the last 2 times he's done it she's been in their garden and followed him all the way to his house through the gardens so I think he will stop doing that soon!!

OP posts:

ThursdayFreedom · 15/06/2023 21:50

CoachBeardsJane · 13/06/2023 15:40

He could, he just like to assert his authority over the access path although next doors dog keeps getting through the gates he leaves open deliberately to be a prick, and the last 2 times he's done it she's been in their garden and followed him all the way to his house through the gardens so I think he will stop doing that soon!!

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@CoachBeardsJane

i think the dog need lots of snacks the night before he traipses through all the gardens & will be in full on evacuate mood in his garden!!

given there's another way to access the bin storage, can you not apply to the council to remove the access? Citing his stupidity leaving the gates open & thinking he can dictate what's in your garden??

or at least altered to access by agreement for major works (not wheelie bins)??

if it was at all possible, I'd get together with the dog house and fence across the end if your gardens to leave a walkway so he doesn't need to be in your actual gardens. I wouldn't have him with access to my dog!