Devastated - can't believe my builder did this

[INFJismyvibe]

Bit of backstory - we've been having an extension done on the house, it's taken well over the agreed time (almost a year over) but we've been mainly patient about it. Builders have been dumping stuff in our garden, making it unusable for the most part. Everything was overgrown as I've been unable to mow the lawn or trim down the bushes, but I've been OK with that. I knew that once they cleared their crap from the garden, I could get back to gardening and sort it out. My garden had some beautiful, well established plants and fruit trees, and some taller bushes that worked as an extra privacy screen, which we really need from our neighbours. Without those, the neighbours can see into my kitchen.

Some of the plants were of sentimental value, gifts from my mum, a plum tree growing from a cutting that my aunt gave me, from my grandma's garden, etc.

The building work has meant I've been unable to use my garden - which was my sanctuary - this summer and last summer.

Anyway, on to current day.
I've been away on holiday with my (older) kids. Dh stayed home for various reasons.

Builder has been in, finishing up on the house. His dad came along (he sometimes helps builder out on projects) and asked Dh if he's OK to clear the garden. Dh naturally assumed he meant all their builder's mess - bags of cement, wood palettes, etc etc. I've been saying for a while that I can't wait for all that to go so that I can tidy up the garden and even be able to access the washing line again.
So Dh said yes please clear it up, and then left for work.

The guy brought in a team of men and they removed everything. Every single plant, bush, tree. Completely removed the lawn (which, to be fair, was riddled with weeds and needed returfing anyway).

But it's completely bare.

All my beautiful beautiful plants, my sentimental ones, my privacy ones. All gone.

Dh didn't tell me until the car journey home as he didn't want to ruin my holiday. But i've just returned home a couple of hours ago, and I'm absolutely devastated. Don't even care about the rest of the work thats been done while I was gone. Struggling to even talk to Dh about holiday or anything else. Completely ruined my return home.

I know some may say, ah it's just plants.... But they cost so much money and effort and time, and can't be replaced just like that. I'm going to have to spend hundreds to fill it up again, and it's going to take years for them to establish. And it needs so much extra work and attention now.

Gutted. Aibu for feeling this way.

Any advice? What do I say to the builder? Dh didn't say anything at the time as he hates confrontation but wtaf?!! And now the builder will think I'm being unreasonable. But it was my sanctuary, my space, my privacy.

Ps please forgive any spelling errors, I've barely slept.
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Hello @INFJismyvibe ,I had a much smaller version of this (separate thread) and although it was obviously a communication and common sense problem , I fully appreciate how upsetting it is. Some of the shrubs will grow back.
Hugs.

This, what the F were they thinking. This is why I hardly trust anyone to touch my garden.

Yes it is. Consumer rights act 2015.

Oh my god, what is wrong with you people?!

I'm not going to continue arguing the point, im basing it on my experience of law. It's unfortunate, but she won't win in court, at best they'd say shared responsibility.

I nearly had this, had a local gardener around and chatted with him walking in the garden and he constantly said you want that gone don't you? No I kept saying, just the one hedge! In the end I thought sod it I'm leaving it overgrown until my friend can do it. Same as op some of mine are from gardens of family, cuttings etc.

Do the obvious: document all the plants that have gone, take photos, contact builder and ask him to replace, get some legal advice (it’s a civil matter), if the builder doesn’t respond, write a formal letter. You need to work out the total value of the plants that have gone.

Basically they need to reinstate your garden asap. They didn’t have consent to demolish it simply to remove their building work. They needed to make clear to the client what they were intending.

They don't clear the garden, they just hack it to ground level. The tree survived because it would have meant hard work to chop it down.

The neighbourhood cats will love the bare soil.

Let this be a lesson to others. Be careful who you select to do work on your house. I have a renovation going on two doors up from me, all nationalities. It’s amazing how they often forget the command of English. We’ve had a neighbour’s car written off, out of hours working, bonfires, one fall off a scaffolding and they couldn’t get the gurney up the drive due to the mess and paramedics had to get specialist equipment in. I could go on…… He hasn’t even moved in yet and he’s already pissed everyone off.
On the other hand, my neighbours had more reputable builders in, who worked 8-5pm, no weekends, were polite, tidy and did a brilliant job 🙂

Clear the garden to me would mean clear all the building rubbish. NOT the actual garden itself. I’d be devastated.

You haven't argued your point though, you've just said you don't think it's true 'based on your experience of law'.

The consumer rights act (i.e. the law) disagrees with you.

Clear the garden, doesn't mean anything in English, so this is not what the builder meant...

Oh OP I’d be devastated too. That’s unbelievable. I would definitely tell the builder how upset you are.

I have and I know I'm right, so there's no point continuing. You can quote all you like, but it would be classed as shared responsibility.

I say this from hard experience: expensive but very good builders are worth every penny.

There’s misunderstandings and then there’s this.

I hosted a BBQ for a friend last week. They asked to stay and help clear up afterwards. They gathered up the rubbish and wiped down the surfaces. They didn’t rip up my carpets and take the furniture with them…

You’re not though.

@INFJismyvibeI’m so sorry OP I’d have gone fucking mental on him, regardless of his relative having cancer. Why on EARTH haven’t you called him?

Omg I’m so so sorry this has happened to you. There are some utter fuckwits in this world and some appear to be on this thread.

Id be devastated, I love love love my garden and gasped when I read your post. It is such a shitty and stupid thing to do.

What a prick. Check if they have moved them elsewhere. I cannot believe that they would rip out your plants. I’d rather have the extension destroyed!

this is something you need to claim for & claim for the cost of mature plants-send a photo of your garden before & itemise each thing that needs replaced along with delivery costs & compost etc. Seriously not on

They’ve stolen your plants OP. I can pretty much guarantee that not all the plants which were ripped out, ended up being disposed of. Just imagine how you’d act if items of your furniture had been taken. Very differently I’d imagine!

Can you post a before garden image so we can identify and cost the missing plants.

I too would be devastated.

A judge would not use the phrase “shared responsibility”. That is legally meaningless. Come on, tell us the actual detail of this experience that you claim to have.

She has. Best to read all the updates before posting.

Why so aggressive? I've worked in the area. It would be shared responsibility. I'll leave it there, you are allowed to have your own opinions and thoughts, clearly ours differ.