To want to chop down a perfectly healthy walnut tree

[iMum]

I think I might be, and feel awful even thinking about doing it really.

We have a 80ft skinny garden about 2/3 of the way down and slap bang in the middle is a 60 year old walnut tree planted by the chap we bought the house from 10 years ago (who we happened to know and who has since died so tree is a bit like a memorial to him iyswim).
The tree is big! and shade near enough half of the garden, nothing grow up that end and under the shade of it as no sun get through (there are large lorrel bushes behind it as the border to the garden behind.

The way our garden goes is this- looking from our house, climbing frame, infront of a trampoline in front of the tree (but just to the right) behind the tree is wateland and 2 sheds, next to the trampoline is the chicken run.
I want to chop it down so that we could move the chicken run to inbetween the sheds-we cant do this atm as no sun gets through which would be unfair to the choocks. by moving the chickens I could put the climbing frame where they were (following?) and thus larger, brighter garden.

But it feels wrong to cut down such a beautiful tree, tthe walnuts from it are wonderful, we get squirrels and all sorts to it too.

DH thinks iabu and I spose I do a bit too but the dam thing just takes up so much room!

YANBU. it will improve your life and that of your chickens. Walnuts can be bought in shops (although it does seem a shame about that part).

What a shame

I can see your reasoning but it is sad.

Can you prune it in some way?

How about you put in a young tree in the place that you would like it to be now, and then take out the larger tree in 2-3 years time? That way, at least you'll have a small tree to start replacing it. Don't forget to time removing it so that there aren't any nesting birds!

But could you put the climbing frame between the sheds instead?

Ohyes, would deffo plant another tree nearer the edge of the garden-ive always fancied a greengage actually.

Unfortunatly no the climbing frame is one of those bigguns and wont fit between the sheds and even if it did it would be hideous as its gnat central there due to the shade!

YANBU.

We have a beautiful Silver Birch that is getting the chop in the Autumn for simelar reasons.

It is hard though isn't it. Ours is great for wildlife but we get so sun in our south facing garden after 2pm so it has got to go.

I just wanted to say that chickens are woodland birds and are actually happier with tree shade than with open sky, they feel more protected from birds of prey if there are trees, I put our chicken run where there were 2 trees because of this.

tbf atm the choocks are in the partial shade of the walnut tree but if it were gone and we moved the choock run to between the sheds then they would be in the partial shade of the lorrel bushes but we would get a bit more of our garden back!

I agree with Shdad- ours love their trees and voluntarily stand under the Hawthorn all day.

How about getting the cut down tree made into a seat or something, that way you don?t have to feel so guilty about cutting it down and it would be a memorial to the old man who planted it.

You need to check with planning as it might be protected.Walnut wood is worth quite alot apparently.I understand about the garden.Move house !!!! (only kidding)

Good luck

How could it be protected? I dont understand? wouldnt the council have to have written to me would it have been in the deeds when we bought the house? how would I go about finding out?

We have an oak in our garden and its under a protection order (as most oaks are). I don't know about walnut trees and whether they are generally protected, but if you just ring your council and ask if you need permission to prune they'll tell you. I wouldn't mention wanting to get rid of it altogether just in case for now .. we had to get permission to prune our oak, with the council coming around to make sure it was necessary and then giving us a list of tree surgeons to choose from.

We had been told by the tree surgeon that there was a fine of £20K if we did things any other way without council permission.

iMum, your local council will have a tree and landscape officer, who deals with all of this. It may not have been in your deeds, as the council are (I think) only obliged to send a notice to the owners when they TPO is applied - it's not then their business to make sure the current owner knows.

Get in touch with the council and ask. They might send out the officer to have a look and a chat about it. In addition, if you live in a conservation area, you need permission to do major work on any trees.

Can you tell I have lots of trees, one with a TPO and live in a conservation area??

This might help to give some guidance:

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/tposguide