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Original poster

Neighbours’ new drive - will it kill our trees?

37 replies

DrBlackbird · 09/03/2022 12:39

The digger is out there as I type.

They used to have a concrete path that was up against our fence so a buffer between their old drive and our property line. However that’s now being dug up along with the roots of our trees that grew under the fence. As it’s their property, I don’t think there’s anything that we can do, but will it kill the Yew and Birch that are right against the fence on our side of the property?

God. Poor birds. When neighbours took down several mature Oaks, the pigeons moved into our Birch and the blackbirds only returned last year after being decimated by magpies. Will they now lose these nesting trees as well?

OP posts:
Original poster
DrBlackbird · 10/03/2022 18:53

Thanks to Treecreature and PraiseBee for providing some hope. Our garden is very small so not sure there’s room to plant any more trees until those die, but something to think about. The Hidden Life of Trees sounds good.

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 11/03/2022 10:36

The sad thing about even destabilising trees is that the fierce winds which are becoming much more common now (thanks to global warming) will cause the trees to fall more easily. Ashford forest in Southern England was a sorry sight after the recent gales and the fallen trees weren't even in gardens.

Also there are a lot of people who hate trees because of their 'mess'. how are we to be mindful of their sensibilities if they don't give a shxx for the environment? Oak trees are incredible with their life supporting properties. Birds cause too mess don't they?

EveryCloudIsGrey · 11/03/2022 10:53

@ppeatfruit

Also there are a lot of people who hate trees because of their 'mess'. how are we to be mindful of their sensibilities if they don't give a shxx for the environment?

Literally no one has said they hate trees and no one has given any indication they don't care about the environment or wildlife.
Some people are stupid and selfish and plant the wrong type of tress in the wrong place. Oak trees can grow to be massive. You can't just plant them anywhere.

ppeatfruit · 11/03/2022 11:12

I have lived next door to 3 sets of people who DO hate trees ( their actions showed it) Whole councils do too, Sheffield for example. It's not stupid and selfish to plant a tree, at least those people care.

It can be a problem if the tree is right next to a house I agree.

Original poster
DrBlackbird · 11/03/2022 13:52

Oak trees can grow to be massive. You can't just plant them anywhere

The oaks that were felled were all at the far end of drives. No where near the house. Felled to extend the paved drives. My firm belief was the roosting pigeons along with sweeping leaves in autumn were their death warrants.

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 12/03/2022 10:13

So sad Dr Blackbird Sad I thought that councils have stopped all the hard surfacing of drives it was strange that your neigbours got planning to do it. Or are they councillors or friends of councillors?

MereDintofPandiculation · 12/03/2022 11:35

@ppeatfruit

So sad Dr Blackbird Sad I thought that councils have stopped all the hard surfacing of drives it was strange that your neigbours got planning to do it. Or are they councillors or friends of councillors?
Good point. You now need planning permission for more than 5sq m of new impermeable paving where provision hasn’t been made to drain naturally into lawn or flowerbed. www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/paving-your-front-garden/planning-permission
Original poster
DrBlackbird · 12/03/2022 18:10

Interesting. I’m not sure how much land 5sq m equates to lawn wise as there was a gravel path next to the fence next to our trees and that was also dug out and is now included in the new paved drive. The company doing it have no logos on their vans and the fellow I spoke to claimed the roots were ‘blocking a drain’. Wish that I had asked to see it as I bet this was a lie. Its an estate behind our house and I strongly suspect it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind re tree felling/extension of drives.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 12/03/2022 21:06

@DrBlackbird

Interesting. I’m not sure how much land 5sq m equates to lawn wise as there was a gravel path next to the fence next to our trees and that was also dug out and is now included in the new paved drive. The company doing it have no logos on their vans and the fellow I spoke to claimed the roots were ‘blocking a drain’. Wish that I had asked to see it as I bet this was a lie. Its an estate behind our house and I strongly suspect it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind re tree felling/extension of drives.
If the path is 0.8m wide, 5sq m would be slightly less than a 6.5m length of path.
Original poster
DrBlackbird · 13/03/2022 18:07

Yes that would probably describe the length of the path. I’m pretty sure they never asked for planning permission. Now I’m wishing that I made more of a fuss, but then you end up with bad neighbour relations. Dammed if we do and dammed if we don’t.

OP posts:
79andnotout · 14/03/2022 21:04

I love silver birch trees - they are native and support a lot of wildlife. Even small gardens should have trees in them. If everyone with a garden had a tree in it, the world wouldn't be in half the climatic and biodiversity mess it's in.

ppeatfruit · 17/03/2022 14:47

Yes I agree 79 . I'm very lucky because our garden is big enough to allow oaks to grow, (the European oak grows much faster than the English one ).

I live between Eng and Fr. it's upsetting to see the treeless cereal deserts in N. Fr. there is some tree planting but not enough. Strangely Eng. always seems very verdant compared, when we get through tunnel!

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