Advice needed re seating area under neighbour's tree

[Stringervest]

We are having the garden redesigned. The cost is horrifying so we need to get this right. The area that gets the sun for longest is right under a neighbour's (magnificent but somewhat irritating given the tiny size of our gardens) 100 year old beech tree (which is to the north, hence no shade from it). There is a shed there currently but that will be moved.

We are used to dealing with the constant crap the tree drops, but I assume bird poo will be a problem for the seating area. We are considering a pergola over the seating area, to create a zoning effect and also to grow climbers up, but that won't protect from bird poo unless we put a Perspex sheet over it, which I think will filter sunlight and constantly be grubby.

Any advice on set up, materials etc? I don't want to put the seating area anywhere else as I'm set on having a sun trap so mitigation advice is what I need please!

You could put seating that has removable cushions and bring them in when not in use so the don't get pooped on? We take ours in and out when we need them.

Is there bird poo over the shed? If there is I'd think again. Or if you really want the seating there id get one of those table and chair sets where the chairs fully go under the table and a glass top. Easy to antibac the glass and the seats are protected.

We have seating area under neighbours tree. Have to use the leaf blower to clear the area regularly, bring in cushions when not in use / put them in shed, and keep parasol up all Summer (which catches most of the bird poop so less scrubbing down of furniture). It was the sunniest spot in the garden, so that’s why seating is there. Unfortunately, the trees next door are huge and we cant trim the overhanging branches easily.

We have our seating area under the Neighbours tree and it's a pain. I actually am thinking to cut the branches off that overhang into our garden cos they get flowers and then berries and all the pollen and berries drop on the seating area. Not sure what the Neighbour will think. She doesn't like me anyway lol!

Leave the trees alone, poor things!
It’s a garden, not a front room.

@MintyMoocow

Leave the trees alone, poor things! It’s a garden, not a front room.

There is nothing wrong with giving trees a bit of a prune. No one is suggesting lopping the thing down.

@toogoodforthisworld

We have our seating area under the Neighbours tree and it's a pain. I actually am thinking to cut the branches off that overhang into our garden cos they get flowers and then berries and all the pollen and berries drop on the seating area. Not sure what the Neighbour will think. She doesn't like me anyway lol!

Trees are great, as are birds. Surely that's the point of gardens.

We definitely won't be trimming the tree, the canopy is 10 metres from the ground! The shed roof pitches away from the house but I would assume it's covered in bird poo. The trunk of the tree is right next to it though so perhaps the birds don't sit on the bigger branches. We are thinking built in bench seating with internal storage for cushions.

Could you replace the shed with a summer house (that will catch bird poo on its roof) with glass doors that open up with a patio section in front? You can then get a sun trap inside the summer house or outside on the patio?

How about a sail shade?

This kind of thing

I like the sail a lot but it'll block the sun out (I appreciate that no roof = bird poo but I'm trying to find ways to minimise or mitigate)

We have a bench under a large tree and I can confirm that it is regularly covered in bird shit. I can clean it in the morning and by mid afternoon it’s splattered with the stuff. If you want a seating area in the sun with no birdshit then under a large tree is not going to work I’m sorry.

If you get a Perspex covering it will get covered in birdshit and be a pain to clean and be very unsightly. No one wants to be looking up at hot birdshit.

I’d find another location.

I'd have thought if you put the sail high, it'll only block the sun at it's very highest, and little more than the tree already does?

Well that's reasonably unanimous. I guess I shouldn't have asked the question if I didn't like the answer I was likely to get.

@MrsBertBibby hmmm perhaps you are right

I think the easiest solution is to use furniture that you can fold up and put away when not in use. I agree that any sort of cover (sail, perspex etc) will quickly stain and get dirty and become unsightly. You could bury a discreet base to take a large umbrella that can be taken down if needed?

Does the tree have a TPO on it? Does the owner gets it trimmed often? I thought that you were allowed to trim the limbs hanging over your side of the garden? I'm not saying hack the whole thing, but a tree surgeon might be able to advise on a way to trim back 1 or 2 limbs that are hanging on your side, so less chance of bird poo in a strategic area.

Or something like this:
www.willowbay.co.uk/products/churnet-valley-cottage-arbour-fully-enclosed-sits-2?currency=GBP&variant=37648940171443&gclid=CjwKCAjwloCSBhAeEiwA3hVo_bnO7lmQTWKnOzsgOhN50NfN6ATxA-UWSZqH9sI8XVhElUdLS4K55RoCvdYQAvD_BwE

www.therange.co.uk/outdoor-living/garden-furniture/patio-furniture-sets/6-seater-sets/5-piece-cushioned-outdoor-plastic-rattan-round-sofa/?gclid=CjwKCAjwloCSBhAeEiwA3hVo_fBMQrjZ1m8Ze7P8QAycSYQj-6sbAS-DyoLCRMocxHigBSxNpFLIGxoCHYAQAvD_BwE#5651055

It doesn't have a TPO on it. The neighbour told me it does, but I checked with the council and it definitely doesn't. It overhangs five gardens and everyone despises it. I think most neighbours would be happy to contribute to the cost of having it replaced with trees commensurate with the size of the gardens. But it's a beautiful tree, perfectly symmetrical and healthy. The neighbour spends a lot on caring for it and loves it. We like our neighbour. If the neighbours want to fight her over it I'm not getting involved.

@MarmiteCoriander I like the idea of a small roof that covers just the seats, I will look into that

If this is going to be very expensive have you considered consulting a garden expert?

Yes you will be covered in bird poo, a very high canopy could work but in reality it will be catching, blossom, berries, leaves and covered in bird poo so will take some cleaning. Imagine if you try to grow climbers there?

A summer house in a sun trap will heat up like a greenhouse you won’t be able to breathe in it. You could uses shades to limit the effect.

If you are considering built in seating what about a garden arbour type area with patio in front, shelter from the birds, and for your head. Don’t forget if your seating area faces the sun it could well be in your eyes a lot of the time.

Have you actually sat there to see where the sun moves? Your sun trap seating area could soon be a nightmare if you don’t try sitting there first.

www.robertdyas.co.uk/rowlinson-haven-corner-arbour

@Faevern we have consulted a garden designer but I don't feel that her input was particularly well thought through. That is another thread. Getting a garden designer around here currently is virtually impossible.

I want somewhere I can have a glass of wine in the afternoon. It's not so much for dining, more for socialising and somewhere to watch the kids playing. We sit as close as we can to the intended are currently and the sun in our eyes feels ok.

Can you have a living roof? Something like this www.instagram.com/p/CRCaGUerHLy/?utm_medium=copy_link