Neighbours hedge trimmings

[Pheasantpluckerswife]

Hi,

Can anyone help me with a question I have please?

My neighbour has a leylandi which overhangs into our garden, which is fine, I know we're allowed to cut it back and we would be responsible for getting rid of the waste..

But on two occasions over the last week they've cut the hedge and quite a lot of the trimmings have landed in my garden, all over my garden furniture and patio.

I'm of a mind to chuck them back over the fence but I don't know if this is now considered fly tipping? Even though it's not my waste.

All the articles I've seen on line suggest it is if I have cut their hedge on my side and chucked it over, but this obviously isn't the case in this situation.

We've not been here very long and I've never met the neighbours in question.

What can I do? Does anyone know

Thank you!

I’d knock the door and introduce yourself. That’s what is worth doing when you move in somewhere anyway. Is there a lot of waste? Perhaps mention next time you don’t mind if they pop by and clean up. I expect it was unavoidable so I’d not start being an arse - yet.

You can chick them back over the hedge but way to go starting a neighbourly dispute.

You are picking them up anyway so either chuck them in the bin instead of chucking them back or have a word with the neighbours. If you want them to pick them up you are going to have to give them access to your garden.

I'd go round, introduce myself and say I've left the side gate open for you so you can collect your trimmings (or whatever the access is, or if it's open say something about you having moved something you your garden for them) or if you'd prefer, I'm happy to throw them over the fence for you if it's easier?

@Pheasantpluckerswife I know we're allowed to cut it back and we would be responsible for getting rid of the waste..

That is not quite correct.

You can cut it back but then have to ask them if they want the clippings back. If they say 'no' then you have to dispose of them.
( BTW make sure you don't step on their land to do this otherwise it could be 'trespass'.)

Maybe a solicitor will be along shortly and advise us?

Go round, introduce yourself, and politely ask them if they would come and clear up the mess they've made.
We recently had some trees/hedges pruned. The tree guys went next door and to the house behind (a few minutes drive in their truck) to clear up everything that had fallen over the fence. We had been to visit both sets of neighbours in the preceding days to make them aware of the work, get permission for the guys to enter their gardens, and ensure gates would be unlocked for access. It wasn't a problem.

I agree that it would be quite acceptable to ask them to go in your garden and clear up. I would be quite happy to do this if I was your neighbour.

Why can't people just be normal, respectful neighbours?! It's common sense for them to come over either before or after and apologise if anything ended up on your side. You shouldn't be left responsible for approaching them about it. Humans are so inconsiderate!

I love hedges. They are good for wildlife/environment and look much nicer than a fence. They do need trimming though, we do ours once a year.
For the sake of the hedge, being friendly and neighbourly relations, why don’t you just clear up the trimmings yourself? It’s part of having a garden and living in a community and being friendly/kind.

Or just an accidental part of cutting a hedge.
Why can’t people be neighbourly and just clear up it up themselves. I would say it would be pretty petty to pick up the clippings and throw them back over.

Go and meet your neighbours, ask them nicely for whatever it is you want. Personally I pick stuff up and put it in a bin.

Might not have been them but their gardener.

Just knock and say that whoever did the trimming has made a big mess in your garden.

For goodness sake, sweep them up, put in compost bin or garden refuse bin
No idea why so many ordinary activities of daily living has to be so much of a drama on MN

Thank you for all your messages. I would like to have hoped that they'd have popped round, or dropped a note and said they were doing it and apologised in advance for any mess, then I wouldn't have been so annoyed at coming out into the garden to do a bbq with friends and having to clear up first. Surely that's also neighbourly.

I think I'll pop round and just introduce myself and mention would they mind clearing it up. We don't have a garden waste bin, perhaps they still have room in theirs...

Our neighbour comes into our garden to trim her hedge on our side. Never asks/tells us and doesn’t pick up. Always seems to time it when I’ve just weeded/laid new bark chips. Drives me nuts.

Trust me on this I wouldn’t start off on the wrong foot with your new neighbour

we had a very hostile situation with our old neighbour and we actually moved to get away from them as it became unbearable to live next door to them and they did everything in their power to annoy us

things escalated from a simple dispute and they made our lives hell we got all the local authorities involved and nobody did nothing

I would just start of with a introduction and be nice and on the plus side be grateful that they are at least maintaining their garden (our old neighbours had a jungle of a garden to the point we couldn’t leave our back door or any windows open as they had rats)

Just mention to them that you think they've trimmed the hedge nicely and next time, you'd be happy for them to pop into your garden and get the waste. I'm 100% sure that this is a situation where 50% of people would love them to come over and get the clippings and annoyed if they just left them, and the other 50% would be annoyed if they trespassed in their garden to get the clippings and very happy to bag them themselves! Kind of dammed if they do, dammed if they don't!

personally I would just sweep them up and dispose of them myself. As others have said, it’s good that they are maintaining the hedge. My neighbours own the hedge between our neighbours, they don’t maintain it and won’t allow us to. The hedge is now losing its bushiness and developing into bare trees.

I’d go round and say “Hi (introduction), just wanted to say hi, and just let you know I’ll pop the cuttings that have fallen in our garden in the top of your green bin, ours is already full / we need the space”.

Make it clear that a) their cuttings are in your garden and b) they’re certainly not going in your bin.

if it happens again go round again and say ‘Hi, gardens full of cuttings again, can you come and help me pick them up please, there’s quite a lot…’

Third time, just chuck them back over.

How to piss off a neighbour in three easy steps. If you want them to clear up their cuttings, ask them.

How to piss off your neighbours in one easy step. Cut your hedge and leave your cuttings in their garden ... I mean it's got to be obvious it's not coming back into their garden and they could have just let me know they were doing it first and offer to collect the mess

Give them the benefit of the doubt, they may not have noticed/ thought about them falling into your garden. Thoughtless? Yes a little bit. Best to assume that intentions weren't totally bad.
Go round and explain that the cuttings have gone on your bbq/ food and politely request that they let you know in future/ are happy for them to come round and do it from your side if easier but could they please clear up.
It's inconsiderate but really not worth falling out over.