A Neighbour cut my tree

[Offyourtree]

I have three, mature silver birch trees in my garden that I really like. Ive seen at least one bat resting in it and a little Tawny Owl. Someone took it upon themselves to cut several branches off of my trees which overhang a turning circle of a road at the back of my garden but not over anyones property. My husband has been asked before if we had any plans to cut them down but we told them about the bats and the owl which they agreed that they had also seen them. People don’t like the leaves landing on their precious cars (its not a parking area but a turning area). Now I know that if a tree is overhanging your property then you are entitled to remove branches and you must offer them back but these are clearly not over anyones property. Ive tried to find further information on this but not having much luck. I’m not after getting anyone in trouble, I just want to know my rights before I write letters to the people who did it. Does anyone know where I stand with this please?

So they were overhanging? So what is the problem

Apply for a TPO on each tree (through your local council) and put a sign up on the boundary to this effect if the protection orders are granted.

I think you should just get your trees pruned yourself. Trees that overhang boundaries always annoy me. I wish people would plant trees that are small enough to fit in their own garden space.

You own up to your fence. If that were true, there would be no requirement to offer back the prunings and any fruit.

Bats are legally protected in the UK and are not allowed (or their roosts) to be disturbed. Bats are not parasitic.