Hedge

[Lowdown]

Our neighbour cut down our hedge while we were out. The hedge is fully on our land. They lifted out their fence panels put a chain saw through the bottom of the hedge leaving stumps and put their fence back up. The hedge was mature and 2 metres in height.

What is the best course of action? I believe in law that they only have the right to trim up to their boundary.

Has their action permanently deprived you of your property? If it's your hedge on your land they trespassed.

Yes. One of the things the legal adviser talked about was trespass and damage to property as well as theft.

I'm trying to balance getting my hedge replaced with having to live next door to them. DH is one of life's diplomats and usually gets people to follow through but of course we shall see.

I’m sure you can publicly name your insurer. It’s not like your slagging them off.

Is it Aviva (plays guess the insurer starting with’a“)?

Mature plants are pricey, I think this could be a very expensive mistake.

I'm so glad that they have been amicable. I'm not sure though that I would be happy with them being in charge of doing the work. You would have no control over who they choose to carry out the work and how well it was done nor the quality of the plants used. If it was me, I would get a few quotes for removal of all the stumps, supply and planting of mature laurel plants and then ask them for the money. That way you can also choose different plants if you want.

I doubt they will be able to do a satisfactory job. Unless you are prepared to live with a very uneven and patchy hedge for years, the stumps will need to be removed to make room for new plants. If they try and squeeze in a few little laurels among the old stumps they will struggle. Removing the stumps is an arduous job

Oh it's Laurel - it grows back after a hard hack but that doesn't solve the issue. Seek professional advice.

I have laurel. I have read somewhere that planting them is an act of aggression!

I think you have to wait a few months to a year to remove big stumps.

In that case you might be better off trying to salvage the current hedge.

Oh dear chavtastic! I think most of the act of aggression comes from the other side of the fence. I didn't plant them as they were here when we bought the house and we keep them well under control.

I think we will balance it between re-planting where they have taken the whole root ball out and salvaging some cut ones which are sprouting. Anything new I plant I'll move over to friendlier species. I'll do a bit of research on what might look good.

We still have to live next door to these people.

This amassed me when it popped up on the local selling site on my FB this evening.

Are you in Norfolk by any chance?

Nowhere near Norfolk!

Unfortunately I don't think problems with neighbours and trees are that uncommon. The police and solicitor both said it happens a fair bit and is best resolved by talking if possible.

Although I have really had to battle to resist taking them to court.