Neighbours have cut down our hedge - nesting birds

[Jux]

Yesterday, our neighbour cut down our hedge - well, it's a row of roses. They did not ask us, have never communicated any problem re the hedge so it came as a massive shock.

No problem with them lopping off the growth on their side, they've done that before a few times.

The bush nearest the pavement has always housed a pair of nesting birds (don't know what type, I was always taught to leave nesting birds alone and not disturb the branches). We have lived here for 12 years. Next door was empty for at least 6 months after that, but gradually became occupied over the next 12-18 months. So those birds have been nesting there a long time; we have reminded them about the birds from time to time.

NDN has completely cut that bush down, right down to about a foot on our side! It is just sticks now. The birds? Heaven knows what they've done poor things. I've found one dead fledgling.

Next door is divided into flats for adults with learning disabilities, there is a management company and there is supposed to be a supervisor on site 24 hours a day.

DH had a word with woman who did it. She's either a supervisor or a carer. She just shrugged and said a begrudging 'sorry'.

I am so angry.

Keep the body of the fledgling for identification and report to RSPB/RSPCA. It'll illegal

PS i would be furious too, poor birds. Hope your roses recover

Report to police and RSPB. If you look on the RSPB website as it explains the law.
Do you have any photos of the hedge as it was?

That's appalling, and she doesn't even care by the sounds of it. Do you know the organisation that she works for? She was (I assume) at work at the time that she did this and so they are responsible for her behaviour. Report both them and her regarding the nesting birds (poor things).

I would also send the organisation a letter saying that the woman showed no awareness that what she had done was wrong and illegal (trespassing, damage to property and disturbing nesting birds). You will not allow access to your property in future for any reason and you require them to assure you that steps have been taken to ensure that trespass and criminal damage will not occur in the future and that this particular member of staff has been disciplined appropriately. Also price up the cost of replacing the rose, full-size not a small starter plant, and ask them to refund the costs. The more of a thorn in the side you are to the organisation they more likely it is that they will move to keep their staff in line.

As stated up thread, they have broken the law if the nest was in use. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built.

Thanks all. I have done that now, RSPB, Council, and 101 Wildlife people. I have a crime number. They told me that yes, it's a criminal offence to destroy nesting sites and will be coming to look and talk to us about, but that it's also criminal damage to us.

I am so angry that the silly ignorant woman has done this, that right now I want to press ahead with that charge too (but it'll ruin her career, so I probably won't).

DH has spoken to the management company who say they've offloaded the place to another company who say they've only just taken over a whole load of properties and they don't know whether this is one of theirs or not. fgs.

The manager has phoned and said they don't always have supervisors there anyway, can they do some replanting for us to make it better? Well, only if they put in a 20 year old bush.......

Still cross enough to ruin someone's career. Tell me why I shouldn't, talk me down please.

Can't think of a reason tbh. I'm sure I'll get quoted and flamed below, but I'm really angry on your and the bird's behalf. And it's not even my hedge!

If she had seemed at all sorry then that's something you could work with, emotionally. But for her to obviously not give a fuck would make me not want to consider her feelings - she clearly doesn't give a fuck about yours, and she broke the law on top of that.

why shouldn't you ruin her career?
well she committed a crime!

I would also consider small claims court for new plants if she/the organisation doesn't replace like for like.

I shouldn't
a)because she is young, dh says probably no older than mid-20s.
b) because she shouldn't have been left in charge like that, she is obviously not yet capable enough to be left in charge.
c) because I think it would be vindictive if I did

it might be out of your hand anyway if she's charged.

She's young - she's old enough to know you don't damage other people's property, surely? She just doesn't care. And she will continue not caring until it affects her personally.
shouldn't have been left in charge - that's the company's responsibility, not yours. Either she was instructed to do it, or decided to do it off her own back.
vindictive no, you want the damage repaired, you can't do that without complaining. (sadly the birds aren't replaceable )

Oh my god, just realised its you Jux (you don't know me, I just recognise you)

Stand up for yourself (and the birds) please!

I know it's not relevant really, but do you know why she did it?

You'd think she'd have plenty to do without attacking the gardens of her workplace's neighbours.

Hey, Spike. I recognise you too! That's a Wee Free Men name isn't it? Love Pratchett, you've reminded me that I must reread the Tiffany books

Bluerunningshoes, the destruction of nesting site is out of my hands, but we could choose to go ahead with the criminal damage charge as that's the one against us.

I think I will definitely ask her employers to replace the bush with mature roses. Yes.

I'll ask RSPB for advice on how to persuade the birds to come back next year.

Dreadful.
It is possible to buy older grown bushes by the way so I would make them do that even if it costs them £100 per bush as they should be replacing like for like if they have cut anything at all on your side and in your ownership. yes the bush should be replaced with a mature rose...although I've just been looking and most seem pretty small on a google search

Oh dear. Thanks, Xenia. The bush that's cut down was about 10 foot tall.

There may be specialists who buy ready made gardens for billionaires however and I know you can buy almost full sized ordinary trees so perhaps it is possible - probably there is some kind of market for it when a b ig estate is built on so might be possible.

It is so hard to undo these things. As soon as I hear local cutting I get out there and have a look just in case and our neighbours are good too - waiting by trees until the council sends their tree man down when others try to cut trees down - we live in a conservation area not only with tree preservation orders but it also requires that any tree works at all require council prior permission. If they can only get a small one may be make them put up a 10 foot attractive trellis to block out next door until the new rose is as big.

I'd be very angry. Bloody council do it here.