Who is responsible for trimming hedge? With diagram!

[LipstickLil]

We have a conifer hedge at the bottom of our garden (and no, we didn't plant it, the previous owner did). We get it trimmed about every 3 years, as it grows fast and every time we get the tree surgeons do it, I get a text from neighbour asking 'Can you get them to do our side?'. The 'our side' that they're talking about is just one tree's width that hangs over their fence (see diagram). It's not a big job and when there's been time in the past I've asked the tree surgeons to do it, but it strikes me as a bit cheeky and I'd never ask for someone else to pay to cut something that was hanging over my fence - I'd just do it myself.

However, it is our hedge, so my question is this: is it our job/are we obliged to do this? I know that they're entitled to cut anything that hangs over their garden and we cut anything that hangs over ours and I know it's nice to be neighbourly and generally speaking we are and we have a good relationship with them - putting each other's bins out and feeding each other's pets when one of us is away - but are we actually meant to cut this area as it's our hedge? All the info online talks about rights (i.e. the right to trim anything that overhangs your garden and the necessity to offer the trimmings or any fallen fruit back to the owner), but I can't find anything about whether we are obligated to offer or to trim the hedge ourselves. Does anyone know the legal position?

Their responsibility, but ideally you would have stopped it growing over their boundary in the first place.

It is a bit cheeky to ask, but since they do, yes, go for it with the leaves - if they're out with a leaf blower or sweeping, absolutely give them a shout to just quickly do your bit.

If it was the back of the hedge I could understand your confusion at them asking. What you can't see and all that.

However, as it's the 'side' of the hedge which can be accessed from your garden, then surely it should be done as a matter of course ? It should be trimmed back to your fence each time.

This isn't just about being nice, it's about keeping your hedge under control.

I’d get the tree surgeons to cut it back hard so it doesn’t hang over their side next time. Good neighbours are a blessing OP.

Of course you should trim YOUR hedge. We have selfish neighbours who have extremely tall conifers (20 feet higher than the good quality fence we put up although not on the deeds as our responsibility).
In the past my DH has used ladders to trim it back but he’s no longer able to do so. I am furious that they have had tree work done on every boundary except ours. Why should we pay to have their bloody trees cut. They are planted too close to the boundary too.

However, as it's the 'side' of the hedge which can be accessed from your garden

No, it can't. There's a fence in the way.

Your hedge, your responsibility. They obviously can't do it themselves (disability, lack of correct equipment, on a slope?) otherwise they wouldn't ask you to do it, they would just ask for your permission for them to do it since they are usually so nice and reasonable.

Have you asked why they can't, you know... if they have arthritis in their shoulder etc... before deciding if they are worthy of your moral responsibility? Good grief OP, I've read a lot of crap on here but this takes the biscuit.

From your diagram it looks as though they can trim it from your side? There is no need to access the neighbours garden. Although it sounds as though your neighbour would happily give access if required.

Just because it has started to grow over the neighbours fence doesn't mean it is now their responsibility.

They obviously can't do it themselves (disability, lack of correct equipment, on a slope?)

They're able-bodied, not elderly, have a gardener who comes regularly, it's completely flat. Like I said, we do it, I was just asking what the legal situation is. But this being MN I'm being bombarded with everyone's neighbourly disputes through the ages calling out the selfish so-and-so's next door who have overgrown hedges, etc. Fortunately, I've been around here long enough to know what would happen

My Mums neighbours grew a thick hedge between their gardens. They've always maintained it. They come into her garden and do the bit on her side. I think that's as it should be. She didn't ask for the hedge she shouldn't have to maintain it. Thankfully it's never been an issue

I have a similar setup. My tree/hedge people always ask me if I'd like them to pop round to next door and do the end. They've never charged extra on top of their quoted price.

It’s YOUR hedge. Why wouldn’t you keep it within your own boundary and prevent it intruding onto your neighbour’s property? Do you really want them to butcher the hedge and throw the bits back over your fence? (which they’re entitled to do because it’s YOUR hedge). Honestly you’re being ridiculous. You already have the tree surgeon there, just get them to finish the job on all sides!

I mean of course that's different. Leaves fall and blow around. You cant determine where each individual leaf has come from.

Totally agree the neighbours shouldn’t be out of pocket to have the hedge trimmed however people all over have to accept their neighbours have hedges which cause overhang and they just trim it from their side