NDN cut down a tree in my garden

[GoodQueenBess]

NDN is building a fence between their garden and mine. The people doing the work cut down a tree that was entirely in my garden and damaged some other plants. The tree was about 15 years old.

What can I do?

There are other issues, but that is a separate thread (in Property/DIY).

Thats outrageous. Your local council will have an officer responsible for tree conservation. As a first step, I’d talk to them. We’re in a conservation area, for example, and have to request permission to remove trees. Even if you aren’t, they should be able to advise you if any steps you can take.

It's definitely not allowed. https://www.hja.net/expert-comments/opinion/general-crime/is-cutting-down-a-tree-a-crime/#:~:text=If%20someone%20intentionally%20cuts%20down,may%20be%20considered%20criminal%20damage.
I'd be asking them to arrange for their contractors to reinstate your tree ie purchase a replacement tree and plant it for you

Do you have a photo of the tree? Or a photo of them cutting it down? Or a photo of the felled tree beside the unerected fencing etc? Or CCTV?

If so then you could provide them the evidence and ask them for suitable damages to replace the tree. If they won't pay, you could take them to court. You don't need a solicitor for any of that.

Your only recourse is probably to sue them for damages but that will cause a problem when you come to sell the house. It won't bring your tree back either.

It won’t but maybe it will prevent them from doing it again.

The tree was an olive tree about 15 yrs old. It was pretty, but didn't have sentimental value, and could probably be replaced. It wasn't very tall.

It had been sawn when I saw it. Fortunately, this was in time to stop them doing the same to a plant that does have sentimental value.
A fruiting shrub was also hacked (before I had a chance to eat the berries), but I think what is left might survive.

When I tried to get the workpeople to stop, they didn't seem to understand English. NDN spoke to them in a different language.

The point is that your NDN is responsible for his workers and they have caused damage. You need to tell your NDN they need to rectify the damage caused

How bloody dare they?! Have you complained to the company?

You should be compensated so that you can replace them. A 15 year old olive can run into hundreds. Honestly, OP, I’d be hopping mad.

AFAIK there is no company, just 2 men who don't seem to speak English.
I have told NDN that it was criminal damage and I want the tree replaced.

Have you got legal cover with your home insurance? They should pay to reinstate the tree - I.e. buy one of a similar age and pay for it to be planted.

I'll need to check if I have legal cover.

My other thread got deleted as it had identifying information, but if anyone is interested, it's about NDN wanting to put a door in the fence they're putting up and claiming he has access to my garden and alleyway.

The deleted message was one posted on the wrong thread.
I have legal cover.

NDN's child was taking photos of my patio earlier.
I'm scared.

Call the police about the photo part probably trying to intimidate you

Thanks. I'm going to have to do something. Kid is primary age and was about 30cm from the edge of a flat single storey extension, alone, with his dad in the garden. I thought he was going to fall off.

Police, Criminal Damage

The nutters have been busy again.

Just come back from the shops and they've lopped down a conifer.

Yesterday, I sawed through the best part of it, but I was going to finish it today when it had cooled down a bit. They've only gone and finished the job.

It was quite safe to leave it, but obviously, I was definitely planning on finishing it TODAY, but I wanted to make sure that it fell safely (in my garden,not on me or the fence). So it was a job that needed a clear mind.

The tree is now in their garden. About 2 metres of it.

What do I do?

So today they finished cutting down a tree that you were part way through removing? That’s odd 😅 I’d be tempted to say “thanks, but stay off my ground”.

For the rest, have you contacted your insurers legal cover? They will probably just offer to send a strongly worded letter to start off with, but maybe a cease and desist.

No, but I've taken photographs. Their behaviour is creepy.

They've saved me an unpleasant and a slightly scary job. There's also the what the heck are they going to do with it?

Is what they've done today criminal damage? Is it theft?

What bugs me is why do it without speaking to me about it first? Were they waiting for me to go out? They would probably argue it wasn't safe, but it was fine, there isn't even a breeze.

The bit they cut off is mainly thin branches, but there's a lot of them. (I was going to trim them, and green bin them, leaving the rest to the bugs.)

You need a big sign that says FUCK OFF. Or a large bloke to make it clear..

I can just hear the voice of the ex saying that.
FOOK OFF!

There was something just over a couple of weeks ago too. NDN's grandson, I'd guess about 8 yrs old, was standing on the roof of their extension, quite close to the edge, playing with a phone. I said very loudly and sternly to him 'What are you doing?' and he said 'Taking photos'.

In hindsight, I think he was photographing the jasmine. At the time I though it was photographing my patio (it's a bit messy).

Do little boys of that age take it on themselves to go on to a flat roofand take photos?

Contact the police and let them deal with it. You have criminal damage, trespass and now it's going into harassment. If the police won't do anything except issue a crime number then make a complaint.

Neighbour's son has just been round saying the tree just fell down on. I said it can't have.

If it had just snapped, it wouldn't look sawn would it, and the break was inconsistent with where it landed.