Does anyone know where we stand legally re. tall tree at end of garden

[SleepFreeZone]

Neighbour wants us to lop it as they say they keep getting branches in their garden in high winds.

It's a very tall Poplar, it sways beautifully in the wind as the wind blows through it so it's not at any risk of falling and doesn't impact their light but are we under an obligation to keep trees under a certain height?

boj calm down! If it's ok with you I'm going to see what the quote is and go from there. Not everyone has hundreds and possibly a thousand pounds immediately available to lop a tree at a neighbours behest. She is fanatical about her garden and is obviously pissed off that the tree is dropping leaves and small branches. We don't find any debris our side and if huge branches were prone to falling we would know about it as the greenhouse is underneath.

We are not fussed about the tree particularly, it's the cost of having it reduced. DP has said if it's a couple of hundred we shall pay for it. If it's more than that we are going to ask them if they will help with the cost. I know they certainly used to do that with previous occupants.

Your land. Your tree. Your responsibility to pay the cost! Honestly basic home and garden maintenance is just an ongoing cost of owning property.

Exactly right Kok. Our land, our tree, our decision, not theirs.

Overly dominant trees can be a pain for neighbours. Our neighbours have a sycamore which really doesn't have a place in a suburban garden, park perhaps. It's like a weed of the tree world.

But our neighbours love it and it's a good screen for them. I'd love it chopped down and in fact if we removed all the branches overhanging our garden we'd effectively remove one quarter of the tree and render it unstable in a storm.

Neighbours have it regularly attended by a tree surgeon and have it thinned and trimmed and sometimes a new crown. The neighbours pay (and I curse all the way through winter sweeping up leaves and all the way through spring uprooting seedlings). But there is a compromise.

Your tree looks overly dominant and it looks like it needs some attention. Falling branches could seriously injure someone.

SnickersWasAHorse,

your garden is beautiful!

We had one taken down because if they are within 18 feet of the house you struggle to get insurance

Also - we contacted a log company who removed the tree for £90 if they could keep the wood to sell on.

Next door brought the wood off them which they lobbed into their garden

Well the quote has come back at around £600. Lord knows what the plan is now.

Astro it's a soft wood so I would think it's crap for wood burning. We'll have to get a couple more quotes and see where we end up.

It's not that great looking as trees go. Maybe you can save up and get it done, 600 is a lot. Get another quote.

That sounds pricey. Our opposite neighbours had a very tall conifer removed from their front garden and I couldn't quite believe how quickly it came down. About 2 hours and the whole thing was gone and straight in to a wood chipper.

If it helps, Around here, South East, tree surgeons charge about £500 -£600 per day for 2 men. Would be more if ropes and harnesses involved.

Also, have a look on your council's website. On ours, under Trees and Hedges I think, they have a list of council approved tree surgeons. Get a few more quotes or try Checkatrade and the like.

Oh and I have friends who have had quite restrictive actions imposed by their household insurers. Certain trees had to be removed and others have to not exceed a certain height otherwise their insurance is invalid due to risk of subsidence from roots.

£600 is nothing vs the amount it could cost you if it damaged a property or a person. Regardless of the aesthetics, the most important thing is to manage any risks because you would be liable if you didn't ensure it was safe.