Neighbour cutting down huge old tree. Feel depressed

[FruHagen]

My neighbour is planning to cut down a very old, beautiful tree that sits in their garden and I feel so upset I really can't sleep. They want to build something there.

For context we live by the coast, their place is a small place only used by them in the summer and I live in my place all the time.

The tree is directly in front of my house, it's very prominent in the landscape like a key element of the view. I consider the main value of my house to be it's outlook and view. I look out at it everyday from every angle. It's growing very close to the edge of my garden and a small dirt path separates our two properties.

The tree is something I am very close to, I see it all year and watch it changing and follow the birds and animals that live there. It's large and probably 75 to 100 years old. The view from my place is of the coast and the tree is part of that view. Where I live is very dusty and sandy due to a big sand quarry in the area so the tree provides protection and reduces the exposure to the wind from the coast and the sand.

So I tried to talk to them and ask them if it was necessary and they said yes, they intend to cut it down and build something there.

So I am just sharing this story as it has affected me so much I am crying a lot and very upset, I didn't know who to talk to. It will change the view from my home fundamentally. It will be less beautiful here and this old tree that has stood there before us will be gone forever. Everything it gives to us and the habitat it gives to all other living things gone too. If anyone can relate please let me know.

OP is that an edited photo? Is there still a chance of a TPO?

I'm sad about all this too, council cutting down trees etc for developments. Don't get me started on artificial grass.

That's sad. Is there already a tpo on it?
Mind you, meant shit round here. Cherry trees on my road under TPO. Land next door was sold, in they came and massacred cherry tree. I was really saddened tbh.
.
Some other dodgies butchered other trees last year also.
Now we've only got one horse chestnut in the entire road
I have brambles behind my fence on school playing field. I wanted to weedkiller them, until I realised how many birds need them for nesting. There are bugger all places now. So bloody sterile. So I leave the brambles and dig out the sprouters from my garden.

@Ineedaneasteregg

Can you consider an emergency TPO?

It has to worth asking the council if this is in any way possible.

Definitely. As soon as possible.

Is it gone? Thought they weren't allowed to do it in nesting season

Difficult to tell exactly off picture but it looks way too big to that close to there house for safety and structural reasons . If it's on the right of the tree

The same happened to us, I had to go out for the day as couldn’t bare seeing it cut down.

I would feel the same. Hugely irresponsible to do it at this time of year.
Sadly so many don't value trees. Neighbours here have been chopping down trees on the basis that the blossom falls on their cars (for one week in 52). Another neighbour must have felled a good 20 trees and replaced with lawn.
Time to move for me.

@MiddlesexGirl

I would feel the same. Hugely irresponsible to do it at this time of year. Sadly so many don't value trees. Neighbours here have been chopping down trees on the basis that the blossom falls on their cars (for one week in 52). Another neighbour must have felled a good 20 trees and replaced with lawn. Time to move for me.

Where to? These sorts of people are everywhere.

It's so sad to see big beautiful trees felled. You have a lovely view OP. I can understand your sadness and frustration. Unfortunately they own the tree so you probably can't do much about it. Do you know what they are building in its place? That could be of more concern.

Neighbours are chipping away at trees all around me. Definitely illegal to be cutting down trees in nesting season. Doesn't seem to be a lot of enforcement. Best to talk to your local tree warden.

It's a really beautiful tree and view. Sadly I think it had more value for you than them as you got the full view of it without the roots causing damage or the risk of branches falling onto your property. A shock though :-( We planted a disease resistant elm when a tree died in our garden and now it's huge, 14 years later. Can you do something like that?

It’s not illegal to fell trees in nesting season provided there are no nests in it.

Hi, sorry this happened, it is always a shock when big changes happen like that. I am gald they told you as it would have been even more shocking if you had arrived home to it gone.

I am not underatnding the picture - the decking and the pile of earth - are they yours or theirs?

I would also be a bit worried about what they will build.

That is so so sad. It looks a very prominent tree and I can see it’s value both in terms of character and as part of an ecological niche.

Is it cut down already?

If not definitely call the council and get the tree officer out to see if he can put a TPO on it ASAP.

Some clarity for all who have been kind enough to post. You have really helped me and solidarity with all of you who are also experiencing this.

The tree is gone, they did it this afternoon.

They didn't actually tell anyone in the neighbourhood, I saw them cutting the branches yesterday and asked them what they were doing. They told me then, if I hadn't asked then we wouldn't have been notified.

The pile of soil is mine and I am moving it under that terrace you can see so that there is a slope there. It will be green. Now considering if it should be a bed for a new tree.

That hedge is a lilac between me and them and it's about to turn green. It's mine and it's going to stay.

I don't know for certain what they are building but I will be back here crying if it's two storey.

It's made me want to move away from here but it feels like everywhere you go people are cutting trees. I'm just going to keep planting them.

And now I am going to have a glass of wine and browse the garden center websites for the biggest tree I can afford and put it there.

Any recommendations for fast growing trees?

Ah, that's shit, op. Round here (London) you need planning consent to even lower the height of an established tree, never mind remove it completely.

I'd still check with the tree warden. If it was tpo'd, they can take action. You can check through the local planning portal too for any plans.

If it's any hep I love trees but the view looks better without it

Oh god that is so sad.

You could have had it transplanted. They could have paid whatever they would have been paying for its removal and you could paid the difference.

It was beautiful.

I guess all you can do is plant some beautiful trees to make up for it.

If it is two storey they will need planning permission so you will get full sight of the scheme before it goes ahead.

I think also if you get a decent tree in that space you will end up with something very nice. In a way you will be better off as you will own it and therefore can protect it

Perhaps you could grow one of those amazing rambler roses through it too, or a beautiful clematis.

My ex-neighbour cut down 3 beautiful beech trees, all of which had TPOs. He claimed that they were diseased (which they weren't) and got away with it because he was a barrister. Wanker. I cried for weeks.

I feel your upset.
We used to have a beautiful old Cherry Tree outside our house.
When I opened my curtains the sky would seem white with blossom.

It always blossomed on my children's birthday.

The roots started to impact the neighbours' drive.

DH arranged for some dodgy hacker to come and cut it down. It was brutal as I had no notice and was in at the time. I'm not going to lie, I cried.

Then I had a stump to look at as a reminder.

I wish I had explored all options. I didn't know about transplanting.

I still think about that tree 10 years later. We have moved now, but as its cherry blossom season I am remembering the feeling of the tree being butchered.

If you can, explore every avenue.

Sorry OP, just seen your update. So sorry

Yes it is sad when trees get felled and I can understand you feeling a little blue.

But for some reason on Mumsnet, there seems to be a stream of posts about neighbours making changes affecting trees, hedges, ponds etc and for the most part, the complaining party has nothing comparable on their own land. You have to accept that if you want to guarantee a pond or tree or whatever, then you need to put it on your own land and tend to it. While environmental protection needs to be respected, beyond that you can’t police your neighbours choices.

From your photo of your view, there seems ample space to plant one or more trees - for all you know, your neighbour could be on here complaining about the impact of your decking on ground-feeding birds or whatever.

I think crying over it is an extreme reaction and you will feel better if you turn your attention to those things that you can control. Plant a tree. Make your garden as bird-friendly as possible with baths and feeders and shrubs that they like. Or whatever else it is within your control. You can’t expect to control the view in all directions from your own land.