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Original poster

Neighbour complained about Tree

101 replies

Mellowyellow222 · 17/10/2021 09:09

I moved into my new house last month. It has a lovely mature garden, which was a big part of why I bought here. It’s in a suburb with 1940s semi detached houses, all with good long gardens.

A relative of the neighbour behind me called at the door last night to complain about a tree in my garden. I have said to of course cut back overhanging branches, but her complaint was that it casts a shadow on her aunts patio.

I have checked google earth (because I can’t see into their garden) and this lady has built a part at the bottom of her garden so, at one point of the day, my tree will cast a shadow. The neighbour wants me to either cut down or reduce the tree.

I have always done as much as I can to accommodate neighbours, but this seems a step too far. This tree has clearly been there for forty or more years, and I assume the patio post dates that. I know I can’t dictate where in her garden this lady sits, but why does it have to be in the only spot in the garden that my tree casts a shadow?

I also assume she had asked the previous owners with no luck.

And the owner is elderly, and has been abroad since COVID hit.

I have put committed to doing anything, but am starting to think I might be being unneighbourly?

The tree is a beautiful ash tree.

OP posts:
user1497787065 · 17/10/2021 10:54

I sympathise with you. We have a mature ash in our garden ( about 250 years old) which we have tended to every few years. The tree is on the perimeter of our land adjoining our neighbours. They moved in ten years ago
And moved their oil tank and summer house to under the tree and every time there is
A storm/gales express concern about branches falling on either the oil tank or summer house.

The tree is remaining, we will continue to keep it pruned but annoyingly should there be any damage to their oil tank/shed/summer house we are responsible.

RedToothBrush · 17/10/2021 10:57

@ChristieMalry

No don't do that but do consider other neighbours around you who may not appreciate any seeds that land in their own gardens and which will grow to some height and kill off their own plants within the course of 18 months or so.
Are they incapable of looking after their own properties properly?

Why is nature only the responsibility of the tree owner?

If you cannot manage your own garden or get someone in to do it, time to sell up and find a more suitable property.

Or pav the whole thing.

ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 11:01

I think you misunderstand. Ash seeds prolifically, grows quickly, robs adjacent plants of nutrients and is very hard to get rid of. If your neighbour has an ash your own garden will be adversely affected by it. One seed landing in a planter will kill the plants in there often before you realise what the new "plant" is, if it's an ash seed.

Shedbuilder · 17/10/2021 11:01

I think your neighbour is being ridiculous and if I were you I'd ignore the request. But the tree may be already dying of ash dieback disease: it's rampant where we are (Greater Manchester) and we've seen dying ash trees everywhere we've traveled this summer. We have two ash trees (one a 60-year-old whopper, one a 15-year-old youngster) in our garden and we've probably got a maximum of another two years before the dieback, which has already started, gets to the stage where the trees will have to come down. Which will be a very sad and traumatic day.

There's also an issue with ash trees that they sometimes, for no apparent reason, drop a big branch/ limb — and for that reason alone, it's not advisable to build a patio or a shed or anything under them. In your shoes, to cover myself, I would get a tree surgeon out to assess the tree, check whether there's any need to remove any limbs that overhang next door's garden (you don't want to be sued if someone is hurt by a falling limb) and take advice on the dieback situation. Even if you're told the tree will need to come down at some point I'd hold on for a year or two. A mature ash tree is a glorious thing and I'd hate the neighbours to think you took it down on their say-so.

Can't believe these people who want a massive eco-system (your tree will support a whole range of insect and wildlife) taken down for their convenience.

Shedbuilder · 17/10/2021 11:10

@ChristieMalry

I think you misunderstand. Ash seeds prolifically, grows quickly, robs adjacent plants of nutrients and is very hard to get rid of. If your neighbour has an ash your own garden will be adversely affected by it. One seed landing in a planter will kill the plants in there often before you realise what the new "plant" is, if it's an ash seed.
No, Christie, you misunderstand. I rarely use this word, but I'm moved to it today: you're being utterly hysterical. We have quite a nice garden with two ash trees, a few planters, herbaceous beds and fruit and veg beds and have never had anything killed by an invasive ash. When we lived in north London we had an allotment with ash and sycamore nearby and never had any issues.

We have two ash trees in our garden and rarely have any saplings appear. For the first year or two you can pull them up by the roots easily.

Blinky21 · 17/10/2021 11:11

The neighbourly thing would be to cut it down a bit. We did this with six conifers in our garden, they didn't annoy us but annoyed the neighbours so we thought it was the right thing to do. If you are blocking light your neighbours could complain under High Hedges and the local authority will ask you to remove them. It's miserable having your light stolen and affects the value of your home.

LindaEllen · 17/10/2021 11:12

They built the patio already knowing that part of the garden would be in shade part of the day because of the tree. That's called tough luck. Keep the tree. We need more trees in the world, and fewer patios that get rid of grass that helps deal with heavy rain!!

Idontlike · 17/10/2021 11:15

@squashyhat

Well your neighbour didn't complain did she? She sent someone else to do her dirty work. If she's that bothered she can come and speak to you herself.
She might not even know the niece has been round to speak to op.

Has the niece been staying there whilst her aunt is abroad?

Original poster
Mellowyellow222 · 17/10/2021 11:19

@Blinky21 I don’t think high hedges covers deciduous trees just evergreens and only when there are a few.

In fact this neighbour might be in breach of high hedge with their conifers but I don’t think I am with a single ash tree?

But it’s been a while since I reviewed the legislation

OP posts:
Brollywasntneededafterall · 17/10/2021 11:23

Has the relative get their beady eye on the house and is mentally planning ahead? As in when I live here that tree is gonna have to go...

ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 11:23

@LindaEllen Ash grows fast. Assuming the neighbour built the patio two years ago (ie pre pandemic) the tree could have been four foot smaller then.

Most trees grow much slower. If she didn't know it was an ash she wouldn't have known it would overshadow her patio a couple of years later.

saraclara · 17/10/2021 11:36

That's no harm getting a tree surgeon out to look at it. It shows willing at least. I have a tall laurel hedge that I get trimmed every year, because I know it casts shade on to the garden of the neighbour behind me.

I wish the neighbour diagonally would get the huge tree in his garden lopped a bit. It had grown a lot in the last two or three years and now means I lose the evening sun on my patio.

RedToothBrush · 17/10/2021 11:40

@saraclara

That's no harm getting a tree surgeon out to look at it. It shows willing at least. I have a tall laurel hedge that I get trimmed every year, because I know it casts shade on to the garden of the neighbour behind me.

I wish the neighbour diagonally would get the huge tree in his garden lopped a bit. It had grown a lot in the last two or three years and now means I lose the evening sun on my patio.

Who is paying for the tree surgeon to make an assessment.
ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 11:44

You are, you plum.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2021 11:59

The neighbourly thing would be to cut it down a bit

The neighbourly thing would be to refrain from bleating about a tree that’s been there forever.

ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 12:28

forever maybe ten years

countrygirl99 · 17/10/2021 12:52

Rather over dramatic. My garden is surrounded by Ash trees and full of thriving plants. I do have to keep uprooting the buggers from among my soft fruit but they are usually 2-3 feet high before O spot them amongst the prolific currants, gooseberries and raspberries.

GladAllOver · 17/10/2021 12:52

Just leave it alone. At the end of a 120ft garden it's harming no-one.

Original poster
Mellowyellow222 · 17/10/2021 14:01

@saraclara a few people in the thread have compared a single deciduous tree to an every green hedge.

Evergreen hedges are subject to legislation because they have such a significant impact on light. In my experience single trees do not have the same impact - the shade a dappled and they are only in leaf a few months a year.

Yes if I had an evergreen Hedge I would keep it trimmed and would be very aware of the law. But this isn’t evergreen or a solid hedge

OP posts:
ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 14:14

OP you seem quite knowledgeable about legal restrictions on what people can and can't grow in their gardens as a self professed relative newcomer to suburban habitats. Almost as if you had an axe to grind and were looking to whet it with the "oh we must all #bekind to #nature" brigade". (Who know fuck all about anything but will get you feels.)

countrygirl99 · 17/10/2021 14:29

@ChristieMalry

OP you seem quite knowledgeable about legal restrictions on what people can and can't grow in their gardens as a self professed relative newcomer to suburban habitats. Almost as if you had an axe to grind and were looking to whet it with the "oh we must all #bekind to #nature" brigade". (Who know fuck all about anything but will get you feels.)
Actually no-one than 10 minutes (max) using Google would tell you.
ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 14:33

Ok

Original poster
Mellowyellow222 · 17/10/2021 14:37

@ChristieMalry I googled it - and did google it in my last house. A tree isn’t a hedge. I haven’t owned trees before but I know that.

I wasn’t in asking legal advise, I could google that easily. I was asking about neighbourly relations.

If I have annoyed you feel free to scroll on.

OP posts:
ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 14:39

Ditto.

ChristieMalry · 17/10/2021 14:44

Or alternatively you could address my points rather than reframing them as me being annoyed with you and that what you are saying is therefore my problem. Which is textbook pass-agg btw.