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Original poster

Our tree shading neighbour's garden

47 replies

Willo776 · 03/04/2022 18:22

We have lived in our house for 4 years. Our neighbours have lived in theirs for about 20 years. We have a very large willow tree next to the fence. A fair bit hangs into their garden. Their garden is narrow and doesn't get much light. Our tree shades part of it in the late afternoon, and there are other trees which shade it at other times of the day. Our garden is much larger and wider so we're not affected by lack of sun.

Two years ago we paid about £600 to get the willow pollarded. It was cut right back almost to the trunk. The neighbours were delighted as the man who'd owned our house before us hadn't had the tree pollarded for years. Unfortunately two years on and it's enormous again. We didn't realise quite how quickly willows grow.

The neighbours have let is know that they're going to cut the overhanging branches on their side, which of course is absolutely fine. We have a perfectly amicable relationship with them, but the tree is a source of contention with them (passive aggressive comments about lack of light in their garden etc) and I'm not sure what's reasonable. Should we be offering to have it cut down? We really don't want to - it's a beautiful tree where lots of birds nest and will have been there for decades - probably longer than the neighbours. It would also be extremely expensive - I'd guess close to £2k.

Would be good to hear others opinions.

OP posts:

nordica · 03/04/2022 18:28

I am in your neighbours' situation with a huge tree cutting out light from my garden. Their garden is at least 3 times longer and the tree is right at the back by the fence so they get all the benefits and I get all the problems. In stormy weather I also worry it will come crashing down and destroy my house.

Would you have a large tree right by your own house so your garden got very little sun? If not, then it's extremely antisocial to have one near your neighbours.

I love trees and wildlife too but huge trees don't really suit densely packed gardens.

dudsville · 03/04/2022 18:33

I love trees and havens for birds BUT I think this was inconsiderate planting on the post of your predecessors. Could it be moved closer to your house, or removed and another planted close to your own house?

Toponeniceone · 03/04/2022 18:34

I'd cut it down too, but I'd get them to pay for it.

moonbedazzled · 03/04/2022 18:34

I had this with my lovely neighbour. I never said anything but her tree blocked my light and I started getting algae on bits of the gravel and paving. It really got me down. Then one day the tree surgeon arrived and it was gone. Like I say I never discussed it but I was so grateful that she did it. The garden is so much more usable now.

caringcarer · 03/04/2022 18:38

If they have a small garden and it blocks put the sun, I can understand why they are annoyed. The problem was caused by your predecessor but now it is yours to deal with best as you can. Could you not have it cut down and another smaller growing tree planted away from their garden. It is anti social.

blisstwins · 03/04/2022 18:39

:-(
Can’t you just keep trimming the branches that overhang?

yamadori · 03/04/2022 18:42

I'm with your neighbour unfortunately. Amateur tree-hugger though I am, willows are massive trees that grow at a fantastic rate, and they really have no place in domestic gardens. They are also extremely good at seeking out and destroying underground water and sewer pipes in their search for a drink, which might cost you a fortune in the long run.

Sorry, but it probably needs to go.

Shakirasma · 03/04/2022 18:46

It probably ought to come down. Such a shame though.

Could you replace it with a new tree, planted somewhere else in your garden where it wont cause a nuisance when it grows?

Auntieobem · 03/04/2022 18:51

I had a v similar post a few weeks ago - our neighbours cut overhanging branches off our willow without speaking to us. If I'd known it bothered them I would have arranged to have branches cut. I wouldn't get rid of the whole tree though.

TwigTheWonderKid · 03/04/2022 18:52

How old is the tree? Was it there when they bought their house?

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 03/04/2022 18:55

I wouldn’t cut the tree down, we need trees, we all shops be planting trees

fallfallfall · 03/04/2022 18:56

my tree my landscaping to bad so sad.

KosherDill · 03/04/2022 18:57

Do not cut the tree and eliminate habitat. They can move if they don't like their garden.

Some things are more important.

chisanunian · 03/04/2022 19:00

@OnceuponaRainbow18

I wouldn’t cut the tree down, we need trees, we all shops be planting trees

We need trees yes, but not willow trees anywhere near buildings. They damage underground utilities.

KateTheShrew · 03/04/2022 19:00

Don't take it down. They can cut the overhanging branches but as you say it's a beautiful tree and a haven for birds and it should stay.

NotNowBoris · 03/04/2022 19:03

As much as I love trees, there are some that just dont belong in a garden where they can get too big to cause a nuisance to others. Chop it down and buy something smaller to replace the willow. Thats what a good neighbour would do.

Musicalmaestro · 03/04/2022 19:06

Willows are unsuitable for most domestic gardens.
I sympathise with your neighbours as we have most of our garden shaded by a big tree next door. I would be over the moon if they cut it down.
I do like trees, but there are plenty of smaller varieties that are good for wildlife.

Sapphirejane · 03/04/2022 19:08

The idea of a native tree being antisocial makes me very sad. My all means have the tree pollarded again if you want to but please don’t cut down a healthy mature tree which is not causing any damage. There are plenty of places people can go to get more sun, the tree will take most of a human life time to mature again.

yorkshireteaspoonie · 03/04/2022 19:08

Nothing divides people like trees. We had a large oak to the side of our house that was causing the house to subside.

As it didn't 'belong' to anyone a notice had to be put on it (after a year of building monitoring to prove the cause) the world and his wife were alerted by this and had an opinion on it with many suggesting we should knock down the bloody house as an alternative to just removing the tree 🙄

Honestly people get deranged trees

blisstwins · 03/04/2022 19:09

@Sapphirejane

It is a native tree too? I think willows are so beautiful. Also, probably where it is to avoid problems with foundations etc

PickAChew · 03/04/2022 19:12

It shouldn't cost £2000 to take out unless it's especially large.

Original poster

Willo776 · 03/04/2022 19:12

Thanks for the replies. The tree isn't near our houses, so the issue isn't about it falling down or damaging underground pipes.

I have no idea how old it is, but when we had it pollarded the tree surgeon said it had been pollarded before but not for many years, so I'd estimate at least 15 years - 20 years - probably since the neighbours have lived there anyway.

We wouldn't plant another tree if it came down - there isn't anywhere else we could put one.

The cost is prohibitive to us, and we're not planning to stay in the house super long term (3-5 more years max). This I'd another consideration.

I should also say that even if we did cut it down, the neighbours garden would still be shaded. There are many trees in neighbouring gardens - one fir tree in particular is absolutely gigantic - which shade it as well at different times of the day. Unfortunately, because their garden is so narrow it will never get loads of light.

Good to hear a range of views though.

OP posts:

Sapphirejane · 03/04/2022 19:15

@blisstwins - I think most willow varieties are native.

I think there are much worse things neighbours could do than plant trees like the monstrosity of an outbuilding mine has just built. I’d rather a tree that overhangs my garden.

FairyCakeWings · 03/04/2022 19:15

The birds having somewhere to live is more important than your neighbour having all the sun she wants in her garden.

You have to be gracious about her chopping off the bits that overhand her garden, and it would make you a good neighbour to keep it trimmed every couple of years so that it doesn’t get out of control, but you should feel no obligation to remove it whatsoever.

DarleneSnell · 03/04/2022 19:17

I'd be reluctant to cut down any mature tree, especially one so lovely. Understand it's crap for your neighbours though. Can you have it pollarded again, ask if they're prepared to pay this time?

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