Would you cut down an established and beautiful tree?

[Cheeriosaddict]

I’m in a bit of a dilemma so looking for some thoughts.
We bought a house last year and intended to remove a tree which is 2 metres from the dining room as it blocks out a lot of light and the roots have made the patio very uneven. I’d like to make it clear I’m in no habit of removing trees and we’ve actually planted two trees and lots of shrubs and plants since we’ve moved in.
However, as this is our first summer in the house, the tree has blossomed and it’s beautiful. Not only that, birds nest there and the bees love the flowers.
Before the spring, we had a tree surgeon thin the tree but it still blocks out a lot of light. The downside of the birds is that they go to the toilet over the patio so whenever we want to use the garden to eat dinner, it’s a big clear up operation. I can cope with this, it’s the light issue that’s the main problem. I’m so torn that I would be destroying habitat of birds and bees and I would feel horrible about it and not sure I can bring myself to do it come October.
what would you do?

What type of tree is it? Is it the only one in the garden of its type? Are there other trees nearby?

Personally, I’d leave it and look into lighting options for your dining room. How often is the room used?

The roots under the patio would worry me mostly. Tree roots can cause havoc with foundations, and if you take it down you’ll likely see some cracking in plaster etc as the ground adjusts.
I would take it down. It sounds like it’s in the wrong place. It would kill me to do it! But plant another in a better place.

I’m not entirely sure what tree it is. The tree surgeon mumbled something about it being a cherry tree but it doesn’t produce any fruit, just white blossom type flowers.
There are lots of trees at the bottom of the garden (which I love looking out to). We didn’t have any trees or greenery in our last house so this has been lovely for us and being able to plant shrubs etc.
The room is used every day and it’s an evergreen tree (although the flowers have blossomed only in the summer).

We eventually removed our acacia because it was causing a lot of the problems you mentioned. It was lucky we did as it was completely rotted inside and would have likely fallen during the next big storm.

I would remove it after flowering and nesting season is over and be sad about it - but plant another one at the end of the garden. If tree roots are lifting the patio who knows what it’s doing to the house.

If you are bothered by it, remove it and plant another somewhere else.

Be mindful that the ground might heave after removal, which could cause movement in your foundations.

Nope. Not ever. No. Not in a million.

The birds love it? It stays. I say this as someone with a north facing garden with an 80 year old Ash tree blocking out a good deal of light.

A decent arborist will be able to top it to promote light and health. I get it done every 5 years or so (so the cost feels less painful).

No, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to destroy a healthy, mature tree which is benefiting wildlife purely for my own convenience,and it sounds like that is how you feel too, OP.

My first reaction would be to spare that tree but given your story I’d take it down. Subsidence issues are no joke. Winter storms could be worrying.

Could you buy the same tree again (from a specialist tree nursery)at say 6 - 8 foot sapling size and put it further down the garden to replace it?

Such a shame but the advantages might outweigh regrets.

No I wouldn't. It's very unlikely to be damaging the foundations - find out what it is and how tall it grows.

Honestly I keep seeing people complain about a bit of bird shit or leaves. Put a cover over your furniture if you're that bothered.

It's the outside, not a fucking ikea showroom.

I'm not an advocate of removing trees, they were there before you etc but if its damaging patio then leaving it means it may also start to go under the house so for that reason alone I'd get rid.

No I couldn't and wouldn't cut down a tree that's benefiting birds and bees.

Nope

I would remove any ornamental tree and replace it with a dwarf fruit tree probably further from the patio but still in view, but I'd check first if removing it would damage the foundations

If it's damaging the patio then it's not far from your foundation. I'd remove it quickly.

Yep this.

Do you want to post a picture of the tree? Nearly all cherry trees are deciduous and the one that isn't is more of a shrub.

I'd be torn like you but would be more worried about damage to the house and foundation than light tbh.

No, I wouldn't. We had exactly this in our last garden, and the shade it gave was actually a real blessing in the heat of the summer.

I’m not complaining about the leaves (how strange). I only mention the birds being above where we eat as a mild irritation. My main issue is the light.
To make it clear- I love the tree and enjoy the wildlife in it.

I'm removing a tree from my garden or at least cutting it right down.

It's a big pear tree and yes the birds and bees like it but it's problematic for us.

It's too tall to pick all the fruit and there is a lot of fruit. They're not very nice eating pears, rock hard.

They drop off and have hit us (three small kids) or bounce off the kitchen extension roof like rocks.
The garden is littered with rotting pears throughout autumn.

In bloom it blocks all the sun on my patio.

Neighbour complains about all the pears falling in their garden.

It's got to go, unfortunately.

I've never seen any birds nesting in it so I'm not worried about losing habitat for them.

I do have a dedicated bee and butterfly patch and lots of other things for wildlife in my garden but this tree is a nuisance.

If you decide to remove it, get professional arborist advice first about the roots. Depending on the size/age of the tree and its type, and on the type of soil you have, felling can produce "heave" which can undermine a house's foundations.

Birds will shit on patios irrespective of where they nest or even where the patio is located. We have wrap around flags around the perimeter and a big patio out back, and the minute I finished jet washing it, they shat all over the newest, cleanest area outside the side door. And my nearest tree is at least 75 metres away.

I would consider finding an area of the garden to perhaps put an arbour, summerhouse with a covered patio or other covered eating area for the family.

I would also consider how bright a dining room needs to be. Ours gets blinded with sunlight at 7pm every night and I end up closing the curtains to eat because it hurts my eyes and gets too hot (even in a massive kitchen/lounge/diner). I don’t want to be hot, in summer, when I am eating hot food.

I would find it hard to get rid of such a pretty asset on the property, even though my sinuses would be permanently flared from cherry blossom and I would feel like I have flu. Because that’s what it is, an attractive asset that comes as part of a package when anyone in the future wants to buy your home.

Versus a two foot high, immovable stub.

@GalaApples thanks that’s good advice, I think this thread has been helpful to understand the potential impact and either way I’ll seek professional advice re the roots impact.

I wouldn’t, I love trees and consider them eco systems.
I couldn’t kill one unless I had absolutely no choice