Neighbours complaining about trees that were present before they even purchased their houses

SoliD · 20 Apr 2021 at 12:55

Peerzy said:
LOL but did you really just suggest he drills into and poison a 60ft tree he has describes as "provides a lovely amount of coverage and convey a sense of height and privacy when in the garden." (ie something he really values and likes) because..... you don't like trees in your garden?

Cmon Peerzy you've been around long enough to know this is exactly what he's suggested...

Peerzy · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:00

SoliD said:
Cmon Peerzy you've been around long enough to know this is exactly what he's suggested...

Just wanted to be sure :cry:

mattyg · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:04

SixTwoSix said:
The costs related to tree surgery/being a arborist are eye watering if you're legit and doing it legally, the insurances needed alone account for much of quotes price. Then having a proper place to dispose of chippings, logs, leaves and debris can add up too.

I was an arborist, still technically am as the knowledge I gained stays with you. I had family who ran the business and he was putting in 80+ hours a week, pretty much any time not on a job, he'd be out putting in quotes for other work. His salary was good at close to £40k but when equated to hours worked, it's a thankless job and works out less than a lot of low skill labour.

Of course you've got cowboys who will do the work at cheaper prices but most of them don't have the liability cover and if something goes wrong, you're going to have damage to property and a nightmare to claim anything without years through courts. They'll also most likely fly tip the rubbish afterwards.

I can't stress enough, anyone getting significant tree work done, ask for proof of cover, the moment anyone quoting becomes cagey over this, dismiss them.

As for danger as an arborist, i've seen some pretty nasty injurys on competent and well trained climbers, it's very easy to miss something as simple as 'included bark' and have a tree stem split on you.

Freak accident last year or so. Arborist got a kickback off his chainsaw that slit his throat. Guys on the ground couldn't do anything but watch him die....

Psycho Sonny said:
Trees just create issues more than anything. Leaves, shade, constant maintainence. I had a similar issue with a neighbors trees blocking all sunlight. He got the hint when I chopped all my trees down one weekend. A month later all his were gone too.

My garden now looks double the size thanks to how airy and open it now feels.

I still have another 4 trees I'm planning on chopping down soon too.

I'm convinced I've read trees are quite useful. Something to do with Carbon Dioxide. I may be wrong

Mint8 · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:04

Alternatively get as "traveller" garden firm to do it - way cheaper, zero H&S just ladders and chainsaws. They dispose of the cuttings no questions asked.

For the tallest tree he just got his 15 yr old lad to climb it for him

Has worked for me for years.

SixTwoSix · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:07

mattyg said:
Freak accident last year or so. Arborist got a kickback off his chainsaw that slit his throat. Guys on the ground couldn't do anything but watch him die....

Kickbacks are terrifying, you can mitigate the risk to a certain extent but they will happen.

Mint8 said:
Alternatively get as "traveller" garden firm to do it - way cheaper, zero H&S just ladders and chainsaws. They dispose of the cuttings no questions asked.

Added benefit they'll pop back a few weeks later and dispose of your belongings too

firstborn · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:08

SoliD said:
Cmon Peerzy you've been around long enough to know this is exactly what he's suggested...

I was skimming through this thread and started reading the reply in question without noting the poster and half way through thought this has got to be a PS BS post

Psycho Sonny · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:11

mattyg said:
Freak accident last year or so. Arborist got a kickback off his chainsaw that slit his throat. Guys on the ground couldn't do anything but watch him die....

I'm convinced I've read trees are quite useful. Something to do with Carbon Dioxide. I may be wrong

New young trees are not old massive ones.

Plus one tree isn't going to do anything neither is 10. The rainforests are being destroyed at a rate of 10% a year your talking hundreds of thousands of trees.

You would be better off getting solar panels than keeping an old tree. In fact let me just check my system.

I've planted 335 trees so far according to my system.

Yaayuh! · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:26

Mature trees are incredibly important for local ecosystems, they hold a whole host of micro-biodiversity that benefits the local wildlife. Something that juvenile trees cannot replace.

I implore you, OP (and others) to maintain mature trees and let them live and support the natural world around you.

Mason- · 20 Apr 2021 at 13:47

All up to personal opinion I suppose but I can't really see why you'd want to get rid of trees. I find them beautiful and fascinating. I would always try to keep a tree rather than remove it. I think asking for it to be maintained is ok, they shouldn't demand it though, and I think asking for them to contribute to it is fair enough. Good luck OP.

Puzzled · 20 Apr 2021 at 14:18

As annoying as a big tree blocking the sun in the garden is, I'd still rather have our neighbours big tree where it was but sadly he cut it down. The garden was private before but now rather than a nice tree we have some big windows looking straight into our garden. A 6ft fence doesn't help with overlooking houses.

Buffman · 20 Apr 2021 at 14:19

Is there a requirement to reduce height of trees in England? My new house has a circa 30ft tall tree and may reduce light to a neighbours property - not mine though. It doesnt go into their boundary so I'd have thought it's OK.

Id like to keep it and like having some trees/natural habitat.

Pic below

Haggisman · 20 Apr 2021 at 14:27

Psycho Sonny said:
Trees just create issues more than anything. Leaves, shade, constant maintainence.

Issues...
And oxygen
Homes for wildlife
Natural windbreaks
Prevent soil erosion
Natural privacy
Fruit for making cider

(was gutted when our neighbours cut down their big old pear tree

)
Dens for kids
Aesthetically pleasing

Sure the last 2 are down to opinion, but I'd far rather look out my window and see some interesting trees, birds, squirrels etc. than a featureless fence/wall or a boring expanse of nothing but grass.

SixTwoSix · 20 Apr 2021 at 14:30

Buffman said:
Is there a requirement to reduce height of trees in England? My new house has a circa 30ft tall tree and may reduce light to a neighbours property - not mine though. It doesnt go into their boundary so I'd have thought it's OK.

Some good info here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=1022

Are there limitations on what I can plant and where within my garden?
No. You have the right to plant what you want, where you want within your property. However, it is sensible and neighbourly to consider the consequences of planting potentially large or imposing trees or hedges close to a boundary and make planting decisions to minimise negative impact. Ultimately you will still be liable for any damage caused by them.

However, long story short, your garden, your choice.

Lovely garden by the way.

200sols · 20 Apr 2021 at 15:02

Psycho posting his usual nonsense I see.

flea.rider · 20 Apr 2021 at 16:27

my neighbour has loads of trees .. all i do is cut the branches that come over the fence .. cost me 4k for 7 foot fence all round .. he's ok with it .. he likes trees i don't his land not mine .. simples ..
i just drop what i've cut over the fence .. cut down 3 tree's in my garden when i moved it .. hat the things leaves every where .. ohh and i collect the leaves and put them over the fence ..

Hotwired · 20 Apr 2021 at 16:59

flea.rider said:
my neighbour has loads of trees .. all i do is cut the branches that come over the fence .. cost me 4k for 7 foot fence all round .. he's ok with it .. he likes trees i don't his land not mine .. simples ..
i just drop what i've cut over the fence .. cut down 3 tree's in my garden when i moved it .. hat the things leaves every where .. ohh and i collect the leaves and put them over the fence ..

Legally correct to do so.

200sols · 20 Apr 2021 at 17:16

Throwing leaves back over, what a sad life.

Resident · 20 Apr 2021 at 17:50

Yaayuh! said:
Incredible isn't it... Sort of people that gut their gardens for low maintenance and petition for a Pret in the village

It's one of the reasons a lot of small race tracks have disappeared. Even Castle Combe faced issues at one point because townies moved nearby and complained about the noise.

stuman · 20 Apr 2021 at 17:51

Yaayuh! said:
Mature trees are incredibly important for local ecosystems, they hold a whole host of micro-biodiversity that benefits the local wildlife. Something that juvenile trees cannot replace.

I implore you, OP (and others) to maintain mature trees and let them live and support the natural world around you.

this is also my standing.

flea.rider said:
my neighbour has loads of trees .. all i do is cut the branches that come over the fence .. cost me 4k for 7 foot fence all round .. he's ok with it .. he likes trees i don't his land not mine .. simples ..
i just drop what i've cut over the fence .. cut down 3 tree's in my garden when i moved it .. hat the things leaves every where .. ohh and i collect the leaves and put them over the fence ..

you sound truly terrible.

Buffman · 20 Apr 2021 at 18:26

SixTwoSix said:
Some good info here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=1022
However, long story short, your garden, your choice.

Lovely garden by the way.

Thanks for your input, and thanks. Only issue is Im a rubbish Gardener and know very little about gardening :cry:

flea.rider said:
my neighbour has loads of trees .. all i do is cut the branches that come over the fence .. cost me 4k for 7 foot fence all round .. he's ok with it .. he likes trees i don't his land not mine .. simples ..
i just drop what i've cut over the fence .. cut down 3 tree's in my garden when i moved it .. hat the things leaves every where .. ohh and i collect the leaves and put them over the fence ..

Is there any other background to this? You sound like a terrible neighbour.

Also from that link above kindly provided:
"What do I do with the prunings?
Once branches are cut off they should be offered back to the tree owner. If the owner doesn’t want them then you will be responsible for disposing of the prunings; you can’t simply throw them over the boundary into your neighbour’s garden!"