Next door neighbour pushing my fence panel over

Possibly the lower braches are growing horizontally into your neighbours' garden and encroaching on flowerbeds or lawn, making the area shady and damp. That may be why they wanted the branches trimmed on their side.

I believe there is no legal obligation for the owner of a tree to trim the neighbour's side. However, I do think it would be more neighbourly to get it done, particularly as your neighhbours are in their 80's. Some people, as they age, become concerned about issues that would not have concerned them at a younger age and they become anxious.

The fence panels don't sound very safely placed and possibly look untidy.

As others have said, perhaps it would be a good idea to speak to someone at the Housing Association to see what their views are.

You poor thing. It's horrible when you fall out with neighbours. Makes you want to stop using your garden. Personally, the first thing I would do is write them a letter. Explain how sad their behaviour is making you and how, after 34 years, you thought that between you you could overcome any problems. I think the written word is very often more powerful that the spoken word which has the potential to turn into a slanging match. They will read and then re-read the letter and it may be that this solves matters. If it doesn't, get the Housing Association to mediate. They have a whole department dedicated to it. Good luck

I'm just surprised the OP was allowed to plant trees on HA property. I thought they were all ready-landscaped. The ones near us are.

I wonder who's garden is mostly cast into shade because of the thing. (Hate garden conifers)

I don't think it is quite true quite true that someone has to give cut off branches branches back to the neighbour whose tree it is. As I understand it, they have to 'offer' them back, which is not the same thing. The neighbour can, it seems, say that they don't want them
I also remember reading somewhere that you could actually get in trouble for simply throwing the trimmed branches over into the neighbour's garden, as it could constitute fly tipping!

It all seems a bit crazy, but worth bearing on mind if you are ever in that position.

Riggie sorry i missed your comment earlier,i did try on facebook and got no response at all,but had a few people who knew people, but the cheapest quote i got was £250, and the highest was from the council contractor at £400,the tree was quite high so really needed someone who had a safety harness,or i might have been held responsible if someone had an accident,but whatever the cost for getting him to come back and cut the other side,i could not afford to pay anymore [ so it was a favour], i had that money saved towards Christmas, so really would have prefer not to spend it on tree cutting, and as there was no problems before i wish i had not bothered
They are much better off than me so they can pay for it if they want it cutting further,they did also complain to the man who cut it and he told them i was under no obligation to have done anything to their side,and it had been cut down enough so as not to cut their light out, of their garden, it was cutting the sun out by the way, not the light out of their house,and its alright people saying just pay and have it cut again, £50 might not be much to some but it is to me, he also cut my holly tree top off too, so that would let more light onto their garden
Why couldnt the neighbour have just said nicely, i was hoping for a bit more off, would he do it, but no a nasty call saying its" your bloody tree, why didnt you tell him to cut more off our side"

I wish I had a thoughtful neighbour like you, my neighbour has two cats who seem to be permanently in my front garden, I don't complain because we get on well but the cat problem does annoy me. I have two cats myself but they are house cats and don't go out, so are not a nuisance to anyone but me and my husband.
As for the tree problem, my neighbour had two trees cut down and my husband paid half the cost.

maddy629 thank you, i can usually get on with anyone,
I have looked at the tree again this morning,i can see most of what is left on it on their side and to be honest there is no more left on their side than mine, so maybe they only think my side has had more cut off,
Hey ho, life goes on, i will speak to them whenever i get a chance, but not going round there especially as i feel it would only end up in an argument,and both their tones were very aggressive to me, if they want to come and have a look they are welcome

We could have had a "fence problem" but fortunately not.We have a home in the UK,(inherited) otherwise we live in Sweden, the fence between us and the neighbours needs replacing in parts, I thought just two panels which do need replacing, but my neighbour thinks the whole fence (seven panels) should be changed, ok I thought,but then she wanted more expensive panels with fancy tops rather like wavey tops, which is lovely but oh dear so expensive.I did explain we arent there very often so we dont have a great deal of use for this fany fencing, also I have a limited budget,she asked how much I can afford, and she was very happy with what I said I could afford,the fence has been ordered,and hopefuly it will be lovely next time we visit.Things can be sorted amicably after all.

Nanny41 yes they can if neighbours are willing to talk to you and a compromise made, but not to aggressively verbally attack you
I am very pleased you and your neighbour have been able to come to some amicable agreement
All it takes is some friendly discussion

Having said that, my neighbour at the other side had 2 panels blown down in galeforce winds a few years ago, which would have left my garden without ant fencing , his mothers ex partner put it up all around their garden, he wanted to replace all the panels,and asked me and his neighbour at the other side if we would pay towards it, we both refused, as it was 6ft high fencing round a garden of27ft, long and about 20 ft wide, but we both paid for the panels that would have left ours exposed,which i think was fair

Whilst nastiness is uncalled for my neighbours insist on a huge eucalyptus tree and several fur trees up to the boundary. We trim back as high as we can teach, time consuming and dirty job plus they don’t want their flipping branches so we have to dispose of them. However, I don’t see why we should pay to have their overhanging branches cut by a professional because our ladders and equipment don’t reach. You should have paid for branches overhanging their garden.

I'd just get rid of the fence panels and let your cat wander where it likes.

* Caramac* no i shouldnt and if they want the branches off they are low enough for them to do it,or get their sons to,
I have to cut branches off any of theirs that overhang, [and some do] i dont make a big fuss about it

MaizieD I wont risk my cats being harmed, if you saw one of my earlier posts ,my Siamese,[years ago] came in with blisters on mouth and tongue, vet said he hd been licking something caustic, he died not long after of kidney failure, nothing wrong with him before he went into their garden, they hate cats,and i know they could do it, as they suggested long before that,that i put poison down for a cat they saw chasing mine
Long before these houses were modernised and cats could get into garden,s easily
]

Gonegirl we can plant anything we like,i also have a catio, where my cats can go if they want fresh air without going outside
All these houses have trees surrounding them, there are some which are much higher than mine, i also have 2 lovely mountain ash at the bottom of my garden, not planted by me, beautiful in summer, the birds love the berries
The road in front of my house is an avenue of trees.
My house is back to front the pics are of the back garden,which my living room faces
Our HA is brilliant, and very easy going

Caramac, the law in the UK regarding trees at boundaries is hedges must be kept to a certain height. 'Hedges' are defined by the distance apart of the same- species trees. If the trees are further apart than the stated distance to be deemed a hedge they can in law be allowed to grow unless hazardous.

A tall lone eucalyptus is not a shady tree and its upright habit of growth makes it unlikely to over hang neighbouring garden. If it does so, due to a more horizontal branch , that branch is dead easy to cut off as it's soft wood to cut.

Blondenana, I do like the sound of your neighbourhood. All these trees will be keeping your air clean, and providing habitats for insects and birds. Your catio means that your cats are not dangerous for birds. You sound an ideal neighbour.

Nothing worse than a nasty neighbour. Years ago I lived next door to one, who, when I was on holiday in Canada, decided to take down the hedge and put a cheap and nasty panel fence on my side of the hedge. It was a wide hedge....he gained at least 6ftx70ft ( long garden). I had to take legal action.....I won....cost my neighbour about £6000

Thank you Alexa the cats do like to go in it sometimes, but they were housecats until a couple of years ago, and as they are now all 10 years old, i decided to let them into the garden, they really dont go anywhere else, they would be too nervous , they do also only tend to go out when i am outside too.
I have very rarely had a bird brought in, but one of my cats, [not the ones i have now] once brought a frog in, alive. and i just put it back outside, also a couple of mice, but again unharmed and i put them outside, mice dont bother me
The trees are lovely, all this area is covered with trees, and the beach is only about a mile away,
I get lots of birds, even seagulls, which again don;t bother me,they were here before us, and squirrels,
The old cat carrier and old tea chest boxes in my pics are used by the cats to shelter in if its too hot or even raining,

* crazyH* what a terrible thing to do, by your neighbour, while you were away too, i am glad you did something about it and also won your case,i think sometimes people dont realize what consequenses their actions will or can cause

Yes blondenana, he was awful....thankfully, I have moved from there and all my present neighbours here are great.
When I had my breast problem 2 years ago, they were marvellous, especially one particular lady, who volunteered to pull my medical stocking on and off for me (the one that prevents blood clots) every morning and night.

crazyH i am pleased for you that you have found somewhere nicer and with nicer neighbours,
I love where i live, and although i could really do with moving to somewhere smaller,its the garden and the privacy that holds me back
My back garden is not accesible to anyone unless i let them in, as i have a door at the side of the house,which locks, then a passageway with 2 outhouses,and a lockable door at the other end, totally surrounded by trees and high hedges,
Believe it or not, although i have lived in this house for 34 years, my neighbour has only been in once when i had a clothes party,[remember them? ] i never hear of them now
I have only ever been in their house to draw curtains and put lights on when they went on holiday, never even sat down in there
The town i live in is a very strange place if you are not born and bred here, you are very much classed as an outsider,and i know very few people well, but it doesnt really bother me, which is the reason i am not going to go out of my way to talk to the neighbours, i doubt it would change anything,i will have a word about this if i see them at all though
I hope your health problem is better now, i doubt what you lovely new neighbours are doing for you would happen here
I have most of my family here, [children ] so thats good,other relatives live all over in various places

Blondenana the area you live in sounds gorgeous. Your cats seem to be ideal companions. I do like cats as well as dogs.My deceased sister in law kept house cats and loved them very much but hers never got to go outdoors and yours are fortunate in their old age.

CrazyH I am so glad you won that case!

Thank you Alexa, yes it is lovely here,i also have a little dog that i take for walks,or rather i did, she is getting quite stubborn and wont go far, but she now has cataracts and the vet thinks signs early dementia
She was adopted by me, from a couple who were going to put her to sleep, they said, but maybe they just hoped she would find another home,
They told me she was 3, but turns out she is more like 9 or 10, she didnt have these problems when i got her though

Blondenana, I like you for a neighbour!