Neighbours' garden

Does anything hang over your garden?

Thanks for replying Spaghetti
There can be the odd branch but mainly it's the height of the trees. If things do hang over l can trim them back if they're easily got at, but these trees are really very high.

I think if it were my garden I'd want to know if the trees were sound. Maybe she would be happy for you to employ a tree surgeon to just check them out?

If sound I'd try to relax about it. I'd look for shade-loving plants - like the toad lily or ferns for example - and grow those plants and enjoy my garden differently.
You are never going to make her be tidy. Just don't look.

Sadly, you could make yourself ill worrying unnecessarily.
Trim back to the boundary and take a deep breath.

You have no right to light and she’s right about nesting birds. If birds are nesting they are legally protected. Unless the tree is a safety hazard or causing significant damage, your rights are limited.

British Trust for Ornithology:

We often think of birds nesting and breeding in spring, and for many species, the nesting season does take place from March to July. However, there are plenty of species which start nesting earlier in the year and continue through the summer and even into the autumn months. For example, Tawny Owl may have young as early as February, and Stock Dove and Barn Owl as late as October and November. As a general rule, resident songbirds begin nesting behaviour between February and March. Migratory species begin establishing territories as soon as they arrive, usually from April or May.

However, if she is amenable to having the trees reduced, timing is key.

Qualified tree surgeons who know what they are doing (i.e. not just blokes with a van, a shredder and a chain saw) tend to be booked up for months in advance - six months at least around here. She needs to be booking the work now to get it done when the birds are not nesting.

Maybe she did try to get someone last October and they were booked up. She needs to be booking someone now to come and do the work in late autumn.

I wouldn’t be too bothered about what estate agents say. They can’t know that it will put buyers off and beware of them using that as an excuse to gouge you on price for a quick sale. You could end up selling to someone who loves nature, trees and birds and would love to develop a shady wildlife garden.

Thank you for your replies. I suppose l'm only getting into a state about it because of the fact they're Sycamore trees which have re-seeded from another neighbours garden and l think really they should be in huge garden or parkland and she's got 4 or 5 in a row right up against my fence. I don't want to sound like l hate trees as l don't. I will try to do as you say though and not get in a state over it, but l can't help but feel worried as l've seen how huge they grow.

As my dad might have said to my mum (they lived next to woodland) how long will you be here, my love, 1000 years?

Sorry you are feeling anxious.

A very difficult dilemma for you, especially with your wish to move near to your poorly daughter. You sound very understanding and tolerant. Has your neighbour got any family or friends who visit? If so, it would be an idea to raise the subject with them, also mentioning the agents’ comments, although I am inclined to agree with Silverbrooks that they want you to reduce the price, as they are after a quick sale.
In my (humble) opinion, I think your neighbour may be using the nesting season as an excuse, possibly for financial reasons or because she doesn’t want the hassle of having contractors in her garden. Are they very elderly? Just cut back any overhanging branches, keep your garden tidy and go ahead and put the house on the market at the price you think it is worth. 💐

I think you have to accept that there is nothing you can do about this instead of worrying about it.

It may put some people off from buying but not all. If you do get viewers for your home you can honestly say that she is going to cut the trees down when the nesting season has finished if they bring it up.

Thank you so much.
I don't think there's an issue with money, l'm not sure what the reason is really. She doesn't have any relatives and keeps very much to herself, l have tried to be kind but l suppose l feel upset because if the shoe was on the other foot l'd try really hard to at least meet her half way. Anyway people are correct and seeing it all written down is helpful, I'll just have to bite the bullet and see what happens with regard to selling. Thank you 😊

If it’s any consolation to you, we have just bought a bungalow with a 40 foot conifer in the next door’s front garden. It overhangs ours and the lady ( aged 94) is reluctant to do anything about it.

However…….we loved the house so much it didn’t put us off buying it so hope this gives you some hope. Very good luck……

I love trees, we have quite a few round our house and some are extremely tall. I just feel it is a privilege to have them.

I wouldn’t be too bothered about what estate agents say. They can’t know that it will put buyers off and beware of them using that as an excuse to gouge you on price for a quick sale. You could end up selling to someone who loves nature, trees and birds and would love to develop a shady wildlife garden

Sorry, Silverbrooks but it does put buyers off.
I bought my bungalow at the end of Lockdown when properties were flying off the shelves. It was on and off the market twice then I managed to get my offer accepted.
The garden next door sounded just like the one in the OP so she has my sympathy because these situations are difficult to resolve.
Fortunately for me the owners moved but they refused to do more than just a token tidy up. Unsurprisingly nobody wanted to buy it until the garden was dealt with by felling all the trees that were out of proportion to the site.

My new neighbours are a young couple who are full of ideas for their garden and not afraid to ask for tips. I’m sure they will heed my advice when it comes to trees…. I’ve shown them the photos! 😂😮

Marriedalongtime

If it’s any consolation to you, we have just bought a bungalow with a 40 foot conifer in the next door’s front garden. It overhangs ours and the lady ( aged 94) is reluctant to do anything about it.

However…….we loved the house so much it didn’t put us off buying it so hope this gives you some hope. Very good luck……

Worth a gamble in those circumstances as to whether the new owner will decide to keep the tree. With current one being 94 then it won't be that much longer before that house changes hands.

nanna8

I love trees, we have quite a few round our house and some are extremely tall. I just feel it is a privilege to have them.

Yes, and l agree with you, l also love trees, however our gardens are tiny and these are Sycamore saplings which are huge and she has at least 4 or 5 of them amongst other trees which has meant most of my plants have died as there is no light at all and l have had 3 estate agents tell me it will almost certainly put people off buying. The rest of her garden is completely unkempt and swamps her tiny house.

If you are putting your house up for sale soon, I would mention to the Estate Agent that she has said she will be cutting the trees back in the Autumn, so that they can tell people when they view, whether she does or not won't be your problem then, as long as you don't put in in writing but just say she has verbally told you.

l have had 3 estate agents tell me it will almost certainly put people off buying.

Maybe - but given you want to sell and she is not interested in cutting the trees down I think you just have to "suck it and see".

Otherwise you will never move...
If it puts 50% of people off it doesn't matter if your purchaser in in the other 50%.

Keeping fingers crossed for you.
🤞

Thank you ☺️
Yes you're right of course, l just wish that people could be a little more considerate, it would just make life a bit easier for us all l suppose. Thanks for your kind comments though.

Sycamores, the bane of our lives. I think we must have had about 1,000 tiny little trees in our garden this year. We do have quite a big garden and the wind was obviously in the wrong direction last year.
I often see them growing in hedges, I can only assume that not everyone recognises them until they are too big to be dealt with easily.
Nanna8 I love trees too but the right tree in the right place.

You describe your neighbour as 'elderly'. What age is that? 60? 90?

I ask this because I wonder is she is another like you always anxious. She knows there is a problem, is worried sick about it, but is terrfied of doing anything about it because she doesn't know how to find a tree surgeon, is afraid to contact tree surgeons because she has never dealt with people like that before, she is afraid of how much they may charge, and --- is just afraid and anxious. These trees frighten her as much as they worry you.

Some people are loke that and faced with the problem just bury their heads in the sand and try to pretend it isn't there.

I knw this response is of no help to you, except that you could suggest that you could contact a tree surgeon, and be with her when he comes as the trees affect you as much as her and essentially be with her for moral support, you could offer to make a (small) contribution to the cost and, so to seek, stand with her as you both look for a solution to the problem.

She could simply not have the money to pay for having the trees trimmed or removed and that is why she is avoidng the issue.

Thank you for your reply.l'm not sure of her age but a bit older than me (l'm 66) she's very confident, outgoing, never home and seems very independent. Sometimes she talks to me and sometimes she ignores me, according to her mood. I would say she is probably much better off than me-l won't say why, but it is obvious she's not poor. She drives a very nice car, is always away and is very well dressed. I would say we're very different and l believe that's where the problem lies as l struggle to stick up for myself and will always back down. I struggle with all the leaves too as l have rheumatoid arthritis, last year l must have collected 40 bags.

The point I was trying to make merlotgran is that it might put some people off but, as NotSpaghetti says, it might not. Nobody can say it definitely will put off 100% of potential buyers.

A buyer might come along who this suits for any number of reasons. They might like the trees and the privacy they afford. It might be a private landlord who plans to rent to tenants/students who won’t be worried about the garden or gardening. It might be a developer who won’t be timid about taking the neighbour on. It doesn’t sound like they would have any legal redress but they might be more forceful about the perceived nuisance.

Depending on the condition and location of OP’s own property, it might be someone who wants a quick turnaround anyway. Yes, that might mean they want a slightly lower purchase price but they might not if it’s a quick in out for the cost of a quick spruce up.

There are all kinds of buyers out there who don’t or won’t see this as the major issue OP does (based on her user name) as they haven’t lived with it or worried about it.

If it’s imperative that OP starts the sale process now she can do what 62Granny suggests, then it’s caveat emptor as regards whether it happens or not. All buyers should be aware of the law about cutting trees and hedges during the nesting season so it’s a legitimate explanation. OP gives the neighbour a chance to get something booked in now for the autumn. Meantime she does the suck it and see that NotSpaghetti suggests to test the market. As long as she is realistic about price, she might be pleasantly surprised.

We moved into a house a few years ago with a horrible line of huge leylandii. We got rid of them and then a neighbour two doors up came and thanked us profusely for restoring his lovely sea view!
I have every sympathy for Alwaysworrying. Sycamores are an absolute menace and absolutely forbidden on our allotment site. I love trees but these are so invasive, and not originally native to UK. I think I would try to gently reason with the neighbour, be open about your dilemma regarding your daughter, and even offer to share cost of tree surgery.

Elowen33

I think you have to accept that there is nothing you can do about this instead of worrying about it.

It may put some people off from buying but not all. If you do get viewers for your home you can honestly say that she is going to cut the trees down when the nesting season has finished if they bring it up.

This.
Go ahead with an agent straight away and if asked about the trees say what Elowyn suggests.
A lot of people like trees on the boundary for privacy.
Moving is the only answer.

Whatever you do don't take a chainsaw to it. Suddenly the tree that every gardener regards as an unwanted interloper will become a national treasure.