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Tidying up after gale's problem

(46 Posts)
Grandmabatty Wed 31-Jan-24 10:56:56

Hi folks. I have an issue about cleaning up after the gales. Next door have an enormous tree in their front garden. In high winds like the last weekend's gales, it shed lots of small branches and twigs which blocked the drain outside my driveway and are also in a tangled mass on the pavement outside my front garden. It's a mess and a trip hazard. I will probably sweep them up, seething with resentment. However, should I put them on the neighbour's land or in my garden waste bin? I have to pay for a garden waste permit and attach a sticker to my bin. The council won't empty a bin without a sticker. I know that the neighbours haven't got a permit. I'm a bit annoyed that they, who are much younger than me, don't see the mess their tree is causing and deal with it. On the other hand, the branches and twigs are on my stretch of pavement,so maybe they see it as my responsibility. It does limit what will fit in my bin as well. What would you do?

Oldnproud Wed 31-Jan-24 16:01:47

Grandmabatty, does your regional / county council have a web page anything like these?

www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/what-we-look-after/soft-landscape-maintenance/overhanging-vegetation

www.bradford.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/highways/overhanging-hedges-trees-shrubs-or-bushes/

If it does, it probably has a facility on there for you to report a problem as well as other info that could be useful to you..

pascal30 Wed 31-Jan-24 16:23:12

I would contact the owner with your concerns as regard to the tree.. and I would speak to your neighbours and explain that you don't have enough space in your bin for the debris from the tree and ask them if you can leave it in their drive for their gardener to dispose of the next time he works there..

Grandmabatty Wed 31-Jan-24 16:25:06

Old proud thank you. I have already checked the relevant council pages. I can report littering but through the roads department. There is no ability to report a potentially dangerous tree which seems odd. However everything on the council website is about deniability. I suspect it's a lack of resources really. I don't want to make it a bigger issue than it is. So far the branches are small. It's the sheer amount of them,tangling together and blocking the pavement and gutter and nobody bothers. Except me!

Grandmabatty Wed 31-Jan-24 16:25:54

pascal good advice. Thank you

mumofmadboys Wed 31-Jan-24 19:39:22

I would clear up the debris , put it in my bin , make myself a cuppa and forget about it. It's annoying but not worth causing any ill feeling.

M0nica Wed 31-Jan-24 22:14:03

We have a problem because our road runs west-east. and has a long earth bank, a scheduled monument running along it, which is lined with forest size trees.

The wide grass verges each side of the bank are completely unbroken until they reach our house where there is a brick garden wall between us an our eastern neighbour.

As with everywhere else in Britain the prevailing winds, especially in Autumn ar westerlys and they blow the leaves of these 20 or more huge trees down the road - until they reach the brick wall, where they collect - in our garden and the access road infront of it.

Every autumn I rake up all the leaves from the garden and access road. I probably fill 8-10 huge builders bages which DH and I take to the tip.

I often think how fortunate it is that my favourite gardening job is raking leaves - but even then it does become burdensome at times.

welbeck Thu 01-Feb-24 00:16:26

OP, if it is large, it is prob old, and may have a TPO.
i doubt the tenant would be interested about it. they don't own it or the land it stands on.
if i was the tenant, i would just ignore it.
hope you can get somewhere with the landlord or the council.
have you checked the highways dept ?

Gwyllt Thu 01-Feb-24 06:58:16

MOnica
Just think of all the potential leaf mould you are abandoning to the council tip

karmalady Thu 01-Feb-24 07:09:33

No point seething, just sweep the bits up and put them into your own bin, always best to stay on good terms with neighbours. I get lots of wind blown leaves from next door, I cannot imagine me complaining. They go into my compost heap

I might act innocent and ask them if they ever worry about the tree`s stability. Just sow the seed of doubt and leave it at that

Lollin Thu 01-Feb-24 07:28:18

Our immediate area has tree lined roads and I never thought of twigs and leaves as littering and messing our lawns or roads. I have been annoyed at the bits of rubbish that for some reason the wind always blows into our hedge trapping it but that’s the disadvantage of having a hedge.
It is possible that they don’t view nature’s debris as a nuisance. I know leaves can get slippery and a lot of twigs could possibly get in the way but when we talk about parents today not allowing their children the freedom of old days I find it odd to worry about the people walking outside not being able to cope and it must be the same in many areas. I can understand if they are not aware because when I had young children family life made me marvel at nature and appreciate our community in a different way to the way it does now that I have a different way of life. If I knew an elderly neighbour had such a problem though I’d like to have known and helped. Community communication.

Namsnanny Thu 01-Feb-24 12:55:10

M0nica

We have a problem because our road runs west-east. and has a long earth bank, a scheduled monument running along it, which is lined with forest size trees.

The wide grass verges each side of the bank are completely unbroken until they reach our house where there is a brick garden wall between us an our eastern neighbour.

As with everywhere else in Britain the prevailing winds, especially in Autumn ar westerlys and they blow the leaves of these 20 or more huge trees down the road - until they reach the brick wall, where they collect - in our garden and the access road infront of it.

Every autumn I rake up all the leaves from the garden and access road. I probably fill 8-10 huge builders bages which DH and I take to the tip.

I often think how fortunate it is that my favourite gardening job is raking leaves - but even then it does become burdensome at times.

That is a lot of work M0nica🧹🍁🍂
Is there a neighbourhood website you could offer free leaf not quite mold?
People do love their gardens and a freebie.

Namsnanny Thu 01-Feb-24 13:00:37

AreWeThereYet

Putting your garden rubbish in someone else's garden is technically fly tipping, and an offence. Doesn't matter if it came off their tree.

If there is a public obstruction/nuisance talk to the Council.

If you cut off overhanging branches, they have to be given back to the owner of the property the tree is on.
I wonder why broken branches wouldn't be treated in the same way?

25Avalon Thu 01-Feb-24 13:45:51

No Namsnanny cut off branches do NOT have to be given back to the owner of the tree. You have to offer them back but if the owner doesn’t want them you have to dispose of them.

Grandmabatty Thu 01-Feb-24 15:37:15

I've received some excellent advice on here but there are some posters who either haven't read the responses or gave misunderstood the issue. The detritus from this tree is on the pavement, not in my garden. I am happy to dispose of anything which ends up in my garden. It consists of a number of tangled masses of small branches and twigs. It doesn't consist of leaves. The masses block the pavement and gutter and make walking a challenge, and block the drains outside my driveway. In addition it looks unsightly. I am a big fan of a tidy environment. I live in Scotland which has had a number of storms this year already and this happens every time. I have to pay for a permit for garden waste to be uplifted by the council. My neighbour rents the property and does not pay for a garden permit. Of course I want to be neighbourly and I think I am but my original question was what should I do with the debris. I shall clear the pavement yet again and I'll have a word with the neighbour about the safety of the tree. I hope this clears up some points.

Callistemon21 Thu 01-Feb-24 15:44:34

Really the Council should be clearing up anything that is landing in the road to avoid drains being blocked.
They ate also responsible for keeping pavements clear and safe for pedestrians but so many seem strapped for cash now.

The tenant should really keep the garden tidy but when it comes to something like a large tree which sheds regularly, the landlord should be made aware.

Grandmabatty Thu 01-Feb-24 15:50:07

Callistemon absolutely. However they clean the road once every month or so and never clean the pavements. It's very frustrating.

Lollin Thu 01-Feb-24 15:59:50

Sounds a good idea grandmabatty . It takes our council months to fix street light bulbs but they regularly send out the noisy street cleaning and drain clearing lorry before rush hour.

The landlord may be grateful to know how many branches are down as the tree may be in need of a good prune or checkup to make sure it is still a healthy tree.

In the meantime maybe a free to dogs and children sign might encourage reuse. Seriously I do notice many dogs and children with branches/twigs bigger than themselves having fun.

Grandmabatty Thu 01-Feb-24 16:25:43

Lollin my grandsons would probably love the branches to play with!

25Avalon Thu 01-Feb-24 17:15:09

In some council areas in England there is “Fix My Street” that you can report such issues. How soon they come is another matter!

Grandmabatty Sat 03-Feb-24 12:22:53

Well I went out today while it was dry and cleared the footpath of branches and twigs. Then I swept the drains clear too. As I was putting them in my bin, my neighbour went up her path and put her head down and avoided me. Normally she would say hello so I think she was feeling guilty. Not guilty enough to say thanks or help or get her husband and teenage son to help but there you go. It's done. I'm happy that it's cleared and tidy. My bucket is now full.