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Gardening

Continuing saga of the neighbour and my conifer…..

(47 Posts)
Furret Mon 28-Apr-25 13:45:29

Firstly, thanks to those who offered suggestions on resolving this issue. I invited my neighbour round for a coffee and we agreed to share the cost of felling the tree in the autumn when the nesting season is over.

THAT WAS UNTIL I went out into the garden just now and spotted that a pretty little conifer at the very bottom of our garden has been lopped back - badly. I doubt there was more that a few tiny branches on her side of the fence and she was welcome to cut these. But it appears she’s had her ladder up against my fence and leaned right over with her giant extendable loppers and massacred one side and cut off the top 12”. .

It had already reached its maximum height of 8’.

Aldom Mon 28-Apr-25 14:06:52

Oh dear!!!! shock

Astitchintime Mon 28-Apr-25 14:10:08

Hmmm……….and now the large conifer would be going nowhere if it were in my garden! Some folk are just a**holes!

TwiceAsNice Mon 28-Apr-25 15:03:25

I would be saying all bets are off. If she’s such a bitch why do anything for her . I’d be livid!

loopyloo Mon 28-Apr-25 15:12:45

I would be paying for a visit to my solicitor, to send her a letter warning her that any further damage would be reported to the police.
Take photos.

Aldom Mon 28-Apr-25 15:21:15

Be careful regarding involving solicitors. If you come to sell you have to declare any disputes with neighbours. I'd keep it informal if it were me.

BlueBelle Mon 28-Apr-25 15:25:02

Oh is it worth it just enjoy the rest of your garden, life’s just too short to be so upset over a few branches

loopyloo Mon 28-Apr-25 15:27:20

Yes that's true.
Good point.

GrannyIvy Mon 28-Apr-25 16:03:32

Oh dear🙈

OldFrill Mon 28-Apr-25 16:09:42

Remember You are the Bigger person, You have the Bigger trees 😃

Fairislecable Mon 28-Apr-25 16:14:37

It is your garden and she has taken advantage of your kindness in discussing the large conifer.

In lopping the small conifer she has shown her true colours, point out that the situation has changed and you no longer wish to remove the large one either.

It’s your garden do not feel pressured by someone else to redesign it .

Iam64 Mon 28-Apr-25 16:21:28

Your neighbour has overstepped things here. She hasn’t pruned over hanging branches she’s damaged your tree which was not over hanging. Shocking anti social behaviour
I don’t expect you’ll be drinking coffee together any time soon
Sadly, I think it’s a civil nor criminal matter. The law advises we
Inform a neighbour if we plan to lop overhanging branches -she has not even had the courtesy to mention it. What an unpleasant thing todo. I wonder if you will ignore her now

Parsley3 Mon 28-Apr-25 16:51:53

Your neighbour is well out of order there. Be civil but withdraw any goodwill that you have left after this.

silverlining48 Mon 28-Apr-25 17:12:27

Our newish neighbours are doing the same. Didn’t ask, I happened to spot the ladder over our fence.

They have ripped out a well established hedge which provided us with privacy but left a mess our side. . We are now overlooked by the houses in the road adjacent and their new extension is huge, much larger than they said it was supposed to be and is right now the boundary with a cigarette paper width between us and them. It takes out light from 3 of our rooms…

She also wants us to dig up our pretty wigelia in the front garden ( theirs is now concreted over) which isn’t doing any harm, isn’t big but noticed she has still sliced off the side of it…

I don’t want a row and am sure she has issues, but what do we say if they ask what we think about what they have done? I can’t say great because it’s affecting us and not in a good way.

There may be trouble ahead. 🎵

Furret Mon 28-Apr-25 17:17:35

Thank you for the support. It helps. I have had it out with her just a few minutes ago and I was the soul of restraint and diplomacy (though through gritted teeth),

I pointed out that her apple tree hangs into my garden but I appreciate the lovely blossoms, ditto her mock orange, her horse chestnut and a couple of others. I asked how she would feel if I cut off their overhang?

And I’ve thrown the ball back into her court re felling the big conifer. I’ve given her the number of my tree surgeon, one we’ve used several times before, and told her to negotiate with him re price (in the autumn). It’s all up to her now.

I’m off to crack open a bottle of red falling-down juice and settle down to Monday Quiz Night on the TV.,

Furret Mon 28-Apr-25 17:20:36

silverlining48

Our newish neighbours are doing the same. Didn’t ask, I happened to spot the ladder over our fence.

They have ripped out a well established hedge which provided us with privacy but left a mess our side. . We are now overlooked by the houses in the road adjacent and their new extension is huge, much larger than they said it was supposed to be and is right now the boundary with a cigarette paper width between us and them. It takes out light from 3 of our rooms…

She also wants us to dig up our pretty wigelia in the front garden ( theirs is now concreted over) which isn’t doing any harm, isn’t big but noticed she has still sliced off the side of it…

I don’t want a row and am sure she has issues, but what do we say if they ask what we think about what they have done? I can’t say great because it’s affecting us and not in a good way.

There may be trouble ahead. 🎵

Oh my! What a horrid neighbour. Please don’t cut down your wigelia. Perhaps reinstate the hedge on your side with Leylandii🫤😬🤭

silverlining48 Mon 28-Apr-25 17:38:35

Reinstating the hedge with leylandii Woukd certainly be a quick fix [ grin]

Iam64 Mon 28-Apr-25 17:48:29

silverlining48

Reinstating the hedge with leylandii Woukd certainly be a quick fix [ grin]

Furret now that would be vengeance 🤣

Grammaretto Mon 28-Apr-25 18:07:26

I don't want neighbours! 😒

keepingquiet Mon 28-Apr-25 18:16:03

Maybe you should install a camera? Tell her that you are doing it because someone has been cutting back your plants. This may put her off doing it again.

I remember years ago my mum saying that she had seen her neighbour taking cuttings from her rose bush in the middle of the night but we never knew if it was true or not- seems some people do these things.

People are weird.

Furret Mon 28-Apr-25 21:14:32

Iam64

silverlining48

Reinstating the hedge with leylandii Woukd certainly be a quick fix [ grin]

Furret now that would be vengeance 🤣

YES!

Allsorts Mon 28-Apr-25 21:28:58

Leylandi should be banned as hedging in a garden.
I don't agree with a lot if your comments. Overhanging and large trees and hedging ruin neighbours enjoyment of their homes.

Allira Mon 28-Apr-25 22:24:25

I hope no birds were nesting in there, that would be even more upsetting.

🤬

Allira Mon 28-Apr-25 22:27:37

Allsorts

Leylandi should be banned as hedging in a garden.
I don't agree with a lot if your comments. Overhanging and large trees and hedging ruin neighbours enjoyment of their homes.

But they had both agreed to have it felled in the autumn after the birds had finished nesting.
Then the neighbour went ahead with her loppers and cut down parts of the tree that were not overhanging her garden.

Teazel2 Mon 28-Apr-25 22:28:36

silverlining48

Our newish neighbours are doing the same. Didn’t ask, I happened to spot the ladder over our fence.

They have ripped out a well established hedge which provided us with privacy but left a mess our side. . We are now overlooked by the houses in the road adjacent and their new extension is huge, much larger than they said it was supposed to be and is right now the boundary with a cigarette paper width between us and them. It takes out light from 3 of our rooms…

She also wants us to dig up our pretty wigelia in the front garden ( theirs is now concreted over) which isn’t doing any harm, isn’t big but noticed she has still sliced off the side of it…

I don’t want a row and am sure she has issues, but what do we say if they ask what we think about what they have done? I can’t say great because it’s affecting us and not in a good way.

There may be trouble ahead. 🎵

I would be 😤😡