Sorry, OP just reread your first post and see you have already written them letters. I would send them another detailing what you intend to do to make the hedge safer on your side. Back it up with what your gardener has said.
Such a huge, unstable hedge with the potential to topple on top of someone causing serious injury or worse should be a cause of concern for them.
Difficult when we can't see the site. However, I'd be inclined to cut it back to the existing, rather dodgy boundary, as others have said, and put a fence of your own in. That would give you a defined boundary of your own, and what you then do with anything coming over to your side is down to you - they can't complain about you cutting anything back to your new boundary. The bits that are actually planted on your side are your concern alone, to maintain, or remove, as you see fit, but at least it would be easier to cut back, and the fence would be your responsibility too, which can also be easier in future. I appreciate that it may not be easy for you to do that though, but it's creating a problem for you, and the neighbours don't seem to care, despite your efforts to come to a reasonable solution. Joint boundaries of any kind often result in serious disputes, so I can understand that you don't want to create a situation that escalates. Having your own 'line' removes some of that aggro, even if it means you lose a sliver of your garden.
If there's more than a couple of the same plant together, that's how a 'hedge' is usually defined, but it can be a tricky area if you start getting councils involved etc, so it might be better to avoid that if possible. Good luck with it though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Ilovecats Speaking from experience cutting back may also be difficult. If you decided to go from 10ft to say 6ft, it will be tangly and necessary to check and recheck that the height is even. Some parts may need secateurs others loppers. So changing tools as you go, secateurs on a ladder at that height don't put them in your pocket. Because it is wavy nothing to lean or hold onto an element of danger.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
As I have said above, I would expect cutting the hedge on your side to weaken the structure further, but if you might wish for the hedge to come down on your side this winter, in the winds, then that might be one solution (as long as it's not going to hit any structure or building). I don't imagine that the situation with the neighbours will improve any, but at least the worry is out of the way and the hedge is caput.
In my post above I mentioned that my whole eight ft ivy hedge blew down in a storm. It acted like a sail. The cost of having the whole thing removed - with the roots and the old fence - was significant. The process was long and filthy.
If your hedge does come down and if the boundary is fully shared in responsibility, I wonder how the payment side might work for ivy removal and fence etc replacement. I can imagine it all getting rather painful.
I would advise you to take lots of photos now, from all angles, so at least you have a good record of evidence, if anything gets sticky in future.
Looking ahead, if they don't want to pay - one solution is to offer to pay for it all, including a new boundary structure, if it's an option. If next door agrees, it's then more likely that you can choose what you want and can do what you want with it. Just a thought.
Hi Fire. That’s a good point you make. I’ve been carefully keeping a record of my communication with the neighbour, but so far I haven’t taken any photos.
I’ll make sure I take lots of photos this week, from all angles, so we have good evidence of the existing structure and it’s 10ft height.
I spoke to the council today - I had a chat with a duty planning officer. They also now have a record of the situation, and my attempts to communicate with neighbour. I’m covering my back!
I totally agree that cutting back our side of the hedge, right back to the border line, will weaken the structure. A tall thin 10ft high structure is likely to be weaker than a thick hedge type structure.
Having said that, if it later falls, which the gardener has predicted, we will have at least removed a lot of the weight in advance.
Obviously my preferred route would be to remove the full hedge, both sides, in one go, with our neighbours on board. That makes far more sense to me - even if it’s costly.
By the way, the hedge/boundary is definitely fully shared. I’ve checked with the Land Registry, who were very helpful. They studied the paperwork and Title Plans, for both sides. So, yes, splitting the shared costs could get painful and messy! My next forum discussion topic might be called: ‘Help - mediators required’ .
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Such a huge, unstable hedge with the potential to topple on top of someone causing serious injury or worse should be a cause of concern for them.
I appreciate that it may not be easy for you to do that though, but it's creating a problem for you, and the neighbours don't seem to care, despite your efforts to come to a reasonable solution. Joint boundaries of any kind often result in serious disputes, so I can understand that you don't want to create a situation that escalates. Having your own 'line' removes some of that aggro, even if it means you lose a sliver of your garden.
If there's more than a couple of the same plant together, that's how a 'hedge' is usually defined, but it can be a tricky area if you start getting councils involved etc, so it might be better to avoid that if possible.
Good luck with it though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I’ll make sure I take lots of photos this week, from all angles, so we have good evidence of the existing structure and it’s 10ft height.
I totally agree that cutting back our side of the hedge, right back to the border line, will weaken the structure. A tall thin 10ft high structure is likely to be weaker than a thick hedge type structure.
By the way, the hedge/boundary is definitely fully shared. I’ve checked with the Land Registry, who were very helpful. They studied the paperwork and Title Plans, for both sides. So, yes, splitting the shared costs could get painful and messy! My next forum discussion topic might be called: ‘Help - mediators required’