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A venting rant, forgive me

AnguisFragilisAnguisFragilis Posts: 95
in Wildlife gardening
My garden is a fully wildlife focussed garden, next doors was a decades old traditional cottage garden, beautiful and complimented ours well for wildlife. New neighbours have scorched earthed it. Ripped everything out for hard standing and bloody cherry Laurel. Now in a dispute because they want to fell the mature trees which straddle our boundary. We have one of only a couple of slow worm populations in the county just clinging on locally and the hard standing combined with their new chickens will likely be the end of those. Nothing I can do, just need to vent. Who buys a mature stunning garden just to flatten it and fill it with junk plants all while proudly processing their gardening credentials.

Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Been there, seen that. Heartbreaking.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Sadly, unless the neighbours are breaking the law or some local bylaws, there's little you can do in practice.
    I don't suppose you are in a Conservation Area at all re the trees ?  Is it worth getting in touch with your local council to see if you can get a TPO on some if not all of them?  A somewhat laborious process but may be worth investigating.  Some councils are more eco friendly than others.
    It's surprising how resilient the Slow worms can be - we too have a breeding colony here.  If the neighbouring property only affects one part of your garden as such,you could perhaps make a new area for them away from there ?
    I can well understand your frustration and the above suggestions/ideas are just that - they may not work or be suitable.
    See what others say but Good Luck in the meanwhile  :)  
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    So heart breaking. A story echoed up and down the country.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited 12 January
    As mentioned try the council for TPO's.

    Also contact the Woodland Trust.
    They have local members and groups, also advice on their website. 
    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/campaign-in-your-community/tree-preservation-orders/

    Also
    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/campaign-in-your-community/tell-us-about-a-threat/

    There are some very nice helpful enthusiastic people  there often willing to actually chat to you on the phone .
    They are not only about large woodlands but also smaller more individual stuff too.

    It is hard to give suggestions or advice as we all have different ideas of what is fair or the right thing to do, or how we have to rub along with neighbours, or not! as the case might be.
    But if they are trees worth keeping and they were here before you and the new persons living next door, do stand up to them and for the trees if you can.

    Good Luck.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    If they are doing work which will damage or destroy wildlife habitat it may be possible to stop them.  When you say the trees straddle the boundary, is the trunk partially in your garden or is it just the tree canopy which overhangs your garden? 
    On the basis point though of somebody new moving in an changing the garden to suit their needs/wants, that is their prerogative.  When new people moved in next to us they ripped out much of the planting because they wanted the garden to be more child friendly.  Most of it is now lawn with a couple of climbers on the fence.  The previous owners had lots of spiky plants to try to deter the cats.
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    If it were me I'd probably just bite my tongue. I've learnt the hard way that there's nothing worse for your mental health and wellbeing then falling out with neighbours. 

    However, I do second the TPO suggestion having successfully implemented half a dozen myself over the past couple of years. Just make sure you read the qualifying criteria (and reference this is your application!) and be persistent with the tree officer as they're incredibly stretched. Applications are sorted by urgency and a key one is words to the effect of 'if you believe a tree is in imminent danger of being felled or damaged' ...which it sounds like yours are. Also, don't worry about species, our officer TPO'd an overgrown stand of about 12 leylandii adjacent to my garden and a few very small birch for good measure.


  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    My thoughts are that if the trees are a part of the boundary structure (an older overgrown hedge perhaps) and if the boundary benefits from shared ownership / responsibility (Have a look at your title register) then each property that shares that boundary needs the permission of all those property holders to undergo work / removal.

    If it's a shared boundary, then both parties have to agree to the felling of that boundary structure.  If one says no then the trees can't be felled, both have to agree.

    Is it your boundary, there's or shared?
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    So sorry for you @AnguisFragilis.  Good advice above re tree conservation. 
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    I would check your deeds to see who owns the boundary fence in case your problem with the neighbour escalates.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    You have my sympathy as well. I had the same sort of experience when I moved. I went back to visit my old neighbour who showed me over the fence what the new house owners had done in my old garden. Heartbreaking but it is now their patch so they can do what they like. Boundaries and trees can be a big bone of contention though. I would definitely check with the council and your title deeds re who owns which boundary etc.
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