We had one huge sycamore on the neighbours land that was beautiful however blocked so much light in our garden until about 12pm - and this in a south facing garden.
At mostly my expense I got professional tree surgeons in to lower it and remove a separate tree that had seeded from this big one (I assume). Was a big job, not cheap but I'm glad I paid for it - the neighbour wasn't interested in doing it themselves but we're fine with me paying to have it done...
Before and after photos:
Its now in full leaf, looking great and I get lots of light in the garden again.
So I just checked over the fence, and on closer inspection the two on the right are one, but split from the base, and the left is one separate but just so close to the others. The centre trunk is 4 span hands in width.
These are monster trees now, the biggest by far in the neighbourhood, that whenever gardeners are in the area I know they will knock on my door to ask if I want their services, as they can see if from the road it's that big.
Does anyone know what the legal aspect is? I want to put a greenhouse in that area, but if a branch falls on it or me, what is the situation. Though I'd rather obviously avoid potential incident!!!
If one of these branches fell on my head, I'm sure it'd knock someone out. They are big heavy and high up.
'Our' tree was similar - multi stemmed that was a beast.
From a legal perspective I have no idea - you might want to speak with your insurance company to get some advice from a reimbursement angle in your hypothetical scenario.
I have limited space ... and exactly thats the problem. Why should I not be able to use my own space in my garden, due to a neighbours trees!!! Nothing else grows due to the dry ground, so this would solve it. But I need to get the light in and eliminate dangerous overhanging branches.
This is how I understand things having just completed a lengthily process of having several trees looked at. One belongs to me which is a largish Sycamore which had the crown pruned back by 50% and thinned out by 20%. I have two neighbours that also have trees, a School and a house. The school agreed to have 3 Sycamores pruned back by 50% and thinned out by 20% too. My other neighbour decided he wanted his trees removing all together.
All three properties verbally agreed to co-operate and explore what could be done and how much etc etc.
Throughout the process I learnt an awful lot.
You can't legally work on a tree if the trunk has a diameter of 75mm or more, you can't even prune back branches whether the tree is yours or not without firstly applying for planning permission to do so in advance. Some councils charge for planning permission to undergo tree works and others don't.
If a tree is not on your property, basically belongs to someone else but overhangs your property you can prune back up to your boundary if the trees trunk is less than 75mm in diameter without your neighbours permission BUT you must GIVE BACK those branches you pruned back, back to your neighbour otherwise your steeling!!!!!!
If the tree that's overhanging your property has a trunk diameter of more than 75mm you can still prune it back yourself but first you must apply for permission to do so from the council (You don't need the permission of the neighbour who owns the tree) but of course common sense would be to communicate with your neighbour and owner of the tree first but if they say NO then you can still prune back the tree even though the neighbour doesn't want it pruning back by applying to the council for planning permission first. If granted then you can prune back to the boundary of your neighbours property and you must GIVE BACK those branches you pruned back, back to your neighbour otherwise your steeling!!!!!!
Your neighbour could challenge an application made by you to prune back their tree to their boundary but unless its an endangered species or special in someway they will be unsuccessful.
To have a tree removed altogether nowadays you must be able to prove its either dangerous or causing structural damage to an inhabited buildings structure by having professional surveys done by a recognised tree surgeon and or a structural engineer or both or and prove any benefits gained by its removal such as the erection new properties and buildings or a new business creating enough new jobs to sway the council to allow its removal.
If you love trees (I do) there is one thing no matter what and no matter how much you love trees I believe you must avoid at all costs because the restrictions, problems and costs involved in the future are huge..........................
NEVER ask the council if your tree is TPO'd or has a TPO imposed upon it (Tree Preservation Order) because if it doesn't already it will have by the end of the same day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me I know this to be true as I've seen this happen twice.
Having a TPO'd tree on your property will devalue your property substantially and make it a great deal more difficult for you to sell your property in future. The paperwork and costs involved looking after a TPO'd tree are huge and the penalties for not looking after it are equally huge too.
If it is a big tree in your neighbours garden, a diameter of several feet and your neighbour is uncooperative you could suggest to your neighbour that you will have the tree TPO'd for them. I think you'll find that the tree will be pruned back fairly quickly without too much trouble!
Posts
We had one huge sycamore on the neighbours land that was beautiful however blocked so much light in our garden until about 12pm - and this in a south facing garden.
At mostly my expense I got professional tree surgeons in to lower it and remove a separate tree that had seeded from this big one (I assume). Was a big job, not cheap but I'm glad I paid for it - the neighbour wasn't interested in doing it themselves but we're fine with me paying to have it done...
Before and after photos:
Its now in full leaf, looking great and I get lots of light in the garden again.
So I just checked over the fence, and on closer inspection the two on the right are one, but split from the base, and the left is one separate but just so close to the others. The centre trunk is 4 span hands in width.
These are monster trees now, the biggest by far in the neighbourhood, that whenever gardeners are in the area I know they will knock on my door to ask if I want their services, as they can see if from the road it's that big.
Does anyone know what the legal aspect is? I want to put a greenhouse in that area, but if a branch falls on it or me, what is the situation. Though I'd rather obviously avoid potential incident!!!
If one of these branches fell on my head, I'm sure it'd knock someone out. They are big heavy and high up.
I'm sorry to sound unsympathetic,but if you put a greenhouse there, you're just asking for trouble.
'Our' tree was similar - multi stemmed that was a beast.
From a legal perspective I have no idea - you might want to speak with your insurance company to get some advice from a reimbursement angle in your hypothetical scenario.
I have limited space ... and exactly thats the problem. Why should I not be able to use my own space in my garden, due to a neighbours trees!!! Nothing else grows due to the dry ground, so this would solve it. But I need to get the light in and eliminate dangerous overhanging branches.
Do as you please sunflower, you saw the trees before you bought the house didn't you?
This is on a par with people who buy a house near an airport/ railway/ motorway/ church, then complain about noise.
Your neighbour might love his tree and it might well be a haven for wildlife.
Where is the evidence to suggest the overhanging trees are actually " dangerous"?
Your neighbours tree might have a preservation order on it. You should be able to check that.
Was the tree there before the houses were built?
I suspect they may only be able to work on trimming the tree if it is unhealthy and likely to cause damage.
This all makes me think of people who plant those "cute monkey puzzle trees" in their small front gardens.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
This is how I understand things having just completed a lengthily process of having several trees looked at. One belongs to me which is a largish Sycamore which had the crown pruned back by 50% and thinned out by 20%. I have two neighbours that also have trees, a School and a house. The school agreed to have 3 Sycamores pruned back by 50% and thinned out by 20% too. My other neighbour decided he wanted his trees removing all together.
All three properties verbally agreed to co-operate and explore what could be done and how much etc etc.
Throughout the process I learnt an awful lot.
You can't legally work on a tree if the trunk has a diameter of 75mm or more, you can't even prune back branches whether the tree is yours or not without firstly applying for planning permission to do so in advance. Some councils charge for planning permission to undergo tree works and others don't.
If a tree is not on your property, basically belongs to someone else but overhangs your property you can prune back up to your boundary if the trees trunk is less than 75mm in diameter without your neighbours permission BUT you must GIVE BACK those branches you pruned back, back to your neighbour otherwise your steeling!!!!!!
If the tree that's overhanging your property has a trunk diameter of more than 75mm you can still prune it back yourself but first you must apply for permission to do so from the council (You don't need the permission of the neighbour who owns the tree) but of course common sense would be to communicate with your neighbour and owner of the tree first but if they say NO then you can still prune back the tree even though the neighbour doesn't want it pruning back by applying to the council for planning permission first. If granted then you can prune back to the boundary of your neighbours property and you must GIVE BACK those branches you pruned back, back to your neighbour otherwise your steeling!!!!!!
Your neighbour could challenge an application made by you to prune back their tree to their boundary but unless its an endangered species or special in someway they will be unsuccessful.
To have a tree removed altogether nowadays you must be able to prove its either dangerous or causing structural damage to an inhabited buildings structure by having professional surveys done by a recognised tree surgeon and or a structural engineer or both or and prove any benefits gained by its removal such as the erection new properties and buildings or a new business creating enough new jobs to sway the council to allow its removal.
If you love trees (I do) there is one thing no matter what and no matter how much you love trees I believe you must avoid at all costs because the restrictions, problems and costs involved in the future are huge..........................
NEVER ask the council if your tree is TPO'd or has a TPO imposed upon it (Tree Preservation Order) because if it doesn't already it will have by the end of the same day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me I know this to be true as I've seen this happen twice.
Having a TPO'd tree on your property will devalue your property substantially and make it a great deal more difficult for you to sell your property in future. The paperwork and costs involved looking after a TPO'd tree are huge and the penalties for not looking after it are equally huge too.
If it is a big tree in your neighbours garden, a diameter of several feet and your neighbour is uncooperative you could suggest to your neighbour that you will have the tree TPO'd for them. I think you'll find that the tree will be pruned back fairly quickly without too much trouble!
Thanks everyone most useful insights, and cottage compost for your post!