Hedge problems

[rosyb]

Hi,

I've just ordered my raised beds and have spent hours planning out what veg I can fit into my precious limited space (and I mean hours!!!). But it keeps bugging me that if only my neighbours trimmed/cut down/burnt their 4m high leylandii hedge I would have at least double the space to grow veggies, or my OH would have space to sit in the sun (I can't see that happening somehow...). I've been reading on the web that a bill was bought through in 2003 saying that hedges should be kept at 2m otherwise they can be considered anti-social and come under the asbo legslation (or something like that).

Has any one had any experience with broaching hedging issues with their neighbours? I don't know whether to send a letter or pop round as an opening gambit, we have only recently moved in and haven't met them as they live over the back fence.

I would really love some more space but don't want to make mortal enemys in the process!

Any advice (or things not to do!) would be brillaint.

Rosy

[sewer rat]

Hi Rosyb
The act to which you are referring is the Anti Social Behavior Act 2003. The section that deals specifically with high hedges is chapter 38, part 8, and basically says that a high hedge should not prevent any householder from enjoying or making full use of their own property.
If you google under Anti social hedges ( ) nyou'll find the section that referss to this problem - and unusually for a legal bill, it is fairly simple to follow. Good luck.

[Two_Sheds]

Unfortunately, we have no "right" to light. I'd def try and get your neighbours onside - even if you got an ASBO, got the hedges lowered, you'd have a perpetual war with your neighbours. People just don't like being told what to do!
I do sympathise - what's best? Perhaps being really friendly, get them round, approach the issue of the garden, how you'd like to grow veggies, and how much you'd like to give them lots of your free veggies...good luck

[Alice]

Hello Rosyb, before starting to resort to the law it might be good to talk to your neighbours. The law might say one thing, but it can be very costly for you to enforce it. Your neighbours might be quite unaware that their hedge causes you a problem. Try talking to them and letting them know what the problem is. The next point is that having a hedge that height reduced would cost money. If it's not bothering your neighbours they might not want to spend any. They might be amenable if you offered to pay something towards the cost. If that doesn't work, then you're down to a visit to your Solicitor- and they know how to charge ! I hope it all works out for you.

[rustylady]

Pop round, introduce yourselves as new neighbours, ask their advice on various aspects of the area (OK - CREEP). Then invite them round to yours for a coffee. Whilst at your place take them into the garden and say how much nicer it would be if the trees were not quite so high. They probably are so self-centred that they really don't realise the impact their boundary has on the neighbours.

[shirlthegirl43]

Bear in mind that they may not have been friends with the people who owned your house before you which would mean they maybe don't realise that their hedge casts a shadow on your garden. If it doesn't bother their light then it may not have occured to them that it is a problem to other people.

Good luck.

[madderbat]

Hi rosyb
I'm with the girls on this one, I don't think you can beat human contact and talking. It really depends on your view of humanity. I do believe that people are basically good, and I rarely come across too many problems.

We had a 'difficult' family on our street a couple of years ago, about 8 kids in a 2 bed terrace, Mum and Dad very defensive and expecting the world to fight them.
Somehow we had some broken glass and eggs land in our garden, so I spoke to the eldest young tacker, and asked if he could find out for me where they had come from, as I really didn't like it, it was quite dangerous and I was sure he could help me solve the problem. It worked. We never had any more rubbish in our yard.
I'd already spoken to his mother and expressed my admiration at her raising such a numerous family - one was enough for me! They moved last year, but she still smiles and speaks when we see each other.

There are gentle ways of doing things. Go round and introduce yourself and have a chat.
Good luck,

[sewer rat]

Rosyb
I would have to agree with all the other grapes - first method would be talking to your neighbours about your concerns - I had my legal head on earlier - that what happens when you spend 13 years administering her Majesty's laws - old habits die hard !

[snohare]

Must say I concur with the softly softly approach, particularly if you broach the subject while they are standing in the shade of the trees they are more likely to be unable to appreciate the problem !
There is another good reason to keep them cut back to a smaller size though. Like many coniferous trees, Leylandii and other cypresses are river bottom trees, and have shallow root balls. Once they get above a certain height, they can be very prone to windthrow, particularly in dry soils or after their roots have been affected by drought. It is quite common up in my neck of the woods to see larger specimens that have been planted as windbreaks toppled over into the garden they are supposed to be protecting...not the whole hedge over at a time, but funnily enough the whole thing then tends to disappear. Farmers may not be foresters, but they don't need a second telling !

[SarzWix]

I would like to point out that Leylandii aren't always bad guys - we have them around 20ft high at the back of our garden; they totally obsure our house from the one backing onto us and are full of birds 12 months of the year. We also have them along the side of the house - the man next door asked us to reduce the height of them to allow light into his greenhouse - we had 5ft taken off last year and will have another 5 - 10ft taken off this year. We haven't asked him to pay towards this work - they're not his trees! However if anyone tried to make us remove the trees, or cut down the rear ones, I would have to move house - I can't bear the idea of someone being able to look into my house!
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, don't rush to wish away what might be providing valuable privacy. And if you do decide that the trees are a nuisance, just get into a casual conversation over the garden fence and mention it - it doesn't need to be a huge issue unless it's made into one...

[Nicos]

Just heard today that our next door but one neighbour has decided to have their eucalyptus tree chopped down.
For the past year their tree has swayed about in the wind making it very frustrating to get Sky TV ( for which we pay £60 per month)
It was planted about 15 years ago and is huge.
It's been swaying like crazy over the past few months and been touching our next door neighbours bedroom window!
Several polite conversations later ( and asking them to check on their insurance cover!)...they have decided to remove it at a cost of about £400.
We were just about to give up on them and relocate our satellite dish.
It's a lovely tree and will be missed as far as it's beauty is concerned- but it just shows that with a bit of time - people will understand your concerns !
( well except the cow who lives behind us who yells abuse thinking we are the parents of the next door neighbours kids!!!) ...white van should be here one day!!!

[serenity]

We had the exact same problem in our last house. The trees were not as big as the ones next to you, probably about 4 meters high. Our neighbours were very reserved, didn't talk to anyone in the street and kept themselves very much to themselves. It took OH 2 years to pluck up the courage to go round and broach the subject, when he did he ended up offering to do it himself And suprise suprise they bit his hand off My dad came round to help and between them they managed to take them down by about half.