Value of branches?

[Whisker]

Hello,

My next-door neighbour has been cutting my trees and taking the branches for his wood-burner. One time I saw him removing overhanging branches and asked him to put them back over my fence, which he didn't like, so now if course he does it when I'm not there and has also entered my garden on several occasions.

I understand that technically this is theft and that I am entitled to claim recompense for the loss, but how do you value branches? I'm guessing that some wood is more expensive than others, so is it only what would be considered as useable? The branches are up to 8 inches diameter and 30-odd ft in length.

What about the damage to the trees? Ten have had branches clumsily cut back to the trunk in several attempts with a pruning saw, so obviously they have been completely spoilt, as has that whole area of the garden.

Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated as I'm considering all options before deciding what action to take.

Many thanks in advance.

[Ty Korrigan]

On 08/01/2025 at 20:16, Whisker said:

 

A friendly chinwag would not be an option. We've never been on speaking terms - simply because we'd never actually spoken until the overhanging branches episode last year, when he was aggressive and abusive. In the 17 years since he moved in there have been untold incidents which I have ignored as pathetic attempts to provoke a reaction from me and I would've let this go too, thought he'd had his fun, but no, he was out there at 9 o/c the other evening sawing away at my ash tree in the dark. So I reckon it's only a matter of time before the prospect of 60 beech trees-worth of firewood becomes a little too tempting...
 

Mentally ill perhaps?

[JonnoR]

Find out what type of saw he uses, buy the same one, then cut the biggest overhanging tree on to his house.  Claim ignorance.

[Whisker]

On 11/01/2025 at 08:57, Sviatoslav Tulin said:

You just lucky he pruned them if I was there I just killed all of those before they even grow up .

 

🤔 So I should obliterate everything in my garden before he does? Sounds extreme but I can see it working 😂

[Whisker]

On 11/01/2025 at 19:42, Ty Korrigan said:

Mentally ill perhaps?

 

It would explain a lot but I think it's unlikely as the whole family are the same ☹️

[Whisker]

On 12/01/2025 at 10:27, JonnoR said:

Find out what type of saw he uses, buy the same one, then cut the biggest overhanging tree on to his house.  Claim ignorance.

 

This has crossed my mind...

 

I was thinking... Eucalyptus... Cut a little each day so he doesn't notice... A gentle breeze (nudge)... Hey presto! House becomes flat 🤣

[GarethM]

Think you're both equally being arsey.

 

Grow up, cut your overhanging stuff back and speak to him like an adult, whilst I draw the line at trespass your doing the same with the trees.

 

If you were my neighbour you would be having the overhanging limbs cut back and fired back with the woodchipper.

[Muddy42]

Talk to your neighbour, walk along the boundary and agree which branches legally he can cut. As long as you agree on the boundary, this should be factual because its anything overhanging that boundary.  Then if you want to control the process and make neater cuts, make this clear and ask his permission to do the work on his side.  Find out what is making him tic (lack of sunlight, leaves, the need for firewood etc.)  Maybe it would look better to remove some trees entirely and leave others rather that create a 30 ft hedge.

 

There is no point worrying about the past, the branches have zero value and the only people that win from a legal approach are the lawyers..  

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

In my understanding everything what you planted must be maintained by you ,nothing must cross the boundary, absolutely nothing plus nothing should cause danger to other people property it is simple .

[Whisker]

FYI - the beech hedge is growing in a crescent shape across my garden. The tree at the end is five feet away from the boundary. He's cut all the ones on his side up to eight feet into my garden which were not even overhanging. He cannot claim lack of sunlight - they're 200ft up the garden. The photo is taken from the back of my garden with his on the right.

[Whisker]

On 13/01/2025 at 14:24, Muddy42 said:

Talk to your neighbour

 

We know how that one turned out... A mouthful of abuse, branches being thrown at us, and then he cut down even more......