Overhanging trees

[Paul in the woods]

I'm looking to buy a house that has a few acres of mature woodland attached, that's the good news.

 

However, along one side of the property there are several mature trees, beech and ash, that are part of an old hedgebank at the edge of the wood. At a rough calculation they are about 25m tall and are leaning over the road. They also lean over an electricity and telephone line and, most importantly, a neighbouring house.

 

The road is a very quite country land and the cables only go to the house I'm looking at so less of an issue.

 

I think I have several options that I'd like some advice with choosing which way to go.

 

1) Do as little as possible. However, if a tree falls and causes damage I assume I would be liable as the land owner? Would an insurance company be happy to pay out or would they expect roadside trees to be professional inspected? If so who by and how often?

 

2) Fell the trees. I do like trees and plant a fair few but I'm also realistic and the trees would make excellent firewood. The problem I have is if all the offending trees were felled I'd probably need a felling license based on my initial calcs and that would be a pain. One possible option would be to pollard to under the cable and fell at a later date.

 

3) Trim the trees and actively manage them. Although with electric cables running through I can't see this being an easy thing to do so I'd rather get the work done all at once.

 

4) I gather the power company will trim some of the trees. However, seeing some of their work they have only left a 5cm or so gap between the tree and the cable. Does anyone know if I can discuss the issue with the power company and will they be happy to trim the trees back further?

 

5) Any option I've missed?

 

Thanks!

[Paul in the woods]

The western distribution contractor guys that did our trees, said they had to leave 3 clear meters around the power lines. Apparently they survey the lines every five years.

 

We've seen them out surveying, often buzzing the tree tops in a helicopter.

 

Are your power lines just passing over your land? I'm wondering, the line I'm concerned about just supplies a single house and I'm sure touches trees. It's a thick looking cable so appears to be insulated. Anyone know if that's likely to be the case and if they would still clear 3m around it?

[Chopper Edoff]

The power lines cross clear fields to my boundary where there is a step down to 240v transformer on a pole. From the transormer there is a twisted pair of 240v 100amp cables that run on several more poles to the house through my woodland - it was this stretch that the contractor guys trimmed back. A surveyor rolled up one day, explained the situation, said it was free and that they left the wood behind - sorted!

I'd been planning on doing it myself as there were some large ash trees arcing over the lines and I was just waiting for a power cut on a windy night!

 

I think the power company is happy to do any type of preventative work because it is much cheaper than having to fix a failure. I'm guessing that the power company is responsible for the lines up to the customers meter.

Give 'em a ring, it's not often you can get stuff done for free nowadays

[Paul in the woods]

Thank you, that does sound promising. We'll ring them on Monday and see if we can sort something out.

[woodyguy]

As you say though, problematic if you don't own the house but ok if you own the trees.