Problem tree.

It isn't a problem TREE its a problem neighbour ,go to the council about him as he's bullying others to get his way.Its a tree for heavens sake ,they shed leaves .

Did the complaining man phone the council himself? They would have told him that you cannot, by law, cut down an oak tree; all oak trees ( native oaks, not Spanish oaks), are automatically protected. Cutting it down would lead to a hefty fine. The council will in certain circumstances, allow some pruning. This is only usually if some limbs have become dangerous.

Why not suggest leaving the tree and getting a gardener in during autumn to help with the leaves.... Cheaper and the tree gets to remain!

I certainly don't think OP should pay towards having this tree removed , especially as it does not bother her. I would like to say, however, it is all very well to admire trees when they are not shading your garden and shedding leaves and twigs all over it. Behind my house is a private road with huge trees, better suited to a forest than a suburban street. The people who live there can gaze admiringly across the street at their trees, whilst me and my neighbours dwell in the shade sweeping up the leaves.

Definitely get a Tree Preservation Order on that Oak tree! Shouldn't be a problem as local authorities are keen to preserve Oaks, especially well established ones that have been there a long time.

Let others do what they chose to do. I would NOT contribute in any way. Who will get the value of the wood for log burning etc?

Get the TPO applied for as soon as possible and suggest he moves elsewhere.

I side with all those who want to preserve this lovely old tree. All trees contribute to the oxygen we breathe, and they also suck up carbon dioxide. If we cut down all the trees and bushes we don't like our atmosphere would be terrible.
We should all be tree huggers.

"Woodman, woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough.
In life it has protected me
And I'll protect it now."

Mollyplop. Actually I just had to speak to you because I love your name! How did you think of something so brilliant?

Glad you said what your husband has to say from a Professional point of view. Supports what my "tree feller"/arborist told me.

If this happened to me I would set up a protest to keep the tree. So long as it is safe I can see no reason to kill it. It sounds like execrable vandalism of the worst kind.

starbird. I would still get the TPO. The tree grows slowly anyway and if it has a TPO and needs some work, you may be entitled to a grant. I think this is the safest route with a tree of unknown provenance. This current argument highlights why.

Yup, it's "Hear Hear" as in "listen"

grandtanteJE65. Hear! Hear! or is it "Here! Here!" ?

My sentiments entirely!!

Oldwoman70. Same here. When I moved here, the previous occupant warned me that the people whose house backs onto the top end of my garden - which gets beautiful evening sun - had extended their house thus shrunk their garden and now wanted the bit at the end of mine. The man began some nasty bullying telling me it had "been agreed" but of course the law was on my side. However they throw flinty bones and chocolate over the fence to my dogs. I have put up a weatherproof "wildlife" camera.
The neighbours along side , i.e. next door also want a slice of my garden because it is sunny. They are bullying me and throwing things over and have been spreading slanderous lies about me. Luckily I was here first and people know me and quickly saw that they are bullying a vulnerable old and disabled widow who lives alone.

This is the age of the bully unfortunately. Those ave. age 40s are the worst imho. They think it is fine to lie and bully.

Sadly my life in the last few years has been a list of evil people doing me a lot of harm and I have become very depressed. It's a tough life.

My husband works works a council on the arborist section. He said it needs to be checked that there isn't a tree preservation order on the tree, before anything is done to the tree. Oak trees are a protected species. If it's a big tree it will have a community asset value on it. Hope that helps.

Well, if the leaves fall into his garden, all he needs to do is rake them into a heap, cover it with plastic and in a year or so he will have beautiful potting soil.

You can be sued for damages or theft if you cut down a tree that belongs to someone else, so don't contribute to what is a criminal act.

kircubbin2000. Please forgive me if this has been said - will catch up on messages when I can...

You need to check before cutting down a beautiful established tree! It may have been listed as a local amenity!

My "tree feller" - actually very highly qualified arborist - gave me all this advice and more not so long ago.

I am appalled that one bully can make someone cut down a beautiful oak tree that apparently is not dangerous! As for the leaves! What a feeble excuse! He should be glad of the potting compost! My garden is covered in leaves from an oak plus many others mainly beech every year. Do I complain? No! I give thanks for the glorious trees!

What an aaaa - I won't offend GNet with how I feel about this selfish man!

Stand up to him! Do not be bullied! Stop the killing of the tree! It will live many years after he has gone! It is worth more than his stupid moaning!

PLEASE do not cut it down!

I think you are quite right to go and have a chat with your neighbour and try and persuade her not to get involved, stand together, she doesn't want to be part of a prosecution and the tree is not a problem to her. I would phone the Council and find out the position just so you know if you have to have any conversation with him about it. Having done that stay well out of it.

Providing that the roots are not impinging on any drains or building foundations then the tree should be left alone; why would anyone want to destroy a tree simply because the leaves pose a problem?! Like someone already said, "get a rake or better still a leaf vac" !

Do not be bullied by this mindless individual, he has the problem, not you and the other lady. And I agree with other comments regarding preservation orders!

Perhaps the tree could be reduced in size/spread by a good tree surgeon, they could reduce any long branches hanging over the neighbour’s garden.

I would hesitate to get a TPO because oak trees can get very large and every time you want to cut a branch back you have to get permission.

He shouldn't have bought the house if he didn't like the tree!! How selfish! Don't cut down a beautiful tree because of his bullying. It was likely there a long time before him.

Step away and let him get on with it. If it doesn't bother you don't be party to it.

Ah just as I thought. Bullying that poor woman into paying for it. Both you and her should stick together, and avoid him. Let him sort it out, I wouldn't waste my time researching anything either.

CanOnlyTry. Yes, oaks can support 350 different species. Taken from The Woodland Trust:

Many people seem to believe that when you take away a species’ home they will simply find somewhere new to live. But most wildlife require corridors (such as hedgerows or green space) to reach and find new areas where they can survive. Increasingly, as we cut down more trees, woodland and other habitats, wildlife simply has nowhere else to go, resulting in the mass declines in their numbers that we’re seeing today.

The TPO process is an interesting one which can have surprising results.

Nearby land with derelict houses was going under auction. Several developers were making preliminary enquiries to the council to see what they might be able to build there and because of these, the tree preservation officer came to have a look at the site.

There was a mixture of trees from old mixed species (no oaks), established and younger fruit trees and several immature ornamentals. It was the latter which he put preservation orders on because of their potential to grow into "cracking beautiful trees" - his words. One - a copper beech which faces the public highway - was only a few years old. I remember when it was planted. Now ten years old it is indeed a beautiful tree.

Rosina... very true!.. we live by the sea ...have done all my life.....but the amount of people who move here then complain about the noise of the seagulls!... I love it..it reminds me of how lucky I am. ?

I get the feeling that despite everyone's eloquent pleas, the tree is doomed. OP really doesn't seem particularly bothered about its fate. Just doesn't want to spend any money on it.

Apologies, OP, if I've completely misjudged you.