Problem tree.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

My sentiments entirely!!

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

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.

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.

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."

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

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 .

Rather sadly, but very fortunately, a HUGE oak tree came down across the playground at the country park where we have walked our dogs for many years. The fortunate bit was that no child was killed as it has smashed to pieces the wooden climbing frame, taken out the fence and the area is roped off now as unsafe. It came down a couple of days ago in the high winds. It could've been a tragedy.

However, if the oak tree in question on this thread is healthy and not a risk to life, it's just a case of the neighbour fed up with raking up leaves, then I would have nothing to do with the situation and most certainly do not contribute. If the tree has an TPO, then by paying for the destruction of it, you could be prosecuted. Explain this to your neighbour who has been intimidated it seems into paying for it.

If the tree is dangerous, that's a whole other issue. We had to have a beautiful walnut tree taken down years ago as it was dangerous. Sometimes this has to be done but not if the tree is healthy for sure.

Trees do need to be inspected occasionally. A great beech tree came down in our garden in a storm. Luckily it happened at night and didn't damage much apart from a neighbours fence and shed
Tree surgeons came to tidy it up and told us it was diseased. The bark told them what it was but it had been clad in ivy so no-one had noticed.

As far as I know, the universal rule of thumb is that only the person who owns the land where the tree grows has the right to cut it down. Anything short of that can have legal repercussions.

Perhaps a friendly compromise among neighbors would solve the problem......I like Tangerine's idea. You could take turns raking up leaves or better still, participate as a group in a friendly 'raking' day.....Offer refreshments after. Get grand kids involved. Who knows, it could be fun!

(Previously Nelliemoser. )

I would doubt that anyone could be held responsible for tree leaves. After all they blow every where. Think of all the leaf mould you could get for the compost.