Trees

Trees help you breath, the more trees the healthier the planet.

I suppose it would cut down on the gardening.
There are plenty of trees around here.

I was shocked to hear on Secret Garden this evening that only 5% of trees remained in Scotland in the last century, although i think there has been a reforestation programme in recent years.

Allira

If we didn't keep on top of the seedlings from trees around here sprouting up all over our garden, we'd be living in a forest.

Yes, likewise, but remember

Nothing puts you back together more than a walk in woods with no noise except birds and trees.
Our world would collapse without trees.

So you’d be benefiting from your forest even if you can’t see the wood for the trees.

Abcdefg

The giant sycamore near us shed seeds over dozens of gardens, if u don't keep on top of them you get saplings, then small trees, they grow really quickly and have incredibly long tap roots

If we didn't keep on top of the seedlings from trees around here sprouting up all over our garden, we'd be living in a forest.

The giant sycamore near us shed seeds over dozens of gardens, if u don't keep on top of them you get saplings, then small trees, they grow really quickly and have incredibly long tap roots

Found it!
www.pomonafruits.co.uk/garden-accessories/root-control

I think that people often don't consider what type of tree to plant, there are plenty of small species or varieties that are more compact. Also people dont bother to pull out self seeded sycamores and the like, they're not particularly attractive trees and do get huge fairly quickly.
Also you can get special tree planting bags for smaller gardens. I planted three silver birches in them and it has definitely limited their height, though they do still look lovely. I've not been able to find them online so I'm sorry that I can't post a link.

So many trees, no excuse not to find one suitable for location. I have 45 yrs old cherry tree but with 'footprint' of few square feet as that is the variety, tall and thin. Any good book on trees will tell you their maximum height even lifespan. An oak tree might last 800 yrs but a cherry tree maybe 40 yrs.

4allweknow

I live on the edge of a woodland park hence surrounded by woodland. Various oaks, pine, birch, sycamore all over. What gets to me is the volume of leaves and pine needles I have to keep clearing away.
Front garden were planted with rowan and cherry but quite widespread about every 4th/5th house.

Rosie51 Whilst in a conservation area does the offending cherry tree
have a conservation order on it. Worth checking as trees have different protection to that of property/locations.

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately it's a blanket conservation order on properties and trees and we're forbidden to prune any branch over 3 inches in diameter. Some years ago neighbours only got permission to fell a conifer growing right outside their window because it caused huge cracks in the party wall. It took their insurers threatening the council before they finally agreed.
This cherry is beginning to die back in places and the trunk is splitting so my other fear is if it falls in a high wind. As it is it drops bits of branches, luckily nothing big enough (so far) to injure a person, but enough to crush planting.

Whitewavemark2

Nothing puts me back together more than a walk in woods with no noise except birds and trees.

Our world would collapse without trees.

In absolute agreement.

Nothing puts me back together more than a walk in woods with no noise except birds and trees.

Our world would collapse without trees.

We like trees and have an espaliered plum tree in our garden and well trimmed to 6 feet leylandii across the bottom, but they do need looking after.
It’s the care of trees that causes the problem, as evidenced by this report. No consolation that they’re fewer in number than car accidents, if you're the victim.
Several recent fatal incidents involving falling tree branches have occurred, notably including the death of 49-year-old Jen Higgins in Manchester (August 2025) and 32-year-old Madia Kauser in Blackburn (August 2025). These incidents highlight risks from decayed trees or high winds, with investigations often focusing on duty of care and maintenance.
Then there’s the photo DGS sent me this morning, which blocked his cycling group trip.

karmalady* I lived in historical gardens and had lovely views of the trees, especially a majestic leylandii which had been allowed to grow to its full potential, at least 60 foot high and in the distance from the properties.

A massive tree and beloved by birds

We have massive leylandii. Especially lovely at Christmas.

I spent 11 dismal months living in Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland. I looked out onto Ireland to the southwest and Isla and Dura to the northwest, and nothing due west except Canada, which was hidden by the curve of the earth!
The upshot was the wind whistled through the gap and there were no trees. Not a single one. visible from my house and none for miles.
It was astonishing how much I missed them. It truly was deeply depressing.
So, be careful what you wish for!

karmalady

People in general do not consider their neighbours when planting trees. Often too close to a boundary fence or within spitting distance of foundations. I turned down two houses I went to look at due to leylandii growing next to boundary fences, one row had just been planted and I could just see the feathery tops when I stood on tip toe by the fence. I would have had that lovely bungalow but those they leylandii were just over 1m from the bungalow wall, I was first viewer and it was thanks but no thanks

Once upon a time I lived in historical gardens and had lovely views of the trees, especially a majestic leylandii which had been allowed to grow to its full potential, at least 60 foot high and in the distance from the properties. A massive tree and beloved by birds

I have planted 4 trees, the three apple trees are on M26 rootstocks and even if they were never pruned, will only from to around 2.8m. All my trees are at least 10 feet from boundary fences. My jelly king was grafted onto rootstock M106 and will never get taller than 4m. None of them overhand the fences

Trees are beautiful as long as they are not a nuisance

You covered all the bases with this post karmalady.

Love your name.

I live on the edge of a woodland park hence surrounded by woodland. Various oaks, pine, birch, sycamore all over. What gets to me is the volume of leaves and pine needles I have to keep clearing away.
Front garden were planted with rowan and cherry but quite widespread about every 4th/5th house.

Rosie51 Whilst in a conservation area does the offending cherry tree
have a conservation order on it. Worth checking as trees have different protection to that of property/locations.

Mt62 we have Beech hedging and it only needs to be cut once a year.

I agree with you Rosie51. I love trees and we have part of a wood crossing the bottom of our garden which is beautiful but, would neighbours please keep trees and their branches to their property only.

Sorry PamelaJI I didn't really mean to chastise, Im afraid I have a problem with a neighbours tree that overshadows and spoils my tiny garden. Makes me terse at times. Apologies

Gosh Rosie that’s telling me isn’t it?
Of course we did .

PamelaJ1

We have some silver birch trees in our garden that we planted 20years ago, I love seeing the trunks in winter. They have posed no problem with our old neighbours but….
We have new neighbours and they have just put in planning permission for an extension that comes almost up to their hedge. Still about 18feet from the first tree but it makes me a little concerned. I presume they have considered that and we won’t have complaints.

If the silver birches have their entire canopies within your garden boundaries why would there be a problem? I do hope you considered that any neighbour might not have wanted to 'share' your choice of tree by having to accommodate any of the canopy over their garden.

We have some silver birch trees in our garden that we planted 20years ago, I love seeing the trunks in winter. They have posed no problem with our old neighbours but….
We have new neighbours and they have just put in planning permission for an extension that comes almost up to their hedge. Still about 18feet from the first tree but it makes me a little concerned. I presume they have considered that and we won’t have complaints.

Excellent news! Thank you SORES very kind of you to let me know. I shall watch it this weekend. 😊

FriedGreenTomatoes2

AH I tried BBC iPlayer SORES on your recommendation but sadly although the programme (BBC4) came up (December 4th 2025) it stated “This programme is currently not available on iPlayer”. Shame, I bet it was really interesting!

fear not, as it is on youtube in full, 58 mins,
Judi Dench- My Passion for Trees

I'm a believer in 'the right plant for the right spot' method of gardening. We live in a coastal rain forest, with the town surrounded for 100's of kilometers of forest. Within the town border there is a mixture of native and non-native trees. We have a few lilac (considered shrubs I think) and neighbours have Japanese maples that are pruned every few years.

There are some trees that can interfere with drainage pipes, some that drop pollen or seed pods, and some that can be very invasive. All these should be avoided. It would be nice if city councils would keep a list of unacceptable trees, or trees with limitations, so people would have a legitimate complaint if a neighbour planted one. And also, agreeing with others, there should be regulations on distance to property line for some.