Leaf nuisance - complaining neighbour

How many years have the trees and their leaves belonged to you???..

I am interested, since the neighbour has chosen to write rather than speak with you… which would infer he does not know you very well (if at all).

and if the trees are already aged/established… the amount of leaves each year, is actually pretty stable… :thinking: … so just wondering what has happened in the past with previous Owners… :thinking:

He bought the property, a tiny cottage, needing work, after we arrived. He knew what he was getting into, but is doing it up. The trees are old and do constitute a problem for him. In law I suspect my obligations are not great, but I will do the neighbourly thing.

1 Like

You are being a very good neighbour… well done. :relaxed::relaxed:

It is sad that he did not feel he could discuss things with you, but some folk are like that… :thinking:

Anyway, as I have said, there are enterprises who actively seek to buy large, aged trees… so that may well be worth you investigating, then you will gain money instead of spending it.

Very interesting reading about this tree business…

Our house in Carmaux has a line of oaks along the southern boundary - very tall oaks - and the leaf and acorn ‘problem’ can be a headache. An additional headache is the number of saplings that sprout from the acorns all over the place!

Now, personally, I quite like the trees as they give good dappled shade in the summer months but I do have a concern. They were planted by my father-in-law nearly 50 years ago and they are right on the edge of a steep embankment of about 10’ (3m). This embankment leads down onto our neighbours driveway and, subsequently, their house - which, if one of these trees decides to take a horizontal attitude, would probably do serious damage to their house!

The trees are on our land, therefore I assume they are our responsibility and liability? I have a concern that their location on the edge of the embankment may be precarious. Methinks I should get a tree specialist in to give a judgement on their safety.

If it is decided they should go, would it be feasible to ask a timber merchant to come and cut them down and take the wood in payment for his services?

Timber is big business in France (with good reason).

Any trees on your land are, indeed, your responsibility… but this does not mean they have to be cut down…

50 years is no great shakes in the life of an Oak…and they are notoriously deep rooted… however, it is no bad thing to assess the situation.

It is obvious that you do not intend to let the trees reach their full height and crown… Have you considered having them trimmed down. That can be successful.

There’s a gent having a go at just such a task… making the most of visiting family to help him… the oak is just outside his kichen … and he is concerned about the branches breaking off and damaging… more than the tree itself coming down around him…

Getting someone in… will cost… even for an assessment probably… but if necessary, the Wood Merchants do come and give a price to “cut and clear”…

These Merchants are different from the ones who will charge just to come and cut… where… you pay…but you keep the wood… “costly”.

Also, chat with the neighbour… who may be aghast at the prospect of losing the trees… :thinking:

1 Like