what can I do about my neighbours trees

Hi everyone,
I have just had a greenhouse built in my garden after waiting 9 years for it, I was so excited and have been in it every day, I put it up the back of the garden where it will get plenty of sun, or so I thought, I came home today and next door have planted two big mature cherry trees, they are already at least 2 meters high, they will totally block the sun from my greenhous for most of the day and all of the flowers and leaves are going to cover the roof of my greenhouse when they fall. do i have any right to complain, after all my greenhouse was there first, if I could move it I would, but the base has been cemented in. I realise they wanted privacy as I am in the greenhouse quite a lot and can see into their garden, I was thinking of putting paint on shadeing on the one side upto head hight to make it more private for them, that way the sun could still get the roof, I had already bought it ready to do, but now this has happened, I have tried talking to them but they will not listen.
any suggestions please.

 

Good evening, and welcome to the site. I think your neighbours have done you a favour. They are giving you light, speckled shade for your greenhouse. Perfect. Don`t criticise them, take around your first bowl of Tomatoes, as a thank you.:gnthb:

 

Oh dear. Neighbours. There are times when I could happily move to a desert island. In an ideal world they would have had a chat with you first, but things don't always happen that way.

I think you are legally entitled to cut back anything which grows over your side of the boundary. Unfortunately I don't think there is anything you can do about the height of the trees, should they become very tall. Legislation has been brought in recently to control the height of hedges (mainly to deal with overgrown Leylandii) but I don't think it applies to trees.

Are you on reasonable terms with your neighbours? Maybe you could talk things through. Perhaps, if you find a way to screen the greenhouse, they might be persuaded to replant their trees elsewhere ...

 

Sut mae, Dai. I suppose it all depends on how much shade the trees are ultimately going to cause.

 

When you spoke to them about it, they flat out refused to re consider to the placement of the cherries?

Wow- that's some bald intransigence. Have you been neighbours long? Do you have a tricky history with them?

Perhaps invite your neighbours round to see your greenhouse so they can see what the problem in person. Ply them with coffee and cake. Then you could show them the paint you intend to shield the panes with.

 

Cherry trees are not going to cause that much shade. Also, if Slugguzzle is going to grow edible plants, then why can`t the neighbours?:gnthb:

 

My Dad once had an ongoing battle with a neighbour who insisted on planting trees which blotted out all of the sunlight in our garden. He used to sneak the odd copper nail into the trunks every now and again ... not that I am in any way condoning this practice. :skp: It never seemed to bother the trees but it did make Dad feel better. I suspect you'd need rather a lot of nails to do the trick.

 

It won't do your greenhouse any harm at all and they will look gorgeous. It is entirely up to them what they plant in their own garden, just as it is up to you what you put in yours.

I would be grateful they have taken on the expense of blotting their garden out from your view-hardly as picturesque as two beautiful cherry trees surely - or (from their view) your greenhouse for that matter, whether you paint the visibility of their garden out or not.

They have done you a favour.

 

Greenhouses benefit the contents mostly by containing the heat. It'll get hot enough, trees or no trees.
As has been mentioned the trees will be more of use than hinderance.

The sun moves round during the day, so your greenhouse will get enough of it.
It's not worth falling out with your neighbour before you've experienced a problem.

 

I have several juvenile self seeded cherries and one mature cherry in my garden and its as tall as the house and almost as wide.

I wouldnt give a fig (ha!) for your greenhouse light levels in a few years if two cherries have been planted. Im planning on some serious pruning of the canopy this weekend.

In any case, even if you can see the positive side, its so anti social to behave in this manner, especially after your neighbour has come over to talk to you about it. Really- its quite rude.

:D at sabotaging the trees! Clara you constantly have me in stitches!

 

And, of course, there`s the chance of getting a share of the Cherries.:gnthb:

 

Hi Slugguzzle .dont know the law in England, regarding the allowed Heights of Perimeter trees/hedges.
in Scots law anything must go. my Friend who lives in a semi detached house has a neighbour who has allowed his Leylandii's to grow about 40 feet..my friend has been to Lawyers/Police/Council
this was after he tried to talk to the neighbour but got no joy from him. my friend has a Beautiful garden
with garden water features, two Ponds filled with Koi and other fish,he has spent a fortune on the Garden
but now with these Leylandii being about 40 feet, the light is cut out from the garden until around 3 pm. He was told by the council/police he could cut anything growing over his side but could not touch the Height, if he did touch the height he was Breaking the Law

its a Mad World :( music.

 

Hi Music

I don't know about Scotland but I believe that there is some fairly new legislation in England and Wales which takes into account the size of the garden, the position of the hedge etc etc. A calculation is done and anything above a certain height gets the chop. I think some of the relevant information is given here:-

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/hedgeheight

 

Its always difficult, especially if gardens are small, and most are far too small these days, its no wonder neighbours dont get on, like they used to years ago.
Of course attitudes have changed over the years and people do tend to like a bit of privacy.

Trees too close to a greenhouse are a big problem, I know mines covered in them.
But they are my trees, so I cant complain :D

You're lucky its deciduous trees rather than evergreens, as you should still get some winter sun.

 

Yes Pete i agree most Gardens are smaller these days. i am fortunate to have an older house and some days i wish (THE GARDEN WAS SMALLER). some of the houses are like pigeon huts and the gardens are like postage stamps
music