Sycamore tree -advice on pruning needed!

Marybel · #1 (**permalink**) 22-02-2009, 12:44 PM

Hi everyone thank you for the big welcome to your website.

My neighbour has hacked away at my very tall tree all down one side adjacent to his alleyway here in Brighton. Granted the tree is too close to his house, but the poor tree is now very worse for wear. Should I fell it and plant something less bothersome in its place? He seems obsessed with it and is doing this on the sly. Could it be pollarded in some way? I've heard that the more you prune, the faster it grows. I would like to attract more birds to the garden, My garden faces due south and maybe another type of tree would be more beneficial all round. Any ideas gratefully received.

Marybel

Tursiops2 · #2 (**permalink**) 22-02-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi Marybel, I must have missed your "hello" post, so welcome from me too

There seem to be two issues here. Why has your neighbour been hacking at your tree? Is/was it overhanging his property, or a Public Right of Way? is it covered by a Tree Preservaton Order?

As for whether to fell and replace or not, it depends very much on your circumstances and preferences, and on the condition of the tree. Sycamore is tough as old boots, and it will probably recover, but it sounds likely that it will never regain its former glory. Furthermore, it's not a particularly good tree for wildlife, being non-native, and is invasive - self-seeding everywhere. If your aim is to attract wildlife to your garden, then I, personally, would seriously consider felling and replacing with a native species.

Could you post a photo to clarify the situation?
T2

Hobjob · #3 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 06:27 PM

Prune it to acceptable size - you will be very lucky to kill it!!

I doubt it will have a preservation order it unless in public space; many
consider the things to weeks.

chazzpott · #4 (**permalink**) 24-02-2009, 06:24 PM

Chop it down and kill it! Horrible things, sycamores. Plant a nice native tree.

Marybel · #5 (**permalink**) 24-02-2009, 09:23 PM

Thanks very much for your replies and views. I realize that the sycamore is considered the weed of the tree world, and would dearly love to have something else, but also feel sorry for the tree and angry that my neighbour who owns the alleyway that it slightly grows over ( but with no obstructions) has butchered it without my consent, far over my boundary. I am going to make it clear in writing that this is illegal.

Spring seems to have arrived in Brighton and the starlings are putting on a good show every evening around the Pier

Marybel

Tursiops2 · #6 (**permalink**) 25-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Thanks for putting the photo up. I see what you mean, but it's not quite as bad as I feared. I think it's worth keeping - a competent arborist could probably tidy it up into a half-decent pollard, and any replacement would take years to reach that size.

Your neighbour sounds a bit of a "character", to put it mildly. You're obviously aware that he's broken the law; to be precise, he's committed both Trespass and Criminal Damage. Did he offer the arisings back to you? If not, he's also committed Theft. Unfortunately, legal action is likely to be expensive, and unlikely to succeed unless you have incontrovertible evidence of his responsibility.

You might like to have a read through posts on this site Garden Law Discussion :: Index
You'll see you're not the only person with a problem neighbour

Good luck
T2

Marybel · #7 (**permalink**) 26-02-2009, 03:52 PM

thanks so much for redirecting me to the Garden Law site - it seems a good place to go - this week I have spotted this man up a ladder leaning over his elderly neighbour's fence to hack at his innocent shrubs - I need to be aware of my rights as he is a bullying type. He hates the badgers in the alleyway too - maybe they can do a little burrowing in his direction for me

chazzpott · #8 (**permalink**) 26-02-2009, 04:26 PM

Maybe I was a little harsh in my last comment

Anyway, if you cut it down there would be nothing to tie the washing line to

your neighbour sounds like a right

hole. A neighbour from hell by the sound of it.
Maybe if you keep the tree sympathetically pruned, he might leave it alone.

Tursiops2 · #9 (**permalink**) 26-02-2009, 06:09 PM

You have Badgers in your alleyway? Are you sure? It doesn't look at all like Badger country

Marybel · #10 (**permalink**) 27-02-2009, 08:42 AM

Hi yes there are definitely badgers here, I have seen them at night. I live 5 minute walk from the sea in Brighton. One of the reasons this man paved much of 'his' alleyway is to stop them from digging.