Neighbour has Removed My Boundary Hedge!

milkloss · Jun 28, 2015

Henarar said:
chainsaw
seen a bullock done like that the other day

Thought we'd all decided on rats?

JCMaloney · Jun 28, 2015

6ft deep V ditch with spikes in the bottom on their side and an 8ft spiked pallisade on your side........go Medieval on them.

RushesToo · Jun 28, 2015

Landy Nick said:
Storing so few hundred bales 20ft high and blocking there view may get the message through to them. If they say move the bales, say I will once you have reinstated a hedge.

Old Boar said:
A thought has occurred - they may not know how the countryside works. It is their plot and they want to make it pretty. We can all understand that, and it is better than a pile of dumped mattresses and sofas. That may be as far as their thinking went.
Get someone, a female preferably as this is seen as less confrontational, to call round and tell them a few facts. Such as the farmer could be prosecuted for removing the hedge as it belonged to him and the powers that be may not believe that someone else would have removed the hedge. Point out the risks of having a gate into their plot - animals, burglers etc, and the risk to animals of eating some of their plants, and the cost of a cow, and who would pay if one of them was poisoned. They may have no idea and not actually thought about this aspect at all. After all, to most, the countryside is free.
If it is obvious that they understood all this and still went ahead, then some of the other suggestions can come into play, but it just may be sheer ignorance.
Life is easier if your neighbours are friends!

I think these are both good ideas, with a small adjustment. The female should explain that if the hedge is not reinstated then it is quite likely that the likely outcome is a stack of silage / straw to prevent future problems.

Grassman · Jul 3, 2015

Perhaps you could sell them the hedge to them and let them do what they want including fitting a gate.
Then when they have done it all and paid you fit a great big fence on your side. Obviously to prevent any damage to their new fence!

Pond digger · Aug 23, 2015

David_ said:
Hi all,

I could do with so advice over a boundary hedge issue. One of my fields has bungalows and gardens to the rear. Around 3 years ago a new couple moved into one of the bungalows and removed the hedge between the field and their garden with out consulting me. The first I knew about it was when I found the hedge in a pile in my field! I made it clear that the hedge is marked on my deeds as belonging to me and was deeply unhappy with their actions. As they left a number of stumps behind (maybe 1ft high), I felt at the time that the hedge would grow back so we left it at that. They also asked if they could install a gate into the field and were told no (if one person does it, everyone wants to do it!).

While working in the field yesterday I noticed that they have now continued working where the boundary hedge was. They have now completely removed the hedge (stumps) and placed the gate up to the sheep netting which conveniently is cut and linked behind the gate. They also appear to have installed boxes for flowerbeds along the hedge line.

Am I correct in thinking that if the boundary hedge belongs to me, then the land it sits on also belongs to me and their boundary is on their side of what was the hedge?

I confronted them again and was told that they were planning to plant flowers to "make it nice". I told them I was not happy and wanted a stock proof fence installing and the hawthorn hedge reinstating. While standing there I noticed a number of plants which are poisonous to animals hanging over from their garden and pointed this out.

I really don't want a legal battle over this but it feels as though they are just ignoring my requests and carrying on regardless. I just want to know where I stand on this before going any further. We are with the NFU so was planning to give them a call too.

Thanks in advance

David

Hi,
I've just read through this thread: what a cheek!

I think you did the right thing by first asking the neighbour to replace the hedge as was. As criminal damage has been done; if you have to ask them twice, I would let them know you will have to report the offence if they don't do as you ask. You should back up any verbal communication in writing, but warn them first, that they'll be receiving written conformation.

As has been mentioned; it would also be good idea to ask a community police officer to speak to them; giving them the opportunity to rectify the damage before making things official.

If all else fails, then provided you've done your best to resolve the issue amicably, I wouldn't hesitate in taking legal action. If your an NFU member, then you should be eligible for some free legal advice.

With regard to the question about putting a new fence 1- 2ft into your neighbours land; I really don't think you can do that, but if someone can prove me wrong, I'd be most interested.

PD

mikep · Aug 27, 2015

Start a scrapyard on their boundary. Just haul all your heavy junk and fill in the hedge gap. A few old trailers acrobats and ploughs with mixed cars really seems to explain things.

Kidds · Aug 27, 2015

mikep said:
Start a scrapyard on their boundary. Just haul all your heavy junk and fill in the hedge gap. A few old trailers acrobats and ploughs with mixed cars really seems to explain things.

I can think of little worse than an old curtainsider with the unfastened sheets clanking in the wind all night.
Well, that's not quite true because if I put my mind to it I could think of worse.

mikep · Aug 27, 2015

Kidds said:
I can think of little worse than an old curtainsider with the unfastened sheets clanking in the wind all night.
Well, that's not quite true because if I put my mind to it I could think of worse.

Well we can add that as well if its legal ish

The Ruminant · Sep 15, 2015

Grassman said:
Perhaps you could sell them the hedge to them and let them do what they want including fitting a gate.
Then when they have done it all and paid you fit a great big fence on your side. Obviously to prevent any damage to their new fence!

My first thought was to rip up their planting and reinstate your existing hedge, and bill them for it too..... but actually @Grassman's approach is much more sensible. Tell them it's your land but you're willing to sell it to them. Let them know the going rate for garden extensions is £10,000 but as they're going to make it look pretty you'll be happy to negotiate

also let them know they can have twice as much for twice he money. Before you know it all the neighbours will want the same and you'll have enough for a good 15 acre block somewhere else

Yale · Sep 15, 2015

@David_

If they come to sell the house you could raise the issue of the disputed boundary which would scupper a sale as potential buyers would be put off.

Perhaps a tactic to keep in the back pocket.

Landy Nick · Sep 16, 2015

What's the outcome of your boundary hedge dispute @David_

David_ · Sep 16, 2015

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies, I found them very useful and in some cases amusing

sorry I haven't kept you all up to date, just been so busy!

We are with nfu so consulted them too. Ended up writing a letter to the neighbour letting them know that it was our boundary hedge, it had been removed without permission and we wanted it reinstating with hawthorn as it was before. A legal person at the nfu checked it before we sent it. I think the neighbours knew they were in the wrong anyway but were just trying their luck. I think the letter made it clear we weren't going to let it lie and they agreed to reinstate the hedge. Still waiting for that to happen but they were advised by a local gaeden centre that hawthorn planting is an autumn job. I should maybe check what the current situation is... Thanks again to Tff!

David

Landy Nick · Sep 16, 2015

David_ said:
Hi,

Thanks for all the replies, I found them very useful and in some cases amusing sorry I haven't kept you all up to date, just been so busy!

We are with nfu so consulted them too. Ended up writing a letter to the neighbour letting them know that it was our boundary hedge, it had been removed without permission and we wanted it reinstating with hawthorn as it was before. A legal person at the nfu checked it before we sent it. I think the neighbours knew they were in the wrong anyway but were just trying their luck. I think the letter made it clear we weren't going to let it lie and they agreed to reinstate the hedge. Still waiting for that to happen but they were advised by a local gaeden centre that hawthorn planting is an autumn job. I should maybe check what the current situation is... Thanks again to Tff!

David

Good to see the outcome of this thread @David_

I had a feeling this was going to end up like the, How to move a dead horse thread.

Alicecow · Sep 16, 2015

Glad you're making progress. Potted plants can be done any time of year, only bare rooted (cheaper) are seasonal. I've been waiting years for neighbour to reinstate boundary like he promised his solicitor he would.

If your neighbour doesn't fix it and does leave a gate in, then gates do open both ways! Go into his garden, have a walk round, peer in his windows, sit on his patio set with your feet up on the table, dig up a few shrubs, scatter some 'proper' grass seed, then put a heavy duty chain and padlock on the gate as you leave.

Neighbour has Removed My Boundary Hedge!

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