Man slammed for cutting down neighbour’s tree because it was blocking the driveway

A man has been criticised for cutting down a neighbour’s tree because it was blocking the drive – others have defended his decision, as they would do the same

A man has sparked controversy after posting a video of himself cutting down a neighbour’s tree, as it was overhanging from the garden into next door’s drive. Gardener and TikToker @smartgarden1982 posted a clip of him cutting the branches away until they lined up with the neighbour’s fence.

He took the hedge trimmer to the greenery, cutting the branches away until it no longer blocked the driveway. The man ensured that there was no overspill, captioning the video: “What would you do if neighbours tree was blocking your driveway?”, using the hashtag #nightmareneighbours.

He received some backlash from the clip, but others claimed they would do the exact same if they were in his position because it was in the way of the drive.

Technically, the gardener didn’t do anything wrong as in the UK it is legal to cut down overhanging branches – as long as you don’t trespass on to your neighbour’s property.

This didn’t mean people were any more impressed, as one fuming user wrote: “What is your problem with this little tree? We need more trees not less.”

Another criticised the man’s skills, commenting: “You went beyond the boundary in my view.”

Someone else said: “If it could be me I would never do that. It’s just a tree beyond the fact it belongs to your neighbours.”

Others thought it was just fine though, with someone writing: “All above board and legal.”

“I would do that too”, another reassured him.

When it comes to tackling imposing trees, Citizens Advice advises: “Talk to your neighbour face to face if you can – make a note of what you agreed. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to them, write a letter or ask someone to contact them for you. Keep copies of any letters or emails you send or receive.

“It’s often best to find a compromise, for example sharing the cost of pruning a hedge even though you think your neighbour owns it. It could help you keep a good relationship and might be cheaper than paying a solicitor to resolve the disagreement.”

What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.