Gardeners warned about chopping down trees or neighbours could ‘call police'
While many homeowners know they can legally cut or prune a tree that is overhanging their garden, they may not be aware of a law which states they must offer the tree cuttings back
Gardeners have been issued a warning that cutting trees in their own gardens could lead to an unexpected visit from the police - all due to a little known regulation tied to backyard upkeep. Trees are the crowning glory of many a garden.
They not only add visual charm, but they also offer seclusion, serve as sanctuaries for birds and critters like squirrels, and are crucial players in our ecosystem by turning carbon dioxide into life-sustaining oxygen. But because they can grow fordecades or even centuries on end, trees can cause problems over time if not carefully managed, with roots creeping into house foundations or branches snapping and falling into roads.
READ MORE: 'Perfect' Father's Day present dubbed 'must have for dads' is £11
Issues can arise particularly when trees sit on the dividing lines between adjoining properties.
While most green-fingered enthusiasts are aware that it's perfectly within the law to trim or prune branches overhanging into your patch from next door's tree - as long as you remain grounded in your own plot while you do so - what often escapes attention is the obscure legal requirement to proffer any lopped off branches back to the owner of the tree; simply discarding or shredding them won't do.
Although it's best practice to give your neighbour a heads-up before embarking on such arboreal alterations, legally, you're bound to present them with the resulting tree offcuts regardless.
Kirklees Council states: "If a tree or hedge is unprotected, you can prune branches that overhang your land and the roots growing beneath your land.
"You do not need the owner's permission, but you must not trespass onto their land. You must offer to return the cut branch wood and any fruit which is attached or has fallen onto your land."
The Royal Horticultural Society said: "Your actions are classed as 'abating a nuisance' which does not require permission. Only in situations where you need access to their land to undertake the work would permission be required.
"Once branches are cut off they should be offered back to the tree owner. If the owner doesn't want them then you will be responsible for disposing of the prunings; you can't simply throw them over the boundary into your neighbour's garden."
Should you help yourself to tree branches, you may find yourself accused of theft, reports the Express. The Theft Act clearly outlines that it's an offence to pick fruit, flowers, or even branches if the tree isn't on your property.
Though homeowners might think enforcement is unlikely, if you were to lop off a neighbour's branches or pinch fruit/flowers from their trees, they have every legal right to demand their return or could justifiably involve the authorities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
10 hours ago
- ITV News
'I will bring them home': A son's determination after losing his parents in the Air India Crash
A man has promised to bring his parents home to Orpington after they died in an Air India Crash to London Gatwick. Ashok Patel, 74, and Shobhana Patel, 71, have lived in Greater London since the 80s. Ashok was a financial advisor, while Shobahana a microbiologist. The pair travelled to India for a religious trip known as a Yatra which helps people find peace when they eventually pass away. Unfortunately, just days later, they were among 53 British nationals that died in a fatal plane crash in Ahmedabad, West India just minutes after take off. It is still uncertain when the pair will be returned to London though the process to identify them was quick. Their son, Miten, went to India and describes the process as a "miracle". He added "it's a result of meticulous and efficient planning" which meant he had to put his grief to the side to focus on fulfilling his parents' wishes. "I haven't come to terms with it. My main priority was the promise I made my parents to bring them home," he says. He is one of dozens of British family members who have flown to Ahmedabad to identify and bring their loved ones back. "It is not an easy process when there are so many people that have gone through this tragedy," he tells ITV News London. Despite how difficult the last seven days have been, Miten praises his family and the wider community for all their kindness and support in the process. It all began, when Miten received a phone call from his father's friend who was in India. "I couldn't believe it," he says. "I was with him on Father's Day, I held the first time in this whole ordeal I cried because I felt like I was actually hugging my dad." Miten contacted insurance companies, collected dental records and DNA samples to take to India in order to support the identification process. He says it was fate that his mother was identified just four hours after his father was, and added: "It felt like my mum was saying to my dad, stay where you are, you're not going alone, I'm coming with you." In India, he was shown items that belonged to his parents that were found among the wreckage, from the label of his father's beloved Stafford shirt to his mother swan-pendant necklace that Miten's young daughter Amira will now inherit. "My mum used to say one day you will have that. It just feels like she's left that necklace for her," he says. Once his parents are back in the UK, Miten aims to hold a funeral service for them both together. "They have made it this far together so I would like to send them off together," he says. While Miten's dad Ashok was born in India and his family have ethnic roots to the country, India was an 'unknown country' for Miten who grew up in the UK. "I'm just glad I was able to fulfil my promise that I made to my parents and my family that I will make sure that they come home because the UK is their home." "They've been here for over 40 years." Miten says his parents finally being cremated will start off a more personal mourning process for him that he has been delaying. "Once I get them home and we give them a good send off then I'll grieve in my own time, but at the moment I've just got to stay strong for them," he says.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Expert says we're cooking frozen peas wrong and shares method
Frozen peas are a kitchen staple, but you might be cooking them all wrong - according to a culinary expert who says boiling them makes them 'mushy' and 'bland' Boiling frozen peas might be the standard method of cooking them for many, but a culinary expert has warned that this technique can turn them "mushy" and "bland". When you boil peas, you're essentially leaching out their flavour as the sugars leach into the water, according to Erica Walker, co-founder of Favorite Family Recipes. In contrast, she recommends sauteing the little green gems to unlock their natural sweetness, creating a tastier and more visually appealing side dish. She said: "There's actually a correct way to cook frozen peas, and it isn't boiling! You can have sweet, crisp, vibrant green peas in less than 10 minutes." This common cooking error not only diminishes the taste but also results in the loss of key nutrients, boiling away vitamins C and B. By gently frying your peas with a little bit of butter, you'll elevate their flavour and retain a delightful crunch, steering clear of overboiled, soggy peas. Plus, you'll find that sauteing frozen peas not only preserves their flavour, but it's also quicker since there's no waiting for a pot of water to boil, reports the Express. How to make frozen peas taste better Simply throw peas, butter, sugar, and garlic into a large frying pan. Adding sugar may seem unusual, but it will help underline the inherent succulence of the peas while nullifying any potential bitterness. Erica said: "Add a little sugar to the peas. Just enough to enhance the natural sweetness of the peas. It's ok, it won't taste weird and it will bring out the natural sweetness." She also shared the perfect moment to season your peas for maximum flavour. "Don't add salt until ready to serve," she said. "Salting them too early can dehydrate them and they (obviously) won't be as sweet. Salt them after they have cooked and you can salt to taste." Dish out these perfectly seasoned peas and you'll be treated to a side that's bursting with taste, a delightful change from the usual bitter, overdone greens that can sometimes seem like a tedious task to get through.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Households told to put A4 piece of paper in fridge before this weekend
Households told to put A4 piece of paper in fridge before this weekend A lot of Brits may be caught out by the sweltering conditions and the knock-on effect on your home and its appliances which could end up costing you money. Putting a piece of paper in your fridge can diagnose a common problem (Image: Alex Evans ) As the UK gears up for a scorcher with temperatures predicted to soar to 30C this Saturday, households are being prompted to wield a simple sheet of A4 paper in an unusual way to combat the heat's impact on refrigeration. With the nation baking under a relentless sun, the unexpected consequence of such sustained warmth could be spoilage even within the cool confines of your kitchen appliances, potentially leading to wasteful expenditure. Domestic appliance experts Beko has pinpointed a common problem with the aging fridges found in many homes. Age and wear may compromise the door seal, a seemingly small defect that can lead to substantial issues. Inefficient seals not only force your fridge to overexert itself, escalating energy costs, but also risk premature spoiling of food. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here To check if there is a problem, all you need is a single sheet of A4 paper. A Beko spokesperson explained: "One issue that may arise with your fridge is wear and tear on the door seal. A worn-out door seal can prevent the refrigerator door from closing properly, causing the cooling system to work harder to keep your groceries fresh.", reports the Express. He added: "This can lead to increased energy consumption and potential damage to your fridge and its temperature settings. Article continues below "Warm air entering your fridge can overwhelm the cooling system, especially during hot summer days." Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at Beko UK, advised: "To check if your fridge door is functioning correctly, use a piece of paper. You can buy paper for as little as 1p or use any paper you have at home. "Place the paper against the door seal and close the door. When you try to pull the paper out, you should feel some resistance. If the paper slides out easily, your door seal may need replacing." The Met Office has forecasted that the sizzling temperatures will continue to soar this week. The mercury is set to remain at 27C on Tuesday and Wednesday, climbing to 28C by Friday and reaching highs of 29C on Saturday, with the potential of hitting 30C in certain areas of England. The Met Office's forecast also indicates that "much of the UK will be in heatwave conditions by the coming weekend". It elaborated: "Heat will build through the week. On Wednesday the highest temperatures values in the UK are expected to be around 27C. On Thursday this will rise to 29C and by Saturday increasing more locations will exceed heatwave values, with the highest temperatures expected to exceed 30C." Article continues below
