Elle Smith, from Hertfordshire, says her neighbour's tree is blocking sunlight for four hours a day, damaging her fence and patio, and covering her garden in bird droppings, turning it into a 'no-go zone'. The aesthetics and beauty practitioner claims the neighbours agreed to cut the tree down four months ago, but no action has been taken.
Sun blocked and fence damaged
Smith says the sun is fully in her garden until around 11am, then disappears behind the tree by 2pm. She avoids using the garden due to the risk of being hit by bird poo, which has happened several times. The tree's roots are lifting her fence posts and unearthing slabs, and she worries a branch could break in windy weather.
She also fears the roots could damage her cabin, garage, or house. Bird droppings stain her patio, and a dead bird last week left blood stains that she cannot remove. A hosepipe ban has prevented her from jet-washing the area.
Landlord contacted but no action
Smith moved into the home in April and noticed the issues within the first two months. Her landlord contacted the neighbour, giving them two weeks to respond. The neighbour called on the last day, saying they were on holiday for two more weeks and would remove the tree on their return. Two months later, the tree remains, and her housing association is chasing for an update.
Smith shared her frustration on social media and received anger from some people. She stressed she is not anti-tree, noting her other neighbour maintains their tree well. She argues it is selfish when people neglect trees and bushes, causing inconvenience to others. She has offered to donate to a charity to plant more trees if it appeases critics, saying her and her children's safety comes first.
