A gardener has ignited a heated online debate after taking drastic action to trim a neighbour's hedge that he claimed had been left overgrown. In a TikTok video shared under the username @gardenyardzmowing1982, the man showed the large shrub separating two properties, which he said the neighbour had 'refused' to cut back.
The clip captured a time-lapse of the gardener using a hedge trimmer to remove at least a foot of growth from the top of the hedge. By the end, a considerable chunk had been cut away, and the man appeared pleased with the result. However, many viewers were critical of his actions.
Under UK law, homeowners are permitted to trim any branches or roots that cross over their property boundary, but they cannot reduce the height of a neighbour's hedge without permission. Doing so could be considered criminal damage, and the neighbour could take legal action.
Commenters on the video warned of potential legal consequences, with one writing: 'By Law in the UK you are allowed to cut anything overhanging your garden but not the entire hedge. If I was your neighbour I'd sue.' Another added: 'If the hedge belongs to a neighbour you can cut anything overhanging on your side of the boundary but you are not allowed to reduce the height without permission. Criminal damage.'
Others expressed concern for local wildlife, questioning whether the gardener had checked for nesting birds before cutting. One user said: 'Hedges are for wildlife as much as anything else. You could have simply trimmed the top not hacked it off.' Some also suggested the neighbour may have wanted the height for privacy, with one comment reading: 'Maybe the neighbour wanted it tall for a reason. Probably to block out annoying neighbours.'
According to the GOV.UK website, hedge trimming should only be done up to the property boundary, and exceeding that could result in a court case for property damage. The incident has sparked a wider discussion about neighbourly disputes and the legal limits of DIY gardening.
