@n0b0dy0ftheg0at if you ever noticed a big of a chunk missing from the above the gate to the side, that was when one fun year I discovered the pleasure of a wasp nest. The resulting dive off the ladder with the trimmer took a big chunk out I've never been able to get back square!
As for porn, sadly not, but we do get the odd dog poo bag shoved in it. Thats pretty disgusting. But better than it just being chucked on the front lawn
(There's no such thing as the high hedge act. This is not legal advice)
You asked about enforcement. If you win, a remedial notice is served on the neighbour. The council determines the content - but they can cover action now (to remedy the problem) and action in future (to stop it happening again). They can't require the removal of the hedge, only cutting it back to 2m.
This would be a local land charge (i.e. bind future purchasers of the land, and therefore will be reported on by future prospective buyers' solicitors). It is a criminal offence to violate one of these notices. Would violation be enforced? Who knows. It is also possible for the council to enforce a notice to enter the land and do the work themselves if the property owner doesn't comply. Does that happen? Who knows.
Can any of that put your neighbour in financial difficulty? Yes. If they don't comply (e.g. because they can't afford it) and they are prosecuted it the penalty is ... a fine. And the obligation to sort the hedge would persist, so that expense would remain.
You mention the 2m height, but I want to make sure you realise that isn't a height limit for the hedge, but for listening to your complaint. The test - which can only be applied to a hedge over 2m tall - is whether it your "reasonable enjoyment" of you neighbouring property is being "adversely affected" i.e. a hedge under 2m is not caught even if it affects your enjoyment in that way, and a 5m tall hedge is not caught unless it affects your enjoyment in that way. Nothing in your post meets the test, although I realise your unstated reasons might well do so. But "it's tall and I don't like it" doesn't suffice.
Finally - FWIW I get why you asked here, but anecdotes (other than ones about neighbours hating each other) are unlikely to be helpful. Practice (like the fees...) might vary wildly between council areas.
IME Laurel is just as bad. It needs more care to keep it looking right; pruning rather than trimming with hedge cutters and it's just as vigorous. It can end up looking very thin at the base if you're not careful. Blackbirds and Thrushes like it for cover and nesting but it doesn't provide much for the environment. IMHO of course.
Surely if the neighbour isn't interested because it doesn't effect them then seek their permission to chop them.
But do remember that the trees aren't yours and you should make sure all the chopped tree is returned to them.
I'll bet a price for cutting and leaving in situ is more palatable to you.
Hang on a sec.
When I spoke to the neighbour 5 years ago
Was this the last time you spoke to them? Maybe try again... are you on good terms?
Could be they'll say something like "oh yeah, damn things block all the light but we just can't afford to get rid of them... hey, want to go halves? We'll share the giant compost heap and grow roses together instead!" and everyone will live happily ever after.
Also:
I’m not sure poisonimg a row of tall trees that could fall on our house is the brightest idea.
If they're 6m tall and minimum 10m away then they're not going to fall on your house. At worst you'll have an interestingly deep and prickly lawn.
Here's what it's like. It's actually quite away above the house so closer to 10m high (the smaller tree in the foreground is 4-5m tall).
Thanks for the replies everyone. I will of course be going round to speak to the neighbour over the fence (he's i a different street and due to the massive hedge we don't see each other to have nice neighbourly chats) before taking ot further.
The branches must encroach your property by a good meter at least though. That's not really on either, same as blocking the light.
There is no stand-alone legislation covering high hedges; the legal position is covered by Part 8 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003.
That and the right to light legislation should be your start point to understand the legals before any friendly neighbourly chat.
his garden is brambles and weeds over 6ft high,
It sounds like an opportunity for one of those YTers that do free garden clearances for videos.
@DT78 My memory is awful these days, I can vaguely picture the damage above your head-height quite solid gate, but it might simply be my mind's eye creating it from your description! 😉
Must have been quite the shock, finding a wasp nest while hedge trimming, at least it sounds like you didn't try to remove one of your limbs! 😮
We moved in 11 years ago and the henge to the neighbours over the back was about 3m tall
Perhaps the time for a chat was 10 years ago when it was still at a manageable height without involving tree surgeons!? 🤔
