Large Tree

[rosiew]

Hi All
My mum who is 83 has a very very large tree in her garden and the neighbours who live opposite are complaining(i dont blame them as it is very large) We got an estimate to have it cut down but it was £400. She is constantly worried about it and i was wondering if the council could do anything for her or an organisation who could chop down the tree for free.

[The Builder]

That sounds like a very reasonable price for a large tree Rosie.
I can't help with any ideas other than to suggest that, if it's a decent hardwood, then there could be more value than that in the timber.

[coccinelle]

Do you have any agricultural colleges near you? If so, they might be willing to do it as part of the training.
Actually, £400 to cut down a tree is cheap. Depending on what kind of tree it is you could then sell on the wood unless that's what's already included in the price.

[coccinelle]

I don't type as quickly The Builder!!

[nannybooby]

maybe the complaining neigbours would contribute

[DJHawkes]

that will include the carting away of the timber, which they will sell on, you could get on one of the free cycle sites to see I anyone is willing to do it and take the timber as well, it's surprising, my oh chopped a huge willow down for his mum and hired a mulching machine and people collected the mulch in trailer loads.

[Old_Geezer]

Unlesit isepriving them of light the neighbours should consider whether they moved in knowing the tree existed. Your mum ought not feel forced to cut down a mature tree because someone else applies pressure to try to force her to do so.

[Old_Geezer]

Why is this computer freezing occassionally and then missing out typing ? >>>:-(

"Unless it is depriving"
As I typed !

[woofgang]

Does the tree have a tree preservation order on it? If so then it needs permission from the council to remove it or even trim it. The neighbours can complain all they like, they have no right to light. If the tree isn't protected, The may remove any overhanging branches that hang into their garden at their expense. Tell your Mum not to worry.

[jno]

down our way, council contractors come round in late autumn to prune the trees in the street, and usually knock on people's doors to see if they want any done privately. My neighbour grabbed them last year and paid them £350 to remove a huge leylandii (thank goodness) and prune a few other trees as well. (He'd previously been quoted nearly £1000 for this.) I don't know if there's any chance you could do anything similar.

At any rate, get more quotes. They often differ dramatically.

[boxtops]

I thought this meant "family tree" when I opened it, as it's in the family topic!

I agree, rosie - get some more quotes.

[Trixibella]

I would say its a reasonable cost but call the council for recommendations in case. You could approach the neighbours to say what your mum can afford ie max price she can contribute and maybe they will pay the rest or even help source better quotes (check reviews though as there are plenty of poor tree surgeons out there) if they don't want to help financially then they aren't that bothered. There are many people that would be more than happy to split the cost if a tree really bothers them. Many people have no choice but to be without light for years as people won't address the offending tree.

[murraymints]

The council here would do it free for oap..