Neighbour problem

[The Cumbrian]

Beg to differ.
A lot depends on their location.
My neighbour has mature Leylandii trees forming a boundary with my garden, they form a continuous 'hedge' (term used very loosely) that are 12 ft or more in height.

Exactly the situation I was in and I liked them. The height was mutually agreed when the hedge was planted. Left alone it would probably be 25 or 30 foot by now.

"They have to be at least that height because of their age" is the nonsense I have had for 24 years living in the shadow cast across the garden.

The age bit is clearly nonsense.

Half the entire length never sees sunlight, the ground is parched and worthless

Fortunately the shadow isn't a problem on ours.

and whenever I cut back my side (isn't it great to be given this extra chore without asking)

The previous occupants of the house wouldn't let me cut it they insisted on coming round and cutting it. I didn't like that as the hedge was being allowed to creep further out into the garden.

there is usually a scene, where he accuses me of all sorts and even lashed out at me on one occasion. I pointed out (in no uncertain terms) that would be the biggest mistake he'd ever make and offered to meet him out front and the little creep crawled off. Totally frustrated by the predicament and their attitude I simply began promising to 'punch his lights out' whenever he started his childish outbursts. It doesn't help with the problem but at least he disappears.

People are entitled to enjoy their gardens and this should not be prevented by a neighbour, whether it's trees, bees or anything else.

You do have redress over this. Being in Wales the situation is slightly different to here in England but.......

"Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (“the Act”) gives local authorities the power to deal with complaints about high hedges which are having an adverse effect on a neighbour's enjoyment of his or her
property. A complaint may be made by the owner or occupier of a domestic property (the “complainant”) on the grounds that his or her reasonable enjoyment of the property is being adversely affected by the height of a hedge situated on land owned or occupied by another person. A complaint must be made to the local authority in whose area the land, on which the hedge is situated, lies and the complaint must be accompanied by a fee determined by the local authority (subject to a
maximum amount prescribed, in relation to hedges situated in Wales, by the National Assembly for Wales.

 

[itma]

...
Next people are trying to find ways of deliberately making the neighbour uncomfortable, for example by planting leylandii, despite the fact that the beek says he can get round the problem.
...

I suggested Leylandii as a means of providing a tall screen - one which could be tall enough to force the bees above head height in the neighbour's raised garden, which a mere 6 ft high fence would not do nearly as well.
It was offered as a constructive, practical suggestion - and I am disappointed that anyone would think I was suggesting some means of 'winding up' the neighbour.


Regarding "the fact that the beek says he can get around the problem" - I am rather surprised at the re-emergence of this topic, now, in March, and the OP, now still saying that moving his hives within his garden is a possibility.

I had thought he was going to do this over the winter, and that he was planning to re-queen his (not mentioned this time) "stroppy" hive.

This is from last September --

Advice wanted - Have two colonies, one of which is a bit stroppy. I know the rule: 3 metres or three miles.: But can i move them 50 M in one go during the wintering down period? For some reason my neighbours are getting stung on a regular basis. I go daily to the hives with no protection and they don't bother me but next door was cutting grass and got stung - again and they infer that they are getting worse reaction each time - I mow with my tractor right up to the hives and have no problem!
I have bought the neighbour a hat and veil but he says it makes his glasses mist up????? (I wear glasses) and I have also bought a 4M willow screen to put up where my hive adjoins his garden - will put it up his side.
I want to be a good beekeeping neighbour but am worried that the goodwill will eventually breakdown and even if i supply honey they will try and get my activities stopped.
Any replies welcomed - I intend to requeen the stroppy one next spring.
P.

...
I have a big garden so should not be too much of a problem moving but I just resent this as they have terraced their garden to bring their lawn level to the height of the top of my apiary so all bees coming in are at ground level for them but at top of shed level for my apiary.

Kinda surprising that it would appear that no nuisance-reducing actions whatsoever seem to have been done since the matter was raised here six months ago ... !

 

[Hivemaker.]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSe38dzJYkY[/ame]

 

[user 6228]

As an owner of a 4m high by 25m long leylandii hedge they are a pain ... every couple of year climbing on to the top of the trunks with a top handle chainsaw and cutting them back down to the origin height then precarioiusly moving across the top to cut the next one. I inherited this hedge from the previous owner.
The neighbours havent complained to me about the hedge.
but non the less i have taken the base level down 1m from when we first got the house.
Theyre only saving grace is that they are a good screen and so they shove the bees upto high altitude

 

[itma]

As an owner of a 4m high by 25m long leylandii hedge they are a pain ...
Theyre only saving grace is that they are a good screen and so they shove the bees upto high altitude

Precisely!

 

[keith pierce]

If you were my neighbour and my wife could not go down to her patio on a summers morning for her cup of tea in the sunshine, only the neighbour dogs would be able to hear her.

Move out your hives and assess them. only move back the very quietest. it might be just one hive that is the problem
Your neighbour has the right to enjoy his garden, without having to cut his grass in a beesuit. They are your bees not his. Who paid his hospital bill.
Good neighbours are a blessing.

 

[richardbees]

Ive seen them going for him and he had to go to hospital last year for treatment.

= Surely that's the end of the debate?


(or am I getting soft in my old age)

 

[VEG]

You have a legal right to cut back any tree to your boundary (as long as it doesnt have a tree preservation order TPO on it) you are also required to offer the branches back to the owner.

 

[AnotherNewBee]

Ive seen them going for him and he had to go to hospital last year for treatment.

= Surely that's the end of the debate?


(or am I getting soft in my old age)

You're getting soft in your old age.

He made changes to his own environment which ended up adversely affecting him and spoiling his neighbours (the OPs) enjoyment of his garden. He refuses, as I understand it, to put up a fence to take the bees flight path over his head.

He has the ability to remove the adverse effects. Either put up a fence or reinstate the ground levels.

In a similar situation, if I make changes to my environment which adversely affect me I do not expect my neighbours (or anyone else) to do - or be forced to do - anything about it. It's my problem. I caused it, and it's up to me to put it right.

 

[richardbees]

ANB

Doesn't the fact that he was hospitalised indicate that bee stings may trigger a fatal Anaphylactic shock?.....which I'd have thought was sufficient reason to move the hives, especially in today's caring society..

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I know of people who have gone to hospital because they broke a nail.

On the other hand, I've known people walk around for weeks with a fractured neck.

'Gone to hospital' does not necessarily mean anything serious.

 

[Moggs]

What? The OP bought a veil so that the neighbour could access his own garden? The neighbour is quizzed regarding his personal hygiene and preference for after shave? By the OP's own admission, the poor chap was hospitalised, probably by his bees? If they're still installed in this particular garden, I would wonder why. It's not April 1st yet is it?

 

[keith pierce]

What? The OP bought a veil so that the neighbour could access his own garden? The neighbour is quizzed regarding his personal hygiene and preference for after shave? By the OP's own admission, the poor chap was hospitalised, probably by his bees? If they're still installed in this particular garden, I would wonder why. It's not April 1st yet is it?

 

[Silly Bee]

One of the reasons I keep bees is as a relaxing hobby. Why on this Earth would you want to feud with your neighbours. If mine ever cause a problem they would be moved without hesitation.

Seems that some beekeepers have the same mindset as some cat owners.

 

[Black Comb]

All the neighbour gas to do is to complain to the council and they will have to be moved.

 

[gavin]

What? The OP bought a veil so that the neighbour could access his own garden? The neighbour is quizzed regarding his personal hygiene and preference for after shave? By the OP's own admission, the poor chap was hospitalised, probably by his bees? If they're still installed in this particular garden, I would wonder why. It's not April 1st yet is it?

All human life it here it seems. Can't quite find the right words to describe some of the views on display in this thread, but it ain't pretty. The failure of some people to put themselves into the mind of the other guy for a minute is staggering.

 

[Beeforest]

I have a feeling that a man from Devon has started a thread on a garden-loving forum titled 'Beekeeper Problem '

Sorry, but they should be moved.

 

[Bucks_Boy]

Seems that some beekeepers have the same mindset as some cat owners.

( and you can add parents of children that can scream and shout for hours on end and people who barbeque every weekend using gallons of paraffin to start them)

 

[user 6228]

...Why on this Earth would you want to feud with your neighbours...

generally I agree but sometimes, unfortunately you are not offered the choice...Most neighbours are fine... alas, some (im my experience a number less than 10%) arent.

 

[Silly Bee]

I was assuming there was no problem before the introduction of the bees.