UK households with apple trees in their gardens face a potential £200,000 fine following a court battle.
A gardener whose rotting apples tumbled into a neighbour’s garden has been defeated in a court hearing and must pay £200k in costs.
The High Court dismissed claims by apple tree owner Antoinette Williams that neighbour Barbara Pilcher had “fabricated” evidence against her.
The “school bully” gardener was hit with a £200,000 court bill after her neighbour took legal action over rotten apples and has failed in her attempt to challenge her case once more.
The duo clashed in court after falling out over a series of disputes, including Mrs Williams’ 40ft tree dropping hundreds of decaying apples onto Mrs Pilcher’s lawn each year, reports Birmingham Live.
Gardening specialists at Toolstation explain: “If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy.”
“But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them,” the specialists caution.
You can discover this by contacting your local council for a map that displays this information. “Most of the time, it’s easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side,” they add.
“When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour’s tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance,” the professionals share.
“If you’re not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you’re planning and, if there’s an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance,” suggest the gardening experts.
They add: “Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance.
“Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height.
“Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn’t have a problem.”