UK homeowners with apple trees in their gardens are being warned over potential fines after a High Court ruling. A gardener whose decomposing apples dropped into a neighbour's property was ordered to pay £200,000 in legal costs after losing a court case.
High Court dismisses allegations
The High Court dismissed allegations by apple tree owner Antoinette Williams that neighbour Barbara Pilcher "fabricated" evidence against her. The court heard Mrs Williams' 40ft tree was depositing hundreds of decaying apples onto Mrs Pilcher's lawn annually.
Ms Williams was told to pay the £200,000 court bill after her neighbour took legal action over rotten apples, and later lost an attempt to revisit her case.
Expert advice on avoiding disputes
Gardening specialists at Toolstation explained how disputes can arise, saying: "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 displaying this information.
Fences, hedges, and communication
"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 note. "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 explain.
"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," the gardening specialists advise.
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."
