This is a bit of a strange one, but it is affecting my work so I thought I’d write about it.
I have a a hedge with mature trees in it growing on my land. It provides privacy and the birds love the ivy! My neighbour would like it removed. Some years ago he bullied me into having the trees pollarded (reduced in height) by promising to leave me alone and stop bullying me if I agreed. So I finally did. But pretty soon afterwards he demanded that the trees be removed alltogether, using threats, harassment and solicitors to enforce his demands. And the reasoning behind him believing that he and his wife have the right to decide what grows in my garden? The reason they believe they can cut down my trees and saplings against my will? The reason is that I am a foreigner. Yes, I shouldn’t be here in the first place. I should ‘bugger off home’. So when he says ‘cut’, I should not ask ‘why’ , I should ask ‘how high’.
These new holes appeared last week. You can see his house pretty well. He likes to stand on his patio and shout abuse at me.
I am, to my great surprise, being subjected to racism. I grew up in Sweden and I moved to England some 25 years ago. You read in the papers about people being bullied for being ‘ginger’ or speaking with a different accent but I have never experienced racism before, myself. It is a strange one.
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Oh Anna, that’s not a good situation. Maybe you could talk to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau to see if you can put a stop to his behaviour?
Sue
Hi Sue, Thank you for your comment and suggestion…
We have done the Mediators, the solicitors, the lot. But the problem is he reneges on every deal we make, written or otherwise. I’m thinking of going to the papers; he is a head teacher so I’m guessing his reputation matters to him.
It is a strange situation….
Anna
Good luck – must be very stressful.
Looks like in front of the holes is the perfect place to stand your dustbin next time you are smoke firing and the wind is in the right direction
Um… maybe that wasn’t the most helpful comment! I would try to record some of his verbal abuse first of all, if I was you, so you have some evidence. The Board of Governors at his school might be interested to hear about his antics.
I love your fire, Joy! And yes, I think your advise is great – the police are involved now so we’ll see…xx
Good for you – don’t let it get to you
That is uttterly disguisting, how he is treating you Anna. A person should be able to choose where they want to live in this world, without racism. What nationality you are, shouldn’t make any difference. I would be inclined to let the hedge grow, then you won’t be able to see the bastard! LOL! Seriously though, I would get some free legal advice, on what to do in such a situation, so it doesn’t escalate further. After all, as well as being a complete racist towards you, your neighbour is also harrassing you, and harrassment is one of the things the law is meant to protect you from, under the human rights act. Don’t let yourself be a victim Anna, but make sure you don’t break the law, getting him back. Also, if any of your fans have a small recording device, such as a dictaphone, ask them, if you could borrow it. If you record him saying those things to you, then you will have more evidence to prosecute him. I know some recorded evidence doesn’t stand up in court, but if you are one of the people recorded, the law might see it differently. Hope this advice helps, and I hope you sort things out with your neighbour in a way that suites you both, without anymore slurs on you. Have a lovely Weekend! Much Love Paul OXOXOXOXOXOXO
Thanks Paul. I’m trying to let the hedge grow, but they keep vandalizing it.
I would definitely seek free legal advice. Most solicitors have free sessions, if you look for them advertised. Then you can see if there are anything you can do, to stop him harrassing you. After all, it is your garden. You should be able to have whatever plants, or hedges you want. Have a lovely Saturday! Much Love Paul OXOXOXOXO
Like others on here, I find this completely incomprehensible, unless he is mentally unbalanced (I have to say that being a head teacher these days could unbalance anyone). I hope you manage to sort him out. The voice recording might be a good idea – and if you have anyone clever with IT, a webcam running to catch anyone in the act doing illicit chopping. It may not be acceptable in a law court, but at least it will not be just your word against theirs. Commiserations.
Thank you. The police just got back to me and my neighbours admit that they said what I report they said. But as they are very, very sorry, no charges will be made.
Hmmmm – well, good so far … tape recorder kept ready for the next??
I think the next step is to go to the press. Harassment works best in private
That is a horrible situation Anna.
I must admit to being on the other side of such a situation when my new neighbours planted leylandii pines right next to my fence (they grow to 40 metres high and are so dense when planted close together that no breezes get through. We spoke to them and said we would be happy to buy replacement trees (as they were only just planted) but they weren’t interested. We were lucky – they rented the place out and the tenants were not gardeners. Several of the trees died in the heat of our summer and the tenants finally cleaned up the yard and took the lot out.
How such a situation becomes a racist one I can never understand. After 25 years…. that is so sad. I hope you are able to sort it out without too much more hassle.
I would suggest you take photographs of the hedge regularly making sure the pics are dated to show any deterioration that may happen because of your neighbours. Anything that looks cut that you haven’t cut, any holes that get bigger – and measure them. You have to have the best records you can to back you up. It may sound a little excessive but it sounds like it is what you will need to do.
Thank you for your support; glad the leylandii situation got sorted; privacy rocks, but there are limits! xxx
Racism IS shocking, isn’t it? I’d never encountered it either until I moved from London to Sydney and, deny it as they might, there’s quite an anti ‘Pom’ sentiment with some Australians. It’s horrible. I do feel for you. I also lived next to a complete nutter until recently who took it upon herself to poison the bougainvillea that stood between the two houses (planted to screen us from her equally crazy dog which barked every time it saw us). What I discovered was that there was very little legal recourse here when someone poisons or generally destroys your plantings. I don’t know what it’s like there, but going public sounds like a good idea. Or at least the threat of it. I was very taken aback to read that your neighbour is a head teacher – doesn’t bode well for the school. So I wish you well and I do know how hard it is to be at the receiving end of what amounts to hatred. It’s horrible.
Yes, it is the same here; plants have very few rights! And he is a retired head teacher but his wife still works as I teacher, I think. I feel for the kids; let’s hope they don’t preach what they practice. I love Bougainvillea; how can anyone have so little soul as to poison it? People are strange…
Oh, and I am sorry that you too are experiencing racism; I must admit I never knew how common it is until I found myself at the receiving end. I wondered why several of my neighbours would tape up the George’s Cross in their windows and fly it from their flag posts; before his comments it didn’t occur to me that it was for my benefit.
I don’t live in the UK anymore but it’s still my country and I’m shocked and ashamed to share a nationality with the people you describe. Maybe things have changed radically since I lived there 17 years ago, or maybe I had my head in the clouds. It’s not uncommon anywhere in the world – I remember the day after the Twin Towers collapsed a very close friend and I met in Sydney for brunch. She is Iranian. The waitress blanked her out as if she didn’t exist and I had to order for her. It’s everywhere, and everywhere it’s indefensible.
Hi Anna – this is horrible. It may be a good idea to visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to find out your rights concerning your trees. As for the abuse – this is racism and intimidation and should be reported to the police – I think your neighbours require a restraining order being served on them.
Thank you for visiting my site, Kate, and for your support.
Anna
Anna I’m really sorry to hear about this experience, and while he directs this at you, ultimately it’s his narrow minded-ness hurting himself more. I’d like to tell him to grow up!
Thank you, Jane. I think you’re right; people like that do need a hobby!
)
Jesus, Anna! That stinks! You should not be subjected to racism at all Nor should you be cutting down trees in your garden to suit the old bastard’s whims.
I am sorry you’re having this hassle.
Stick to your guns and stick up for the trees!
Those trees are sticking up for me…if they weren’t there, I expect he would be colonizing my entire garden, claiming it was his. They are very dear to me, those trees. And the birds, butterflies and bees love the ivy x
You must feel awful. I would. I love vegetation around me. What are your choices? ignore him as you once did…pray for guidance…consult the committee…move…throw mud on his windows… You do not own the home? Then you have no legal rights. You own the home? Then this is a matter for shall claims court perhaps…harassment.
good luck!