cutting down trees

[hughnique]

The subject of my ever growing pain in the arse Leylandii has reared it's ugly head yet again. A couple of years ago I had a visit from the concilliator at the juridique saying that the person who leases the field behind me wanted the trees trimmed, as they were encroaching slightly on his field, a field where I have not seen anything but weeds growing in the last 16 years. Suddenly there was an about turn and I was told not to bother as the person who rents the field had given up, now, out of the blue I am re informed by the concilliator that the renter has retaken the field and wants the trees cut again. Something tells me this is some sort of Brit bashing, as the field is so waterlogged at any time of the year that nothing will grow in it at all, now I am of the belief that these trees cannot be felled during some moths of the year due to nesting birds etc, anyone know if that is true and if so what are the months involved

[MAD87]

You're certainly obliged under the Code civil to prune overhanging branches. Have you been asked to fell the tree(s) rather than pruning?
I'd be inclined to ask the maire what use the new tenant is planning and point out that a mature tree will drink up to 450L of rain and groundwater per day + your point re nests.

[Char]

For farmers, hedge trimming is prohibited from April 1 to July 31 I'm not sure about individuals. I'd pop into your Mairie and ask, they'd know or be able to find out for you.

It's probably not 'Brit Bashing' there are laws and regulations regarding the height of hedges and trees in relation to the distance they are planted from the boundary of your property.

[hughnique]

I don't really know what they want me to do so have asked the concilliator to determine exactly what they want, I take the point about the trees drinking all the water, and have already mentioned that fact in my previous dealings with this matter. I do not think they can ask me to actually fell the trees, but to be honest I would rather that than poncing about trimming them back and seeing a load of brown vegetation. Trouble is it is not the cutting down it is getting rid of 100 plus trees all about 40m tall, no good, I am told for anything whatsoever. I would have thought that they were suitable for chipping and using as a mulch, not that I can do or even use it. I have myself to blame, they are an eyesore but have just been left to grow, they do need some attention, but over the years the cost has risen and I expect to be receiving costs somewhere in the region of 10K€.
I mentioned Brit bashing as I have just practically finished a large extension on the house and this request has suddenly reared its head, I think the mentality is such that if he can afford to do that he must be loaded, so we will help him spend a bit more

[Bayleaf]

Can you get some photos? If they're just asking for the overhanging branches to be lopped back, then just do that. We would be pruning hedges like leylandii around now - so best time of year. If the field is generally waterlogged, I'd say they're helping by absorbing some of the water!

You won't get a reduction on price, but a good treesurgeon would chip the cuttings, and could either blow it back under the trees as mulch, or take away for someone else to benefit.

[niemeyjt]

How far are trees planted from the boundary?

I would have thought your garden would benefit also from increase in light if trees are 40m tall.

[hughnique]

How far are trees planted from the boundary?

I would have thought your garden would benefit also from increase in light if trees are 40m tall.

Therein lies another anomaly, looking towards the bottom of my garden, there is a normal green chain link fence, which would presumably be my so called boundary. Immediately the other side of said fence are the offending trees, and I am meaning immediately, then there is a drainage ditch, which I am now told belongs to me, then the field. It is all a bit bizarre, if they need to come down then they will have to be felled in to that field and dealt with on the ground there. There was a enterprise beyond the field last year that cut down some poplars, which were hauled away on artics, however they grubbed out a load of stumps and wayward branches, which were piled up in a corner. Some weeks later two artics turned up in the lane, and I could see that a device had been driven up which was taking all this old gnarled up wood and grinding it up subsequently spewing it out in to the waiting trailers, supposedly to use as mulch or pelletised firewood fuel. Luckily I did speak with one of the drivers who gave me details of the company so might give them a call at some time.

[L Austin France]

What's a 'concilliator at the juridique '? Does every commune have one?
Matter of interest, about 3 years ago I cut down about 50 similar monster trees which we inherited with the property & which were alongside the road & always dropping large branches across the road in winter gales causing chaos to early morning commuters until moved by the commune workers before I woke up & shifted 'em with my tractor.
I kept the trunks, which were slowly used as posts by neighbours constructing sheds etc, & pushed all of the brances into the middle of the field for burning.
The resulting fire was something to behold with flames about 10m high.
The only person who commented on the fire was a bloke about 1/2 km down the road who said the decending ash was like a snowstorm.

[MAD87]

Have you been in touch with a local scierie (sawmill)? We had some conifers felled and removed from our last garden - they paid €1 000 for the privelige when the price of wood hadn't yet gone through the roof. At that time, they were selling to Portugal where construction wood was in short supply. Now it goes to the Chinese.

[hughnique]

That would be an ideal solution, but I am now told that we are not allowed to have a bonfire, unless you are French and don't give a toss about the rules. The concilliator is from the ministry of justice, this one is based at Angers but seems to have an office in the local Mairie, which just so happens to be where the owner of the field works