Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 09:36:45 AM

Title: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 09:36:45 AM
Hi All,  Well, last nights gale took its toll in  our garden.  A huge limb of our neigbhour's pine tree fell neatly along the fence, but mainly on our side.  It has managed to do it very gracefully without damaging either of our greenhouses, but now lies along the top of the fence.  The tree belongs to our neighbours, not us, does anyone know legally whether they are required to move it, or do I have to foot the bill?  Its far to big to do without help.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 22, 2008, 09:40:56 AM
Don't you get along?? Shared job maybe.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 12:20:14 PM
And here is its picture:
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 12:22:58 PM
Yes, David, we get along really well, but when it comes to paying for it, I'm not just sure whether they will want to foot the bill if we need to hire help.  Its really big, and two other limbs are now looking a bit dangerous, so may need a tree surgeon I reckon.  The two other limbs might easily fall onto the greenhouse, which would become quite an expense.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Martin Baxendale on March 22, 2008, 12:24:55 PM
Chris, I'm pretty sure it's legally the neighbours' responsibility to remove the fallen tree limb and pay for any damage it's caused to your property. The tree is their property and their responsibility, just as if their chimmney had fallen into your garden.  
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 12:28:52 PM
Thanks Martin, very helpful.  I am hoping it won't come to it, but if it starts to cost to remove, I wasn't sure of who has to pay.  It is amazing but it has not caused any damage whatsoever to the greenhouse, and just the tip of the fence seems affected, I think the Clematis montana, which is very bushy, broke the fall.  I didn't even lose a single plant in the pots that are around there, and the cold frame is fine too.  We have been very lucky.  But I think it has probably weakened the tree so much now, that it will need to be taken down completely, a huge job, and likely to be quite costly - but probably not as much as it would cost to replace the greenhouse!
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Arnold on March 22, 2008, 02:53:17 PM
I'm not sure of local law in the UK, but here if a limb over hangs my property I can remove it.  If the limb was on your neighbors side it may be his responsiblility.

Arnold
New Jersey
USA
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: mark smyth on March 22, 2008, 06:45:08 PM
I'll lighten the subject with a quick query
If my neighbours peacocks lays eggs in my garden can I keep the eggs?
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 22, 2008, 06:49:30 PM
Mark, peacocks don't lay eggs,at least the ones that I had never did,just the hens, ;D
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 07:01:15 PM
 ;D Very funny Mark.  I was panicking because they had not been around to see about it all day.  But I needn't have worried. My gobsmacked neighbour just popped around now looking a bit green around the gills, he couldn't see if it had crashed into the greenhouse from his window.  He was relieved no damage to the greenhouse, and will sort out getting it removed too, so all is well now.  Whew!
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 22, 2008, 07:21:55 PM
Must be a real pine? I may be going out on a limb here, but I think you need to seek the advice of your local branch manager? ;)
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 22, 2008, 07:23:38 PM
Treemendous Anthony ;D
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 22, 2008, 07:28:32 PM
Anthony Darby, if I knew you were stocking up on puns like that I would have marched you across to Tesco's myself this afternoon and made you buy me LOTS of chocolate :P
And you're not much better, David N..... this is a serious matter... there's money involved!  :o :-X ::) :(
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: TC on March 22, 2008, 07:32:26 PM
Surely your neighbour's household insurance will cover this 
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 22, 2008, 07:34:01 PM
Maggi,that's why he suggested seeing the branch manager ;D
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 22, 2008, 07:36:16 PM
 :o
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 22, 2008, 07:44:47 PM
You lot get worse, you should all bow down in shame ...cone yew not do better than this?
Crumbs.... it's catching!


Tom, sorry I missed you... and the FAB guitar today! Ian was deeply smitten: you lucky man, he said!
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: mark smyth on March 22, 2008, 07:51:31 PM
Three branches came off Margaret Glynn's cedar with one still hanging by it's bark at the top. The council TPOd all the trees in her garden and she now has to write for permission to remove the branch. There is an unsafe lime in the garden right beside a main road. They have refused permission for it to be removed
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 22, 2008, 07:53:12 PM
You lot get worse, you should all bow down in shame ...cone yew not do better than this?
Crumbs.... it's catching!


Tom, sorry I missed you... and the FAB guitar today! Ian was deeply smitten: you lucky man, he said!

OK I know it's supposed to be about trees but I can't let this go, tell us more about the guitar please Tom!
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 22, 2008, 08:18:42 PM
It's ok Maggi ,don't pine, we did not intend to needle yew, :)
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 08:29:29 PM
 ;D  Such a fun group we have here, made me laugh out loud
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 22, 2008, 08:34:47 PM
Chris, just as well we made you laugh... fallen trees are no joke but I'm glad your neighbour is acting sensibly.... the onus would be on him to remove, repair etc at his expense, anyhow!!
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 22, 2008, 08:56:33 PM
Chris,I think you should take a bough now that you have this matter settled
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 22, 2008, 10:04:12 PM
Maybe an ad in the local paper: 'tree fellers required. Come along, and bring two friends'. ::)
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: afw on March 22, 2008, 10:09:30 PM
Maybe an ad in the local paper: 'tree fellers required. Come along, and bring two friends'. ::)

Our local tree surgeons are: 'Two fellas tree surgeons'
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: gote on March 23, 2008, 09:37:54 AM
I think that you all would do well as Classic Japanese poets.
They pun all the time.
"Oh the pines and you" (=I pine for you).
Funnily enough, 'Matsu' menas 'pine' and 'wait' So there is a lot of moonlight in the pines in old Japanese love poetry.
I hope you will not have to pine/wait too much for the removal of the pine.
Göte
PS
Failing a good quotation, I made one up or rather: I quote myself. This is by the way, a good way always to come up with a quotation.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: TC on March 23, 2008, 10:27:25 AM
You lot get worse, you should all bow down in shame ...cone yew not do better than this?
Crumbs.... it's catching!


Tom, sorry I missed you... and the FAB guitar today! Ian was deeply smitten: you lucky man, he said!

OK I know it's supposed to be about trees but I can't let this go, tell us more about the guitar please Tom!

I suppose the only link here is wood !!
I have been going to make a guitar for the last 48 years and collecting choice wood to do so.  Much to my chagrin, I have an allergy to wood dust so I thought that it would be better to get one made to my specs.  I visited a luthier called Jimmy Moon, in Glasgow and discussed the project.  After looking at some of the instruments he had made, I commissioned him to make one for me.  I had a set of pernambucco hardwood about 40 years old which fitted the bill.  This is now impossible to get in a large enough size to make guitars so this is a rather special piece of wood.  Its current use is for the best quality violin bows and is priced accordingly. Last May, Jimmy and I agreed on the final details and the guitar was finished and collected in November - a few days before Ian came to the Ayr branch to give his talk.  He was disappointed that I had not brought it to show it to him, but, at that stage, I was not going to bring it out of the house.  I made up for this by bringing it to the Dunblane show and we sat upstairs for about 15 minutes while he tried it out.  I think he could have walked off with it quite happily.
I can get rather enthusiastic discussing guitars, but for the people who know, it is a OO sized steel strung guitar, ( SMALLISH ), 12 frets to the body, slotted headpiece, 1 7/8 wide finger board of Gabon Ebony, 25.9 scale length, Gabon Ebony pyramid bridge, bone nut and saddle with tortoiseshell bindings and purflings. The neck is of Honduras Mahogany.  The tone I would describe as bell-like and is a joy to play.
The attached pictures I took a few minutes ago.  It is almost impossible to photograph without a studio set-up using a polarising filter to get rid of reflections and as life is too short, these will have to do.

Maggi,  I did not see you at the show.  You must have been back-stage, or sampling the pies !!
  
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 23, 2008, 01:23:49 PM
Tom, thanks very much indeed for that.

Although I have no musical ability whatsoever (only one entry from a VERY long list!) I am very much a listener and can appreciate a good instrument and a good exponent of it. Richard Thompson is one of my favourites, and before he cleaned up his lifestyle when he could really play, so was Clapton.

Your guitar is absolutely beautiful, you must be very proud of it, and maybe one day I will get to hear you play.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 23, 2008, 01:39:42 PM
Tom,

My 15 year old is sitting beside me and for the first time ever has seen something on the SRGC that has taken his interest. Guitar playing is his all consuming hobby and many hours of each day are spent practicing. With a few friends who play together each weekend he had his first 'gig' a few weeks ago. He passes on his admiration for your new guitar.

Paddy
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: TC on March 23, 2008, 02:04:18 PM
Paddy,
Tell him to stick at it.  It's easier to learn when you are young and enthusiastic.  I started at age 15 during the skiffle era and then into folk songs and blues.  Marriage, family and then unrelenting work meant that the guitar was kept in its case with only a brief appearance once or twice a year.  Retirement felt like getting out of prison and I rediscovered my love of guitars - hence the new guitar which should still be about long after me.
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 23, 2008, 05:45:27 PM
Quote
I think he could have walked off with it quite happily.
Got that in one! ::)

Yes, Tom, I was off in search of pies at the time, or I , too, would have been thrilled to meet your Moonie  8)
Young Katie Paterson, who came upon you and Ian plus gorgeous guitar, was greatly impressed with it and told her Mum that she had found "Ian and his friend playing this beautiful guitar"

I must say that the back is a thing of stunning beauty.... an instrument so lovely to look at deserves to sound fantastic, also. Bet you're glad you kept that wood maturing for all those years, eh?
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: ChrisB on March 23, 2008, 06:56:16 PM
Any chance we might get to admire it at the autumn study weekend?  I'd love to hear it though I'm not a musician of any sort....
Title: Re: Fallen Tree - who's responsible?
Post by: mark smyth on March 24, 2008, 12:42:52 AM
Alan your 'Two Fellas' in Ireland would be 'T(h)ree Fellas'. Silent h in many parts
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal