Neighbour cuts tree exactly in half in dispute over overhanging branches in UK

A “petty” neighbour has taken matters into his own hands in a long-running dispute over a tree with overhanging branches.

A neighbourhood dispute over a boundary tree has gone viral after a disgruntled neighbour in the UK took matters into his own hands and sawed a tree in half.

Pictures show the tree, which had been meticulously sawed down the middle, after a neighbour became frustrated with overhanging branches on his property in Sheffield.

The Mistry family told The Sun they were “gutted” when they discovered their neighbours, Graham and Irene Lee, had called in tree loppers to cut half of the branches off the 5m tall tree.

The chopped tree at the centre of the neighbour dispute in Sheffield, England. Picture: SWNS/Mega

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The tree, which is understood to have been at the site for 25 years, has been at the centre of a long-running dispute between the Mistrys and the Lees.

Bharat Mistry said his neighbours had complained that birds in the tree were making too much noise and were making a mess of their driveway before taking the drastic action.

He said he watched on in horror as tree loppers hacked away at the established tree.

“It has been there for 25 years and we’d trimmed it into a ball shape with agreement with the neighbour and he has been fine about it,” he said.

“But recently there have been birds in the tree which you would expect at this time of the year.

“He started off by putting black bin liners in the tree to stop the birds sitting there.

“Last weekend he said he was going to get a tree surgeon to cut it down and we asked him not to but they came on Friday and did it.”

The neighbourhood dispute has sparked debate on UK television. Picture: SWNS/Mega

The lopsided tree has gone viral on social media and sparked debate in UK media, including on popular TV chat show Jeremy Vine.

“It’s really petty and it’s a tree as well. I like trees, I think trees should be allowed to flourish and have a chat with your neighbour,” presenter Jemma Forte said.

Host Jeremy Vine also spoke of his disbelief.

“It’s got out of hand, hasn’t it? It’s an escalation, it’s like they haven’t been able to figure out a way. I understand neighbourhood disputes, but really?” he said.

Bharat Mistry said his family was “absolutely distraught”.

“We pleaded and pleaded with them not to do it, but their mind was made up. That tree was coming down,” he said.

“I believe he has the right to cut down anything that is overhanging onto his property.

“But you have to ask, why after 25 years would you do that? It must have been no more than 3ft onto his land.”

Pictured is Irene Lee, neighbour in the dispute who along with husband Graham got a team of tree loppers to cut it in half. Picture: SWNS/Mega

The tree before it was cut in half. Picture: SWNS/Mega

Mr Mistry said his neighbour first started to complain about the trees in March last year.

“I haven’t spoken to him since they cut it down,” he said.

“The weekend before last they said they were getting a tree surgeon to chop it down and they came out on Friday to do it.

“It is really sad to look at, because the tree has been there for so long and it’s a really pretty tree.”

Parts of this article originally appeared on The Sun and were reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Neighbour cuts tree exactly in half in dispute over overhanging branches in UK