neighbour threw hedge clippings into my garden

[mysterious_cities_of_mold]

I have a hedge along the full length of my garden, on my side of a garden wall. Today, my neighbour trimmed his side of the hedge, then chucked all the clippings into my garden. Am I right to feel a bit annoyed by this or should I be the one to deal with the clippings? He was cutting other hedges in his garden so could he not have disposed of my hedge cuttings with the rest of them?

[tressygirl]

Mmmm,  this is  not a question pertaining to eBay. 

Best to get legal advice because who is liable for what,  and which bit of hedge is over which property,  no one here is qualified to answer that question.

@mysterious_cities_of_mold 

[auctionmike1]

If the hedge is on your side of the wall then you should probably be the one who should have trimmed it!!!

[*guinevere*]

I do know that any owners of hedges/trees etc always used to be responsible for any clippings etc from that hedge.

Your neighbour was only allowed to cut anything that was overhanging his property and by law he had to give you the clippings/branches back.

This was always the case as far as I know, whether the law has changed or not I couldn't say. Google should tell you.

Having said that I think it was a bit unreasonable of your neighbour to tip yours back to you while disposing of his own, maybe he was annoyed at having to trim your hedge in the first place, and thought you should be the one to do it?

[zoomingmouse]

Actually I would have been a bit annoyed by this myself - they obviously had to pick them all up in order to chuck them over so could have easily put them in a bag, especially as you say they were cutting elsewhere - it's not something I ever did when there was a hedge in the neighbours garden.

Try not to fall out though - some people just don't realise how their actions affect others.

Maybe you could suggest that you give them a container to put them in next time so it's easier for you to dispose of them, which may make them think about it & just dispose of them themselves 😉

[thesmokingrunner]

It appears from the wording you used ("I have a hedge... on my side of a garden wall") that the wall forms the boundary of the two properties and that hedge is entirely on your property.

As the hedge is solely within the boundary of your property maintenance is therefore your responsibility. You do not give any details regarding the height of the either the hedge or the wall; nor do you give any indication of accessibility of the side of your hedge against the wall, but I would surmise that whilst you may well have maintained both your side and the top of the hedge you may have neglected to maintain the wall side of the hedge and permitted it to encroach on your neighbour's property.

Your neighbour is totally within his or her rights to trim any encroachment back to the boundary line. Your neighbour was also correct in returning the clippings to you as they are your property and to keep or dispose of them would be theft. They do not have to obtain your permission to trim the hedge back but they do need your permission to dispose of any clippings. Assuming you are communicating with each other, that is...

Obviously it would be better for all concerned if you got on with your neighbour but I get the impression you don't. I'm also wondering if this is the first time your hedge clippings have been returned (new neighbour? new hedge? Overgrown and previously unmaintained hedge?) because otherwise the event you describe would presumably have happened on an annual basis.

Solution? Either talk to your neighbour or trim your hedge yourself...