A devastated homeowner sought advice on Reddit after finding one of the trees in his yard disfigured, with half of its branches missing.

The user shared several photos of the tree and wrote that his neighbor had taken it upon himself to remove many of the branches. The OP was rightfully upset, especially since the tree had been there since he himself was alive. “I saw bird nests there all the time,” he wrote. And to make matters worse, the neighbors left most of the trash in the OP’s yard.

The OP received numerous comments with suggestions and advice on how to take legal action, but as he noted later in the thread, he is based in the UK where the rules for neighbourhood disputes are slightly different and going to court is considered a last resort.

Unfortunately, neighborhood disputes over trees and plants are common, especially when the branches hang over the fence. Talking to your neighbor about their problems can help prevent the problem from escalating and resolve the situation before it gets too heated.

Explaining to them that your garden and trees have multiple benefits for your health and the environment can help them understand this. However, there have been reports of neighbors trespassing on other people’s properties to remove plants and trees. It can be helpful to know your rights in such cases.

Trees provide many economic and environmental benefits, such as improving air quality by trapping pollutant particles and reducing heat in cities. They can also improve our wellbeing and have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and improve mental health. In addition, native trees and plants provide important services for wildlife, and many birds, bats and mammals have made them their home.

The OP was particularly concerned about the birds and bats that lived in that tree, and several commenters agreed that the neighbor was probably in the wrong.

“I believe all breeding birds are protected in the UK,” wrote one commenter.

Many others were just as distraught as the OP. “I’m so sorry! This hurts to see,” wrote another person.

Subscribe to our free newsletter for simple tips on save more And waste lessand don’t miss this cool list of simple ways you can help yourself and the planet at the same time.