That is depressing , how unreasonable.
People see the show gardens in magazines and on the internet showing contemporary gardens with no nature and think that is normal. But an 80ft concrete garden is going to be horrendous in 40c compared to a garden with a nice big tree with some deep shade.
It's very common - those sorts of people see the garden as just another room and treat it accordingly. I've one as a neighbour: they've moaned that their kid might slip on the blackberries, or tread rosehips into the house (not that they knew what either were - durr). They've also moaned about the 20ft conifer that overhangs their fence, wanting it chopped back and worrying it might damage their foundations. I then pointed out that they chose to move to a house with the tree there - it was planted in 1986 and predates their house by 30 years (it was just a small light bungalow then, much further away from the border with my house). They've also put a long raised flower container directly under the confier. Unsurprisingly, whatever they plant there soon dies off. You don't plant things under conifers!
As it happens, I'm having tree work done on my newly-acquired bit of garden and the tree surgeon told them that cutting back the branches as far as they want would look ridiculous (it would) - and also that conifers have shallow roots (which is true). The missing chunk in their foundation is far more of an issue.
Their garden is a third concrete patio (with a big chunky sofa etc on it) and the rest was grass with a massive trampoline, but now it's dried mud with a massive trampoline. It's a real pity - back when it was a little bungalow on a large plot it had lovely ornamental gardens, with trees, a pond and all sorts.
We fortunately have tree preservation orders on all the trees in the back gardens on our street. A wood in places of Beech , Birch, Sycamore and Scotch Pines. As such trees overhang and no one is bothered about leaves blowing over. It would be foolish to install white washed garden walls or expect slate grey designer paving or a perfect lawn. Moss , lichens , leaves and mud are features of the garden. An English country or wooden garden type effect is much cheaper and less obsessive to maintain.
It's noticable in the wooded area of my garden just how much cooler it feels, instantly several degrees colder. The ground isn't dusty, either, the thick canopy really helps to stop evaporation.
I admit that if I hadn't managed to buy my neighbour's plot (on the other side) I would have been sorely tempted to apply for some TPOs! There's a magnificent Scots Pine in there, for example, which is home to bats.
Incidentally I now have the only pond in the area - somewhat overgrown, but a haven for wildlife. The reward for having that was watching a spectacular flying display by four dragonflies on Friday... they need water to breed and I've had them for several years in a row.
Such a contrast to the "extra room" type of gardens.
Edited by user
Sunday, July 31, 2022 5:41:09 AM
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