Grandma says life is hell due to cones falling from neighbour's tree

27 Dec 2023, 11:26 by Gina Kalsi · Mail Online

A grandmother has said her life is being made a misery by her neighbour's giant tree, which showers Beech nuts onto anyone visiting her home.

Lynda Owen, 76, from Fairwater, Cardiff, South Wales, has had her home blacklisted by postal workers - and even has to shield those coming to her house with a giant golf umbrella.

The retiree is furious because council officials will not step in to help because the 60ft giant Beech is under a tree preservation order.

Lynda - who is fighting lung and breast cancer - said: 'That tree has been the bane of my life for 28 years.

'But it is getting worse as it gets bigger and bigger with age. Those cones are like missiles raining down on you.

'Even my postman refused to deliver my mail for a while because the cones kept hitting him on the head and he'd had enough.

Retired Lynda Owen (pictured), 76, has had her home blacklisted by postal workers - and even has to give a giant golf umbrella to those who come to her house

In the autumn seasons, Beech trees develop bristly seed pods which fall and open to reveal nut-like seeds known as 'mast'

'I now have a golf umbrella for guests to use when they come so they can protect themselves.'

In the autumn seasons, Beech trees develop bristly seed pods which fall and open to reveal nut-like seeds known as 'mast'.

The mother-of-one has lived in her three-bed terraced house as the tree grew into today's giant.

It towers 60ft over her home with a 30ft plus spread of branches sending cones and leaves into her garden and footpath.

She says she has begged the council to cut the tree down but they have refused and are adamant the tree is not their responsibility.

It is in the grounds of the adjacent flat and previous tenants did organise for a tree surgeon to prune the tree, but they took off just a few branches.

Now new neighbours have moved in - but were not made aware of the ongoing dispute with the tree by the owner who has failed to cut it back.

'The tree has got bigger and bigger with every passing year. It's made my life an absolute misery,' she said.

'I've been forced to spend £4,000 on a new roof because the tree has damaged it and my car has so many dings in it because big branches keep falling off it too.

'I had to spend £750 not long ago because a branch broke off and hit another tile off it.

'You cannot even see my front garden anymore - it is covered with thousands of leaves. I can't enjoy the outdoors because I'm in poor health and frightened I might go flying if it's wet outside.'

Lynda said the tree also has families of squirrels nestling in it.

Lynda is furious because council officials will not step in to help because the 60ft giant Beech (pictured) is under a protection tree order

'The sun is obliterated from my house most of the time. I can no longer sit in my garden and enjoy the sunshine,' she said.

'I feel trapped in my house. I don't want to be slipping on wet leaves or being hit on the head with falling cones at my age.'

In desperation, she called her insurance company to seek legal advice because she was so distressed. But that backfired.

'When my renewal notice came through they wanted £872 for my buildings and contents insurance just because I'd asked their advice on that tree,' she says.

Whilst her postman has resumed delivering her mail she knows it could only be a matter of time because it stops again because of the falling cones and slippery path.

Grandma says life is hell due to cones falling from neighbour's tree

READ MORE: My neighbour 'built a hazardous fence on our property'... so we got our own back by erecting a BIGGER one to block it out