Hedgerow

[HenryFord]

Hello Everyone,
I live in a dethatched house, with gardens to 3 sides. At the bottom of my back garden there is a hedgerow which borders onto a row of approx 10 terrace houses. The hedgerow is on my land. The hedgerow is quite high - approx 15 feet. It's this height partly because it was very tall when I purchased the property, partly because it gives me plenty of privacy and partly because its never been an issue with any of the neighbours.
The other day one of the neighbours knocked on my front door and very politely asked if I minded if she cut the hedge. She said it would be "mainly from our side", ie from from her side. I said yes that's fine. ....anyway 2 days later I look out from my kitchen window to see that a 8ft x 8ft section has been cut, from the top, right through the fence, 95% on my side. Now I have a hedge that runs along the back of my house, with a huge hole cut out of it. I was certainly never asked if this level of work could be carried out and although the hedge was high, I was never consulted, or given chance to remedy it....as no one had ever mentioned it. I was planning on selling the house in the near future - this summer, hopefully, but there is now no chance of that!
I do not want to level the hedge to the same level (although maybe it is an option in the longer term) as there are nesting birds in the hedge.
Anyone any ideas...where do I stand legally? And how do I remedy this problem.

[Neveracrossword]

As the advice at the top of the Law section says," Members come here for advice not judgement! Members who offer only moral judgement will be suspended."

[lady-janine]

Quite right Neveracrossword. Putting forward a personal opinion is one thing but being so completely rude is surely against the rules of AB. I am surprised that someone who only joined last month could be so forceful and belligerent.

[WSpa]

The idea that HenryFord should should involve the law over his hedge being cut is ludicrous. As for being suspended I couldn't give a toss.

[douglas9401]

Is your neighbour a home for the bewildered?

That job is a complete nonsense.

[Barmaid]

I couldn't see the picture before but I would say this:

1 Your neighbour is an idiot - it will be a matter of weeks before the "gap" is filled by extended growth from either side of it.
2. After bird nesting has finished, consider having it topped yourself (it will grow back stronger and thicker).
3. Ignore it for now and just laugh at the fact that they went to all that trouble which will be meaningless in a few weeks.
4. This should not affect your house sale - there is (as yet) no real argument and you do not need to declare that your neighbours are utter plonkers.

[HenryFord]

Thanks for all your answers, with one obvious exception all have been very helpful. I really don't want to take legal action, and as several of you have pointed out it may end up being expensive, difficult and pointless.....but there are times in life when, no matter how hard you hide from it, pure stupidity just seeks you out, and blindsides you with all its might....and sometimes you just want to respond....perhaps natural selection will eventually take care of these stupid people.

[lady-janine]

After nesting time would it be possible for you to prune the height of your hedge to about 6ft and do it so that represents waves or clouds?

Sorry I'm not sure what that formation is officially called.