New photo reveals neighbour's commitment to 'petty' tree dispute
The suburban dispute made headlines across the world in 2021 – and it seems it's still going on.
An elderly couple's commitment to what has been branded "utter pettiness" remains unwavering two years after their dispute with their neighbour made headlines around the world.
The disagreement between the two households was triggered by a well-kept circular tree which was right on the boundary of one home, with one half hanging above the other neighbour's driveway in the UK city of Sheffield.
While the neighbours, in their 70s, had reportedly not had an issue with the tree for years, when a number of birds began sitting in it, making a noise and pooing on their driveway, they took matters into their own hands. Despite the pleas of their neighbour, in 2021 they hired a tree surgeon to cut the tree down the middle, removing the section hanging over onto their land.
Striking aftermath photos of the work quickly went viral, with the tree even becoming a minor tourist attraction with visitors desperate to see the remarkable sight for themselves.
In new imagery taken by Google Maps in June, the tree can be seen well maintained on both sides, with the neighbour appearing to ensure the tree does not encroach again onto their property.
Neighbours have 'no regrets' over cutting tree
In January, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported the two sets of neighbours were still "at loggerheads".
One nearby neighbour recently told The Sun there was still tension and the tree is still trimmed on both sides. Interviewed by the publication, both sets of neighbours in the dispute remained coy over their falling out.
“We get on with our business and they get on with theirs," the woman whose tree was cut said. The other household said they had "no regrets".
At the time the disappointed owners of the tree agreed their neighbour was entitled to cut one half down, but were baffled by the timing.
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"You have to ask, why after 25 years would you do that?," they said at the time, The Star reported.
Images of the tree once again gained traction online last week, with many debating whether it was "petty" or justified to trim the tree.
"That is one of the most ridiculous and pathetic things I ever seen in suburbia," one person claimed.
"Neighbours who plant trees that close to another's property without thinking about it are wrong," one person argued back.
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