NEIGHBOURS who chopped a tree in half and were branded ‘the pettiest couple in the UK’ still don’t talk to the residents next door three years on.
Back in 2021, Bharat Mistry was left furious when her neighbours, Graham and Irene Lee, took drastic action against the beloved tree that had graced her garden in Sheffield for 25 years.
The 16ft fir tree, now famously chopped in half, continues to attract curious visitors and even boasts Google reviews.
The elderly couple, both in their 70s, cited overhanging branches and the mess from nesting pigeons as reasons for their year-long dispute.
The Lees eventually hired professionals to slice the tree in half, leaving the Mistry family devastated.
Despite the passage of time, the tension between the two households lingers.
Mrs Mistry told The Sun Online, “We exchange pleasantries now but that is all. We have come to live with our tree as it is after nearly three years but not love it.
“I don’t let it bother me now – we can’t change it. It’s still standing and we maintain it. We get on with our business and they get on with theirs.”.
The bizarre sight of the half-tree has captured the public’s imagination. It’s now featured on Google Maps, with visitors frequently stopping by to snap photos.
Mrs Mistry noted, “You still get the odd car coming down the road and you see people doing pictures at the tree.
“It’s a nice quiet neighbourhood to live in and the tree issue has been the only dispute for many years.” she said.
Local rambling group leader David Hirst admits he often includes the tree in his tours.
“The tree was cut in that fashion in 2021 because pigeons were nesting in it and all the property next door was getting bird poo on it and all over their vehicle.
“It became a bit of an attraction and I understand it is now on Google Maps. The Water Thorpe area has become a bit of a highlight,” he explained.
Opinions among neighbours are mixed. Jane, another resident, lamented the loss of the tree’s former glory.
“It used to be beautiful and shaped like a big lollipop, and it’s a shame it’s been chopped in half.
“It’s in Mrs Mistry’s garden and they maintain their side of it, always having it pruned.
“The tree has become notorious – even my cousin living in Australia has heard about it!” she said.
Local mum Louise, out for a stroll with her three-year-old son, was more critical.
“It’s destroying nature. Birds nestled in that tree, it didn’t only ruin their habitat but axing it in half has made it look silly.
“Birds are birds, they eat, they poo, they fly, and the tree should have been left alone. Any mess can always be cleared away.” said Louise.
The Lees, however, remain unrepentant.
Irene Lee previously told The Sun Online, “We have no regrets about cutting it in half and can’t believe this is still news. We get on with everyone in the street.
“We’ve been here for a long time
“The birds weren’t really the problem, the tree was blocking our driveway. We got it professionally trimmed, and the tree surgeon told me, ‘you know it’s going to grow back?’
“If that’s the case, then I’ll cut it again, especially if it grows out too much. The neighbours may own the tree but if it overhangs on our property then we are legally allowed to trim it back.”
As the saga of the half-tree continues, it stands as a testament to the extremes of suburban disputes and the unexpected fame that can result from a simple neighbourhood feud.
Meanwhile, they might not be the only ones fighting over overgrown plants, another mum was left horrified after her neighbour allegedly ripped out her beloved hedge and claims the council are shunning her.
Elsewhere, neighbourhood tensions reach an all new high as this man, charged at at his neighbour with a shotgun in a row over ‘loud music’ before he was cornered by cops.
