Sean Freeman

Liz, I'm very sorry your neighbour appears to not be giving you the consideration that hopefully we are all giving our neighbours (though I seriously doubt that we are doing that? any of us, and yes I'm only really speaking for myself)

The tree is a sapling, it is causing no nuisance as yet, you have spoken to them and they have verbally agreed to take measures to rectify future problems...if I understand what you've written thus far?
I would be suggesting to your neighbours that doing something now will be much easier and cheaper than waiting 5-10yrs. But if they decide they are unwilling then there is nothing you can do at this stage....and I personally think that is quite right and proper, if I went around trying to rectify problems now in my neighbourhood that I believe will become an issue in 5-10yrs I'd be locked away for a very very long time!

Liz I'm not having a go at you, I have helped (mostly successfully, but not always) many too many disputing neighbours manage their (apparently) tree related issues, when it is very clear to someone on the outside that trees are really merely the latest in a long line of issues that they have disagreement on.

Jacarandas are one of the more beautiful trees that grow in cooler climates of Oz, when left alone and not in conflict with buildings too close to the stem. I very much wish more people tried to grow them up here...they don't and those that do hack them within 1" of their lives.

I really think Guy is revealing a very different attitude to boundaries that just doesn't exist (for the most part) here and no its not socialist or commune style thinking (though sure throw those terms in if it suits your arguement....not a great many socialists in the USA, and very few communes) this was raised in another thread recently about fenceless properties.

__________________
Sean

Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.
- Kahlil Gibran