AITA for challenging my neighbor cutting down trees and hedges that are beyond his property line? (UK)
The UK has a Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which, among other things, protects bird's nests and fledglings during their active season. You can't fell trees with active nests or harm or remove them in any way.
New neighbors discovered some land adjacent to my property, not attached to their primary property, is actually owned by them and started cutting down trees and hedges today, and not just on their property, but way beyond their property lines, and didn't even check for nests. I don't care that it is next to my yard because it is closed by a fence anyway. I just think they should not be leveling land that is not theirs and that supports wildlife.
I confronted them, it didn't go well. So, I contacted the council and they came out and asked them to stop until Monday when the tree specialist can come out and determine what to do going ahead.
It was a lot of arguing and passive/aggressive comments, condescending comments, and mild threats. Mainly on the neighbor's side, but I won't pretend we didn't eventually come back with our own. I absolutely regret stooping to his level. (I will give background info in the comments because it is too long for this post)
It is giving me a lot of anxiety because I hate negative interactions, but I think I did the right thing protecting nature on shared public land. I also am not sure if it was worth it to create bad blood.
Am I an asshole for getting the council involved? Should I have just left it alone?