A small claims court in Antwerp ruled that two trees should not have their branches cut as they must be preserved to fight against climate change.
The case was brought forward by a couple who felt that their neighbours' oak trees were too large and wanted them to be cut by 80% as they produced too many dead leaves and wasted fruit. The tree owner disagreed and offered to provide the couple with reusable rubbish bags every year.
The couple brought the case to a small claims court, which subsequently visited the garden and deemed that "tolerating certain inconveniences is part of being a neighbour, unless there is an excessive nuisance."
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In her ruling, the court judge found "no excessive nuisance" on the neighbour's behalf and ruled not to cut the trees given their importance in the ongoing fight against climate change.
Instead, the tree owner will have to provide his neighbours with 20 reusable rubbish bags and 20 garden waste bags each year, of which he will have to collect and regularly dispose.
