How a bitter row between neighbors created one of Sheffield’s best-loved tourist attractions

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A tree chopped in half by a couple in a bitter border row has since become an unlikely tourist attraction – and even has Google reviews.

Bharat Mistry was left out in 2021 when Irene and Graham Lee cut down half the branches of the 16-foot fir tree that had stood outside their home for 25 years.

The drastic action came after a year-long dispute between Mr Mistry and the Lees, both in their 70s, in the leafy Sheffield suburb of Waterthorpe.

He said the couple became upset because the birds had nested there and damaged their driveway with droppings.

Three years later, locals say rubberneckers still visit the quiet cul-de-sac – where houses sell for around £220,000 – to get a good look at the tree, which is still cut in half.

It has even been tagged as a tourist attraction on Google Maps and visitors have left reviews.

One reviewer – who left a three-star rating – wrote: ‘Interesting tree which was cut in half due to an argument between the two neighbours.

“The story also went over the news and it was exciting to visit the location and see the news turn into real life.

“Google Street View hasn’t been updated since 10 years ago, so you can see the original tree before it was cut down.

“It’s not worth the long drive, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit.”

Neither Mistries nor Lees responded to reporters this week.

But neighbors said the pair had not mended their relationship since the row hit global headlines.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I think it’s funny. I think it was cut again because you would have thought it would have grown back by now.

“I think now it’s like a landmark. You get all the walkers to come and they all come down the street to take a look. They go up to it and take pictures.

“Even when the houses were put up for sale, they used it as a steering tool and said ‘it’s by that half of the tree.’ He’s become famous, so he might as well keep it that way now.”

Another nearby resident said: “They are both nice neighbours, I wave them both down.

“When it first happened, people were walking down the street and passing slowly to get a good look.

“It’s worn off a bit now, people have got used to it, but you still see people have a nose.

“I think people are just amazed that two neighbors who used to like each other fought over this and it went this far.

“I can understand them both – he wanted his beautiful tree that was shaped and well maintained, and the other one shines his driveway and washes his car.

“He puts his car there and the birds have gone into the tree and it’s not even his tree.

“They both keep their gardens beautiful so you can understand both points of view.

“But when you walk by, they both wave at you, they’re both nice people.”

The photo was submitted anonymously to Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 TV show in June 2021 and has since been turned into a meme on social media.

Speaking in 2021, Mr Mistry said he was “absolutely gutted” when the tree was felled.

He told how he and his family watched in horror as a team of tree surgeons hacked down their beloved tree.

He said: “We begged and begged them not to do it, but they were determined. That tree was coming down.

“I think he has the right to cut everything that’s on top of his property. But you have to ask, why after 25 years would you do that?

“It must have been no more than 3 feet on his land.

“It’s above head height, the bottom of the branches start at about 8 meters high and we cut the branches lower to be kind to them.

“He can get in and out of his car without any problems.

“We asked if we could cut it back and put a net in it so it would keep the birds out, but there was no compromise with them.

“It’s been there for 25 years and we had a ball with the neighbor and he was fine.

“But recently there have been birds in the tree that you would expect at this time of year.

“He started by putting black litter on the tree to stop the birds sitting there.

“It’s very sad to watch because the tree has been there for so long and it’s a very nice tree.

“We’ve had loads of people come past to look at it, people you can tell just went out of their way to walk their dog on another route to have a look.

“People stopped to take pictures, there were many posted on social media.

“You think we’d probably do the same if it was another house, but it feels a bit like an invasion of privacy.”