Vocal Voices

sat down, outside, in the warmth, enjoying the view when we heard a vehicle coming up the track, which then went down the access track.

A big police 4 x 4

And then they came up our drive. Most unusual, as they have to be invited onto your property. They cannot and do not, normally, come onto your land/house/garden, without your permission.

But no, up they come.

We have a denoucemente You have been cutting down trees on your land. Erm no, we haven't.

They pointed and said you have been cutting trees on that land.

Not ours

Phew.

It's idiot next door. Moron has been cutting down trees, which is not allowed, verboten, very very strictly controlled, especially if it's cork oak trees.

He is in deep, very deep, doo doo

So off they went, drove up his drive to the second gate and hooted. And hooted. And hooted.

They always think that if they don't go out, the police will go away

Words were said, too far away to hear and then the police came back, onto the access track to have another look.

The penalties for cutting down trees, without permission, are enormous fines and imprisonment.

Just like my son's neighbour. Definitely on the spectrum.
Rules don't apply to him.

Wow! He’s really in trouble

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind!

Kaz wrote:Oh dear, what a pity, never mind!

Exactly what we said Kaz

Steve can't wait to see what happens next

Would love to know who told the police though

Karma

Oh yes

Will the police follow it up, Jan, or will they let it lie?

It is a bit of a strange one.

Within a distance of a home trees can be cropped and a fire break put in place, out in the open there are different rules, we have them in the UK as well.

Is he breaking the law... it remains to be seen.

TheOstrich wrote:Will the police follow it up, Jan, or will they let it lie?

It will be followed up.

Cork oak trees are protected, by law, as they produce the cork that is a valuable asset to Portugal.

All trees, doesn't matter if they're on their own in the middle of a field are protected.

You have to have to go to the local council, tell them you want to cut down even a dead tree and some-one will come out and inspect it. If they agree it can be cut, a special paint is sprayed on it. If you cut down a tree without that special paint, the police will be called.

Still no idea who told on him, could be a number of people. He has seriously annoyed many people in the area with this treatment of his animals and his general attitude.

Workingman wrote:Within a distance of a home trees can be cropped and a fire break put in place

There are rules for that too WM, but you still cannot cut down a cork oak or holm oak even if it is near your house.

They don't burn that well anyway, so are okay to have near you.