By Susie66
United Kingdom 
Hello, I am so thrilled to have come across this site, and I hope that you can help me with an urgent question. It is actually on behalf of my friend across the road who has the ground floor flat of a two storey house. She has roses growing on her front garden, and they have been there for many, many years - I have been here 23 years and they were there and very well established when I got here. She now has the misfortune to have a new neighbour upstairs who has plans for the front garden (he owns it!) wanting to build a tarmac for his two cars!
> Without boring you with the details, the builder from said flat came round last night, after my friend had gone out (cowards) and chopped these beautiful creatures down to the ground. The root is still there, and I would like to know if there is someone who could come and safely remove the root and replant it in her back garden. WE are in South London (Streatham/Norbury) and we have no idea who to call. We live in a conservation area so I am not sure what they have done is even legal! Please can you help?? My friend is devastated, as indeed am I.
29 Sep, 2011
Answers
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's roses. That was a mean trick! I'm afraid they're 'goners' as Bamboo says. You (or she) really should report this. I hope she can replace the roses with new ones that will give her pleasure.
29 Sep, 2011
hello there sorry about your friends roses . dont worry what goes around comes around . glad to have you thrilled on this brilliant site x /
30 Sep, 2011
Previous question
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First, what the owner of that area is about to do is illegal - new legislation is now in force regarding paving or hard surfacing in front gardens for parking reasons. It must now be permeable, not solid, to allow water to flow through and prevent excessive run off into the sewer system. If you don't want to tackle the owner or builder yourselves, then telling the local Council might be a good idea.
Second, if the roses were that old, frankly it'll be next to impossible to get them out and have them survive. I suggest that your neighbour buys one or two new roses to plant in her back garden. Cold comfort I'm guessing, she must be upset.
29 Sep, 2011