Homes with apple trees in garden risk £200,000 fine after court ruling

NewsUK NewsGardeningThe case went all the way to the High Court17:18, 16 Aug 2026UK homeowners with apple trees in their gardens are being warned over potential fines. It comes after a gardener whose decomposing apples dropped into a neighbour's property was previously unsuccessful in a court hearing and was ordered to pay £200k in legal costs.‌The High Court dismissed allegations by apple tree owner Antoinette Williams that neighbour Barbara Pilcher "fabricated" evidence against her. The court heard Mrs Williams' 40ft tree was depositing hundreds of decaying apples onto Mrs Pilcher's lawn annually.‌Ms Williams was told to pay the £200,000 court bill after her neighbour took legal action over rotten apples, and later lost an attempt to revisit her case.‌Read more Reusable BBQ mistake incre