Getting ready to attack the problem can anyone help?! (Photos)

[ACurlyWurly]

My garden has only been mine for 18months At the end of my garden I have a 5 ft fence with an additional trellis on top. Behind that is a 3 ft area of land (waste land) followed by a 5ft drop to a brook.
The waste land is full of blackberry, ivy, bindweed and elderberry.

I have a couple of issues

• I need to keep it clear so it doesn't block the brook (currently not an issue)
• I can't use sprays or weed killers as I can't let it get into the water course
• I physically can't get to it apart from on a ladder leaning over the trellis

What can I realistically manage to do here?
Any tips welcome

[rizlett]

Install a gate?

[ACurlyWurly]

Sadly not something we can do due to finances at the moment. Fence will be replaced in a year or two

[MrsBertBibby]

Is it your land? I assume so if the brook is your responsibility.

If so, I should wait until the fence can be sorted, then get out there with forks and start digging.

Presumably you can glyphosate once you can get up close, so it is more controlled?

[MrsBertBibby]

Anything coming over the fence you can bag and spray. Did wonders for our bindweed out front.

[ACurlyWurly]

Whether it is our land is a grey area. The plans showed a blurred line and solicitor was not to clear either. However the neighbours seem to think it's our responsibility
I'm spraying and banging bins weed and cutting back the blackberry that comes through.
Got to be honest I like the height at the moment as it gives us privacy but I don't want to let it get too carried away and established. If there was not a housing estate the other side of the brook I would be tempted to lose the fence and clear down to the brook to enjoy it but we would be too overlooked.
The land narrows as you go down our row and disappears so the gardens go right to the edge of the drop. The drop down to the book has a brick lining.

[Floralnomad]

Hire a flame thrower and climb over the fence and have a good go at it , you are never going to do much from behind a fence

[user1495884620]

Wait a couple of months until the summer growth has died back a bit, then cutting back should be more manageable.

[PrancerForHoney]

Keep the Elderflower ( or send them to me!) You can make cordial and champagne.

I'd wait until until you can get a gate in tbh.