Railings or fence on retaining wall?

[Hughfearnley]

So we bought this house and moved in less than a month ago. We're a semi and our unattached neighbour decided to get some men to take down the ivy off her side of the retaining wall.( Houses are on a slope)
Trouble is that the top is a trellis fixed to some metal posts and this and the ivy was the only thing protecting our not yet toddling but soon will be toddler plunging 10ft over the retaining wall
To cut a long story short, it turns out that the trellis was rotten below the ivy and they have wrecked trellis in the process ("it was rotten love there was nothing we could do..." Blah blah)
They have also broken one of the flags topping the wall right at the front (ie very obvious)
My plan is to ask the gardeners tomorrow if they are insured regarding the damage to the wall.
The wrecked trellis, I think we will have to suck up. I have no desire to fall out with the neighbour and to be fair, ivy on a retaining wall is best rid of in my opinion (the wall beneath seems fine). We want to use this opportunity to put up something safe, durable, low maintenance and that we like. It will have to be set into this retaining wall.
There's about 10m and we would have a reasonable budget but I worry about the repainting and cost of railings and the durability of wooden fence panels.
Any advice or recommendations for fencing companies. We're near Bradford.

[PigletJohn]

if you fix something to the top of the wall, it will break off, damaging the wall, due to the leverage.

Consider driving metal stakes into the ground on your side of the wall, and putting wire netting on them. Or if you run wires between them, you can train thorny creepers on them. Best not to have enticing fruit or flowers.

Metposts are useless.

A diagram or photo might help.

[OliviaBenson]

I personally would put railings up as they look better. Is it your wall? I can't believe the neighbours didn't ask you- I'm not sure they are even allowed to fully remove anything attached to it, just maintain it from their side. I'd make it very clear to their contractors that you want any damage making good.