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Original poster

Climbing Frame and Privacy

109 replies

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:16

We don’t want to be ‘those neighbours’ but our neighbours have put a climbing frame for their children right next to our fence. We now constantly have little faces popping up over our (2m) fence and looking straight onto our patio area and into our kitchen.

Their garden is probably 4m x 6m at a push, so I think anywhere in the garden would probably intrude.

We really want children to make use of a garden, we don’t mind noise (and they are noisy!) and we don’t even mind the occasional ball being kicked over- but this is our privacy now.

Anyone been in this position before? I imagine they are unlikely to take down.

OP posts:
DensAndDim · 03/08/2025 12:11

You and you dh should spend lots of afternoons in your skimpy bikini and speedo trunks. Perhaps consider installing a hot tub too.

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 03/08/2025 11:57

I'd just plant tall plants along the fence. Bamboo, miscanthus grass or Giant Reed would all do the job. Hopefully the neighbour will remind her kids not to be peeping into your garden, and eventually the novelty will wear off.

Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 11:53

Didimum · 03/08/2025 11:22

Why are you asking on MN then?

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I’ve asked what others have done. My first option isn’t to run to the council.

OP posts:
5foot5 · 03/08/2025 11:50

Mauro711 · 03/08/2025 10:39

The good thing about these big garden toys is that the kids tend to get bored of them quite quickly. There is every chance that it will be used less and less until it’s used not at all.

I agree.

Our DD had one when she was young. Fortunately the neighbours on both sides had DC the same age and they all had climbing frames at the same time.
For a period of time they would all sit at the top of their frames chatting over the fence.

However, the novelty wore off and we were seldom bothered, or our DD bothering others.

WigglesMadness · 03/08/2025 11:29

I think you need to stick a trellis with plants on top of the fence - plants don't need to be 8 foot tall, they can be in containers you hang off the top of your fence - just ivy would be perfect, grows quickly, easy to keep, cheap.

Didimum · 03/08/2025 11:22

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:58

The council states we can. I don’t want to get the council involved but it clearly states we can ask for it to be removed if it’s within 2m of a boundary and over 2.5m (which it is).

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Why are you asking on MN then?

Limehawkmoth · 03/08/2025 11:14

Barney16 · 03/08/2025 10:44

I wouldn't worry OP, the children will get bored of it. Mine got bored of every outdoor installation, climbing frame, house, trampoline. Then inevitably when they were too big for them they had a renewed interest. Almost as if they suddenly noticed there was a climbing frame taking up half the garden and rotting peacefully away.

Edited

This.
honestly, they will get bored ….

in meantime if they’re staring in another solution may be looking into privacy film on the obvious windows. You can get mirror film that you can put on yourselves (with care ) that doesn’t cost a fortune. Or get some temporary cheap folding paper blinds that fit into frames (ikea used to do them) that you can take down once the novelty with kids has worn off.

i suspect a year tops …but once they’ve had a good nose over the fence at you for a month or so, they’ll get bored with that too.

yep, others have said get partners to walk around naked…frankly that’s a good tactic but timing will be tricky I assume as youdont know when kids will pop up on frame, or your mother will call!

DonnaBanana · 03/08/2025 11:12

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:24

I think we can if it’s within 2m of a boundary line?

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That’s legally correct but we had the council round due to a similar situation and they said they wouldn’t be bothered going through the rigmarole for it. So you might have to stamp your feet a bit and then if you come to sell you’d need to list it as a neighbour dispute.

BoredZelda · 03/08/2025 11:04

AheadOfTheCrib · 03/08/2025 10:44

The quickest and cheapest option is for your DH to expose himself to the children next door? I think I'd take any other option tbh

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He is in his own garden with an expectation of privacy. He can garden naked if he wants. If next door make it so their kids can look over the fence, that’s on them.

Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 11:01

Canthelpmyselffromjoiningin · 03/08/2025 10:37

Have you spoken to the neighbours to find a solution? We're "that neighbour" with a climbing frame in the garden. I'm aware we're within our rights to do it but also aware how annoyingly intrusive it is. No one here seems bothered but if anyone complained we'd work with them to find a solution. I dont think there's a legal height limit for hedges, although I've learnt something today as I didn't realise there was a height limit for fences

I’m just not sure what the solution would be…feels as though there is no compromise. They either take it down, we put up with it or we spend money creating more privacy! I suppose we could ask for a split in the cost for plants etc but it feels a little strange!

OP posts:
Whatton · 03/08/2025 11:00

My neighbour actually got told he had to remove the roofs off of his climbing frame as they were too tall and he didnt have permission for it. Same if you errect a shed in your garden it still needs to comply with regulations

Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:59

AheadOfTheCrib · 03/08/2025 10:44

The quickest and cheapest option is for your DH to expose himself to the children next door? I think I'd take any other option tbh

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I’m pretty sure it was just a joke…

OP posts:
Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:58

Blushingm · 03/08/2025 10:40

You can’t

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The council states we can. I don’t want to get the council involved but it clearly states we can ask for it to be removed if it’s within 2m of a boundary and over 2.5m (which it is).

OP posts:
AnSolas · 03/08/2025 10:57

AheadOfTheCrib · 03/08/2025 10:44

The quickest and cheapest option is for your DH to expose himself to the children next door? I think I'd take any other option tbh

Show quote history

🙄

Yea that would be a quick and a cheap option. Once sun block is applied (before he left the house 🤪 ) .....

One of the social contract rules of living Urban is to respect the privacy of NDNs spaces as much as possible.

So NDN or you having a fence which is designed to block line of sight its saying
Private space
No peeking in
Thank you

Didimum · 03/08/2025 10:49

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:24

I think we can if it’s within 2m of a boundary line?

Show quote history

Depends how high the climbing frame is. How high is it?

sesquipedalian · 03/08/2025 10:46

OP, can you plant shrubs along the border? We have shrubs along the length of our garden because I do not choose to see my neighbours or have them see me. (nothing I can do about the clouds of cannabis smoke wafting over, though - at least you don’t get that with kids!)

Barney16 · 03/08/2025 10:44

I wouldn't worry OP, the children will get bored of it. Mine got bored of every outdoor installation, climbing frame, house, trampoline. Then inevitably when they were too big for them they had a renewed interest. Almost as if they suddenly noticed there was a climbing frame taking up half the garden and rotting peacefully away.

AheadOfTheCrib · 03/08/2025 10:44

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:31

I love this suggestion hahah! I think that may be the cheapest and quickest option!

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The quickest and cheapest option is for your DH to expose himself to the children next door? I think I'd take any other option tbh

Blushingm · 03/08/2025 10:40

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:24

I think we can if it’s within 2m of a boundary line?

Show quote history

You can’t

Mauro711 · 03/08/2025 10:39

The good thing about these big garden toys is that the kids tend to get bored of them quite quickly. There is every chance that it will be used less and less until it’s used not at all.

Canthelpmyselffromjoiningin · 03/08/2025 10:37

Have you spoken to the neighbours to find a solution? We're "that neighbour" with a climbing frame in the garden. I'm aware we're within our rights to do it but also aware how annoyingly intrusive it is. No one here seems bothered but if anyone complained we'd work with them to find a solution. I dont think there's a legal height limit for hedges, although I've learnt something today as I didn't realise there was a height limit for fences

Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:31

AnSolas · 03/08/2025 10:29

You would be quicker getting the men of rhe house (any male really) do some naked gardening / tan line removal 😉 🙈

NdN will be moving the frame and adding on to the fence quicker than you can say dont get sunburned 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

I love this suggestion hahah! I think that may be the cheapest and quickest option!

OP posts:
AnSolas · 03/08/2025 10:29

HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:25

This looks nice! We will have a look!

Show quote history

You would be quicker getting the men of rhe house (any male really) do some naked gardening / tan line removal 😉 🙈

NdN will be moving the frame and adding on to the fence quicker than you can say dont get sunburned 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
HappyKite2067 · 03/08/2025 10:25

DisplayPurposesOnly · 03/08/2025 10:19

Trellis? Potted or clumping fargesia bamboo (sounds fab in a breeze). One of those sail things?

This looks nice! We will have a look!

OP posts:
MyDeftDuck · 03/08/2025 10:24

I’d be tempted to erect a wooden pagoda type thing n the patio that you can attach climbing plants to, fix a temporary privacy screen on ( probably won’t need it during winter months ) . That’ll stop the kids nebbing