To think no full fences

[frostedviolets]

For a front garden?!

DH has been talking about installing a fence across our front garden, I was excited about this envisioning a lovely bright, white, wooden picket (like in the first picture with the cottage) but what he actually meant was a tall, closeboard fence like you'd put in a back garden!
As demonstrated by second picture.

Painted white with maybe a pot either side and a nice climbing rose or something across it he said.
😱😱😱

He thought it would give privacy so we could sit outside and enjoy it in summer (our front garden is much prettier than the back; full of flowers, pond and waterfall etc) and it would be nice for the dogs to be able to run about and play with no risk of escape.

I agree but it's surely wildly inappropriate and will look seriously strange and antisocial for a residential front good garden right?

Plus I'm concerned I'd lose massive amounts of light?

I can't see any pictures but agree that a tall fence as you describe would look a bit odd in a front garden.

Can’t see any pictures but is he aware of the regulations re front fences?

Ah, pictures have appeared.

interactive.planningportal.co.uk/detached-house/outside/fences-gates-and-garden-walls

A tall fence would look odd to me.

I would have thought how gardens would be used would be a factor in buying the house. The back garden is the private one.

There are height limits for those bordering a road and some housing developments restrict front garden enclosures. Maybe something like 2 but curved would be a compromise.

My DP wants to do the same! Considering we are in a terraced house I have said absolutely not.

I think this entirely depends on the kind of house, road and area you live in. I know houses with tall fences at the front where it works perfectly well, but they tend to be the larger, older, detached houses with longer drive ways and plenty of shrubs softening it. On an estate built in the last 30 years with small front gardens where there are no other fences it will look very out of place!

suncalc.org may be able to give you the shadow that it will cast, but it depends on where South is. It looks like worst case at midday in the middle of winter it would be a 7m shadow, middle of summer a 1m shadow.

I do 'get' why people want a high fence around their front gardens, the pros I see is privacy, security and private access to another garden (not just the back), cons for me would be security also, someone could break in without anyone seeing them, it just looks odd

The garden in your first example would look ridiculous with a full height fence. But if your house is one where the front garden is actually really big then it's more sensible.

Hedges ?

There are a few 6ft high front fences near me, they look awful and totally out of character for the area, they are always getting burgled, I presume the burglars think they are hiding valuables away (I don't really know what they think as I don't know the crims lol )

Tall fences in front gardens can look a bit sinister! And often aren't in keeping with the character of an area.

Trellis (with things growing up) attached to certain parts of a shorter fence could give screening to the areas that bother your husband most, while keeping the most part of the garden open.

but it's surely wildly inappropriate

How can a fence be inappropriate?!

I think this entirely depends on the kind of house, road and area you live in
Regular, average residential street, very long driveway with flower borders to the side.

someone could break in without anyone seeing them, it just looks odd
This is a potential worry I have voiced.
We already have cctv, DH wanted a prickly rose or similar across it on the side facing out so it would look (hopefully) attractive and floriferous and be unclimbable.

There are a few 6ft high front fences near me, they look awful and totally out of character for the area
Yes, already told DH I'll consider a full fence but not 6ft, way too high!

Trellis (with things growing up) attached to certain parts of a shorter fence could give screening to the areas that bother your husband most, while keeping the most part of the garden open
Perhaps.
I know DH isn't massively keen on a fence with any gaps because he (and I really) would like privacy.

We have a 6ft fence at our front and it feels like a prison yard. I hate it.

Not to mention people over six foot tall still being able to look in -- and more likely to do so out of curiosity about what is being hidden in there, I would have thought.

Have you tried telling him you enjoy seeing who is going past?

I'm in the minority but I like the idea, gives you more space to enjoy and more privacy. I also think the one pictured looks friendly enough

No, it looks awful.

It's hard to know whether it will look odd, it depends on the house and the rest of the street. It is likely against planning regulations.

Hedges, shrubs and trees would look much better and give you privacy. If you want something that will give you height and privacy this year, a living willow fence would do that. You could plant other things in front to grow and replace the willow fence in time. You could even build a summer house or bower into the willow fence.

It's hard to know whether it will look odd, it depends on the house and the rest of the street. It is likely against planning regulations
I've already told DH 6 feet is out of the question.
Maybe 1 metre tall with say, a foot or two of trellis on top would look okay..?
So total be 4/5 feet?
That won't fall foul of regulations will it?

I agree with what's been said.
It totally depends on your style of house, the street, the other houses etc.
I agree that hedging and shrubbery would look better.
A stark fence never looks as good.
As a rule of thumb, it might suit an older, individual styled house, with a large sweeping drive and a large front garden which is situated on an older, wide road.
Again, it would definately look better covered in climbing plants.

A living willow fence. You plant cuttings that are several metres high into the ground and weave them together. In the spring, they start to grow and fill in the gaps with new shoots, creating a ready made hedge. It's about the same price as a basic fence panel, £15ish a metre.

Hmm... the picture didn't post. I'll try again.