Neighbours having chat over my garden making me feel uncomfortable

[Fitlarwa]

Hi,
I live in a terraced house.
On my left I've got neighbours who in past harassed my family and since reported to the police they ignore us which is good!
On my right I've got their best friends who pretend that they are being polite to us.
Before you will jump to conclusions why neighbours dont like us I want to make it clear that they have got problem with our race and that as immigrants we have better jobs etc.

So while I'm at my garden I'm in between of two friends having chat over my head.
I've recently installed a 2m fence but that doesnt help as houses are raised and there are steps on which they stand. Then they have got their heads over my fence!
My son who's 12 and literally scared of neighbours on our left and avoids our garden because the talks that they have over his head ignoring his presence and invading his private space.

I feel it's all done on purpose to make us feel that we wont hide from them despite of 2 m fence.

Is there anything I can do?
Cant plant anything as there is no space.

Is there any law that gives me protection over their silly behaviour?
Right to privacy perhaps?

Will appreciate your support

A gazebo doesn't have to be that high - you could have one with three sides just so you can have some private place to sit in. I really get the feeling that if they feel they are actually getting to you they will up the ante.

@Fitlarwa

Cant to lawn mover cos no grass just artificial, cant sprinkle water at them (accidentally) as they will swear at me Cant do DIY work as they will swear at me as well and report for nuisance. My hubby just finished off our garden and we were told that we aren't allowed to make such noises like DIY at the garden as those on the left got small kids and those on our right work from home even on weekends!

They don’t get to tell you when you can make noise, between 7am and 11pm you can make reasonable noise. That means having the TV on, doing DIY, playing and making family noise.

Don’t be scared of the council, if your neighbours are being unfair they will tell them so. If you are
making too much noise they will tell you and give you advice on how to improve things.

Can you put a canopy over the patio door and steps? A wooden trellis thing with plastic, flower wall until some climbers grow?

You are just going to have to decide to be bold and do one of these suggestions or ignore it completely. If it's only 5 or 10 minutes a day It's not a constant nuisance.

Why dont you put up hanging baskets with big begonias trailling down that will block them looking through

Like this but smaller

This is awful. I feel it is on purpose to try and intimidate you. I feel so sad for your son not able to enjoy his own garden.

I think you could try the noise idea. It seems a weird thing to do as surely easier for them to talk at the front doorway of one anothers house. Show them you are not intimidated by enjoying your own garden and when they see their tactics don't work they may give up. Best of luck

Are you friends with next-door-but-one on either side? You could retaliate in kind!

I have no advice OP but just wanted to offer you my sympathy. This sounds bloody awful. I really hope you find a solution. And I agree with the previous poster who said that if they are making racist comments to or about you,report them to the police!

Get swingball for you and your DC to play every time they start chatting. I bought one for the garden just before lockdown and a pleasant side effect was that my next door neighbour would take their noisy dog inside when we played on it. They won’t be able to talk over the loud whacks.

As an aside i do like my neighbours and the last couple of weeks they’re trying really hard to quieten their dog but occasionally swing ball is needed.

I don't understand...if you have a garden why can't you put bamboo in pots? I'd say plant it but there can be issues with roots spreading. Or trellising? I don't understand? I'd play music at a normal level, so not nuisance noise. They sound awful OP but you need to get serious & learn some skills. You are teaching your child to capitulate also...he is already fearful of them.

Can you have some planter that you can hang from the fences?
Fence hanging planters

A retractable washing line hung by your back door. Can hang sheets and block their view.

That’s your neighbours won’t be able to talk over swingball noise. The dog used to go even more crackers so had to go in

Hanging baskets would be better as it would block the person looking over the fence.

I’m so sorry you are being bullied like this. It’s really not on and the racist undercurrents are shameful. I think in your position I’d be tempted to invite family/friends round as back up/moral support to sit with you in your garden and play with your son until this disgusting behaviour stops. So so sorry xx

Loads of helpful quick sight blockers here. Sails and canopies are great as temporary structures you don't need permission. You only have to block one of them. I'd go with the ones that are openly offensive. Attach it under the fence where their steps are then angle it up towards your house from there. You can get trianglar/ rectangle ones so there should be something aesthetically pleasing to you. Then create your little seating area underneath with your backs to them. Enjoy some refreshing drinks!

What about a giant hanging basket strategically placed above your water tap just above fence level?

You are allowed screening plants above 2 metres - just stick one that can live in a pot in the gap

Leylandii

Can you fix a high trellis to at least one of your fences?

Or play music?

Or mow the lawn. A lot.

It sounds really nasty & passive aggressive - maybe join in , and "love bomb" them - be super nice?

They want a reaction. Please don't reward them with one. Try to carry on as normal and they will get bored. I understand how annoying it must be.

Massive, massive hanging baskets with really thick blooms flowers on either side of the door

You should install something like this on the wall either side of your doorway

www.homebase.co.uk/poly-rattan-hanging-basket-brown-35cm_p486585

Or this
www.amazon.co.uk/Metyere-Hanging-Planters-Planting-30cmx30cm/dp/B08527FT6R/ref=sr_1_44?dchild=1&keywords=Wall+Hanging+Baskets&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1593112058&sr=8-44

Do they do this at the same time each day or when they see you outside. Can you tell in advance that they are going to start shouting to each other and just go inside so they just get bored. Can you plant some pots of shrubs that grow tall.