In not wanting a tree house overlooking my garden

[Isthisallowed]

NC as could be outing! One of my neighbour's has a garden that backs on to the bottom of my garden. No problem with that of course and there's a fence for privacy. They have decided to build an 8 foot structure though, so their children can access the tree to 'hang out' in the very broad branches. It now feels like an observation tower as the tree is right on the boundary so looks over my whole garden and into my kitchen and childrens' bedrooms. WIBU to ask them to remove the platform and therefore access to to tree?

That would really annoy me. I know it's "just children climbing trees" but having them stare constantly straight into your garden and house must be infuriating. Especially if, like you say, their garden is massive. I wouldn't dream of letting my children sit in a place that meant my neighbours had no privacy.
I'm not sure though, if there's much you can do, because they haven't actually built anything. Unless you look into getting some sort of screen. Maybe something that would grow rapidly in that spot?
I hope you get it sorted out so you can enjoy your home in peace

I would go for screening, either add a willow or trellis top to the fence and train a quick growing climber. You could also stick bamboo plants down there, in pots preferably because they're thugs.

@XelaM

You’re being unreasonable. It’s their garden and they are allowed to climb the tree on their own property. Put some opaque film on the windows if you feel uncomfortable with being “observed”. Are the kids actually looking into your windows?

When the OP decides to burns wet garden waste every time the neighbour's children are in their observation post you would agree that the OP can do what they like in their own garden.

@TaraR2020

I would go for screening, either add a willow or trellis top to the fence and train a quick growing climber. You could also stick bamboo plants down there, in pots preferably because they're thugs.

Train the spikiest quick growing thing you can find, we have an evil berberis that would do the job.

I’m confused. They’ve not built anything. It’s a ladder. And the kids are just sitting in the tree?

Now, I like climbing a tree as much as the next person but unless the kids are now living like squirrels in the tree, it’s unlikely to be that regular an occurrence. No?

I honestly think they won’t use it that much, maybe have a polite chat if there are certain times you’d prefer privacy? Such as if you were having people around etc. My DC have a treehouse and it gets used for an hour 2-4 times a week. The likelihood of all of these times overlapping is very unlikely.

I’m not very privacy precious though - the fences in our garden are only 5ft so being able to see in have a chat with our neighbours etc is normal.

If they're anything like my kids when they were that age it will be a 5 minute wonder. I can't understand the mentality of the parents though. I wouldn't dream of imposing on a neighbour's privacy like that.

I wouldn't have too much of a problem providing the kids didn't try and talk to me or drop rubbish into my garden.

That's not saying I'd be happy, just that I wouldn't want problems with the neighbours.

You need planning permission for a raised platform of more than 30cm high

TBH this is what modern day living is now. Trampolines, hot tubs, bbqs are all stuff that intrude on the privacy of others around them, but that’s the price we have to pay for living in close proximity to each other. If planning permission isn’t needed, then there’s not a lot you can do apart from speak to the neighbours and politely ask them not to.

Thanks for all your views. Really interesting how many people would be comfortable with it but also that kids get bored of it quickly. I probably got used to the peace and privacy in the first few months here.

OP,
I feel really sorry for you.

This is the action of selfish people.

It couldn't happen to me in my garden but it would piss me off so much.

I think gardens are private spaces and what they are doing at the very end of their huge garden on top of your tiny one would give me the absolute rage.

There is NO way I would accept it.

Call on them and tell them clearly.
Report them to the council.

Do not accept this.

There is a type of person that would send a bunch of children to their very far end of their garden, to a structure right on top of a neighbours garden of very short depth, to overlook another garden.

So selfish.

Position your sprinkler at this end of the garden would be my solution.

YANBU.

Maybe wait a couple weeks... if the kids are staring in your garden/house, then go round and say yo parents just how they’re invading your privacy. It would be easy enough for them to distract kids into alternative activity.
If they get bored of it then job done!

But I do think your neighbors have been inconsiderate toward you, OP.

Your garden is 20' wide so it sounds as though you might be terraced and unable to access a digger into your garden anyway. I'd check if its a structure that needs planning.

You can buy sails to use in the garden for shade, could you get these fitted on a pulley system so you can put them up when you need privacy? No need for lplanning.

Urgh. Commiserations OP, how inconsiderate.

You could ask them to erect some camouflage netting or something to screen off the children's view of your garden.

Go and talk to the neighbour, tell them that you’re uncomfortable with the Dc staring into your garden so can you come to some compromise? They could put up netting/only go up the tree for a short time each day/etc.

It sounds like they've built steps onto the tree- not a structure? Doubt you'd have too much council success. And they know exactly what they've done- whilst building it it's bloody obvious you can see into your garden, so don't see the point in approaching to be honest- it's not like it's not obvious. Add extra height to the existing fence, if it's shared, or build one in that area ASAP- if you can't afford to fence the whole thing, just do the tree and then work on the rest of it. They don't care, and you can't use your garden you feel. If it wasn't inappropriate utterly I'd be out there boobs swinging, with sweary music on. Instead, you're going to need to adult and build a screen

Definitely couldn't get a digger in the garden. For all I know the neighbour's could be really understanding and just didn't realise how it would impact my privacy as they don't see my garden from my perspective.

This would cost a little money, but you could buy 2 feather flag poles in their stands (the type you see outside garages and car showrooms). Then you buy flag fabric to drape between them. It can be taught, or a bit loose. Must be flag fabric with tiny holes or the wind will tear through it or have a dangerous sail effect. But no drilling through tree roots. You could resell them on eBay or FB local once the kids grow up.

The likely hood is they know well and don't care.

Act accordingly and position your hose if they attempt to use it and look upon your garden.

I would be so pissed off with this.

@billy1966

@billy1966

The likely hood is they know well and don't care.

Act accordingly and position your hose if they attempt to use it and look upon your garden.

I would be so pissed off with this.

But they haven’t built anything. The kids are just sitting in the tree? Admittedly, courtesy of a ladder.

Or have I missed something?

Could you build a raised bed and stick bamboo plants in there to hide their view somewhat? I think you can get up to 4m with Bamboo Gracilis