To be sick of the neighbours looking into our garden?

[Wannakisstheteacher]

Background: house is rented so fence cannot be changed.

We live in a semi. Garden fence between us is a chain link about waist high across 2/3 of the garden and a wooden 6ft fence for the other 1/3 closest to the house where the patios are. NDN have a table in the garden and eat there every night in the summer. AIBU to think it’s really fucking rude that they’ve pushed the table right up against the chain link part of the fence so they are sat there looking into our garden? Why would they not have their table on the patio where the wooden part is so we both have some privacy or at least not right up against the fence?!

It’s pathetic, I know. But I just hate going into the garden in the evening as they just sit there with their endless stream of guests, and watch everything we do. It’s just so awkward.

www.primrose.co.uk/5ft-black-bamboo-10l-pot-phyllostachys-nigra-p-93078.html

Black bamboo is what you want, they grow really high & wide so perfect as a privacy screen.

There are ways of screening, Wannakisstheteacher, which do not involve a fence.

wezaggle.com/the-best-garden-screening-ideas-for-nosey-neighbours-and-privacy/

@LemonRoses

What are you doing that makes it so awful to be seen?

It’s surprising just how irritating people can be.

I'd go for a gazebo with drop down sides , and simply unfurl the side they look in .
or purhaps borrow some noisy nosy children for a few hours

Moved you washing line- a conventional long straight washing line. Run it parrallel with the fence. Invest in 3 Kingsize fitted sheets, hang them out every day about tea time, muttering about' 'bloody incontinence''

Get some pots with tall bamboo and dot them down the fence, or some cheap screens

Take a picture and send it to your landlord, if he's that much of a pushover, maybe you need to push a little harder before you start spending your own money. Squeaky wheel and all that!

If you didn't want to go that far, just take a picture of them every now and then - it might really give them something to talk about as they won't know what you're up to. Neither will you really, but they don't need to know that

My new(ish) neighbours have placed a CCTV camera high up under their guttering and I know they sometimes watch me, though that isn't the main reason it was put there. It is awful though, feeling your privacy can be invaded like that.

I do think the bamboo suggestions are the best solution. Good luck

@Jossbow

Moved you washing line- a conventional long straight washing line. Run it parrallel with the fence. Invest in 3 Kingsize fitted sheets, hang them out every day about tea time, muttering about' 'bloody incontinence''

Brilliant 😂

I would get a cheap, three sided gazebo and plonk it right next to their table. They can complain all they want but it's in your garden so can't do anything about it.

trellis? hammer it down, plant stuff up it? you can get free standing stuff so it isnt permanent?

windbreaks?

Can

@Wannakisstheteacher

Because they own the fence on that side. LL won’t give us permission to put panels on our side.

You don't need panels, the rolls of bamboo or willow screening are relatively cheap and need a couple of posts hammered into the ground to staple/nail it to. It's about £25 for a 3 or 4m roll, 1.8m tall.

What about one of those red top fly traps? You are supposed to have them as far from your house as you can manage as they really stink. It's the right time of year and the right location to put one up.

Hang it at the end of the garden and it should encourage them to move away.

The wheelie bin idea isn't bad.

God, this is my worst nightmare, I really feel for you.
Why on earth would their preference be to sit there, rather than at the top? Surely they’re still looking out onto their whole garden?
Have you got dc’s? Make them run around and play in the sprinklers, screaming in delight at that time, or a dog, just let it out and it’ll sit exactly by them where the food is 🤣
I’m like you, op and would feel a bit awkward about doing something/being out there…however, the way they’re just brazenly sitting out there, watching you bringing in your washing, as if you’re disturbing them would make me so angry, I’d have to be out there every night. It’s your garden too, you’re entitled to enjoy it in the summer. Put your table where you want it, some little lights up, friends round and sod them

Just put a few posts in and some rattan screening. It’s not permanent.

Just put a few posts in and some rattan screening. It’s not permanent.

@Ourlady

I would get a cheap, three sided gazebo and plonk it right next to their table. They can complain all they want but it's in your garden so can't do anything about it.

This was my immediate thought... preferably with optional sides so that you only need one side up and don't block your own view!

How about something like this?

www.amazon.co.uk/privacy-netting-screening-windbreak-fencing/dp/B07NDGNDRK?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@Wannakisstheteacher

We asked to put up a fence on our side. LL asked them and they said no as it would “kill their border plants”. LL doesn’t want to annoy them so told us no.

Presumably you can plant things? If so, plant bamboo along the fence - grows like wildfire and will soon annoy your cheeky neighbours enough for them to move their table. Alternatively, get some planter boxes made with fencing attached.

Pull up a chair at their table on your side of the fence and natter cheerfully to them about how painful your piles have been.

Play "The Stripper" music on full blast as soon as they have sat down with their guests, and stalk out of your back door in the most gaudy outfit you can scrape together. Look them in the eye with a crazed look and do a long and very bad stripper dance for for them.

As soon as they sit down put some awful music on

Pull up a chair to their table and act like it's the most normal thing in the world. Steal food off their plates.

Eat beans. Lie on a sunlounger, pretending to have fallen asleep. Pass wind loudly and often. When you're bored of it, get up, stretch, scratch your arse, look them in the eye and grin like a maniac.

Embrace your inner weirdo. Be the thing they want to keep away from

Stick the sprinklers right next to the fence on your side & stick them on a timer to go off when they are out there.

Lawn needs watering in this heat.

Or just put a big windbreaker up.

@LemonRoses

What are you doing that makes it so awful to be seen?

Speaking from experience (my neighbours have a tall trampoline and their child often watches me and wants to engage in conversation):

It's not about being "seen" doing activities as such, more about being "watched" and the lack of privacy. Constant uninvited people watching. It's intrusive. My garden is an extension of my house. It's my sanctuary, my space. I only want people in my space if I invite them.

www.amazon.com/Proman-Products-FS17065-Outdoor-Divider/dp/B07F3RBJM6?th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ots=1

Something like this to go right near their table will block their view of you in your garden, and its removable.

It subtly says, fuck off nosey neighbour, without having to say it 😜

Move your washing line or put up a new one right alongside the fence and hang a few big sheets