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.

Give them a cheery wave, they might invite you over for a glass of wine

Op your very lucky tonight's mumsnet crowd has your back.
Once a poor lady had neighbour called Bob who was lonely and seemed to pounce on her the second she went outside or her dd. In the end she tried to tactfully increase her fence height but then he built decking.
Mn said she was cruel for not wanting to chat to him!

Another vote for washing line alone fence, small distance in your garden along fence. Sheets along it

Could you do a washing line across your garden to screen you patio rather than the fence line

Then weigh down the duvet covers with stones so they don’t flap?

@CheekiBreeki

I'd put a table right next to theirs on your side of the fence. Whenever they sit down to eat dinner, head out to your table and sit down and start joining in their conversation. Bonus points if you light up a ciggie.

I was about to post a similar suggestion!

Personally I would go with the manure suggestion. Dig a trench a few inches away from the chain link fence and fill it with fresh manure. Renew periodically to ensure it continues to smell. If challenged by your landlord the fact that next year you intend growing beans and you are preparing the ground now should seem innocent enough.
Or a washing line with sheets 12 inches from the boundary is also a good idea. Cheap to set up, perfectly normal and can’t be objected to.
Or place your table and chairs to mirror theirs and be first out every single time will cause them to retreat to their patio where you can watch them if you wish.
Do let us know how you get on.

Can you find a really ugly screen divider that you can arrange to face their table and then put your plants in front of it your side?

Do you have a friend or relative that can talk relentlessly? Like Uncle Colm in Derry Girls. Invite them over and set them loose in the garden to bore your neighbours away.

I suggest a bird feeder close to their set up. Sneak out during the night and splatter porridge or similar, over their table and chairs. Those pesky big birds, eh?

Ooh yes, a washing line along the fence is a good idea. I’d peg a big tarpaulin on it. I got a 3 by 4 metre one in B&Q the other day for a fiver.

@supercritter

Hang your washing just so

Hey supercritter you are the only thing thats made me laugh this week, thanks love

Id put an open compost heap on your side of the fence - with something just to stop it going onto their side - but not so much that the compost heap itself isnt annoying. The flies, ants etc will soon drive them away.

Or be more direct and ask them directly to quit being so rude.

I find that well rotted horse manure helps to solve a lot of garden problems.

Do you need suggestions? Your landlord doesn’t want to annoy the neighbours but is ok with annoying his/her mortgage payers? Nah, get him to sort it. Obviously.

I have just been googling Outdoor Privacy Screens. There's a whole world of wonders there...

You can buy high nets (stop nets) which stop balls going into neighbours gardens. They can be 8ft and are temporary and you could then cover the nets with camouflage or something. Some are pop up nets so you can put up and take down in minutes but we keep them up all the time.

Another vote for your table goes there too. Right up against the boundary, just like theirs. Every time they’re out there eating, you are too.

Otherwise, yes, bamboo: but skip the pots. Straight in the ground – it’s an invasive fucker and will ruin their garden more than putting a fence up would have done.

Or doesn’t your garden need watering? Motion-activated sprinkler…

Move your garden table right up to the fence too. So you are sitting almost nose to nose
See who cracks first
Fire with fire

Did you say why you can't plant things - buddleia globosa in my garden is 6 foot tall after a year. You can buy 9 foot saplings.
Bamboo (the tall stuff) can be quit noisy, swishing in the wind. Would making it harder to hear the conversation too.

A tinkling (noisily) water feature?

What about starting a compost heap?

Look for rolled bamboo fence or any wood. It's fairly cheap.... buy 6 ft tall. Temporary privacy.

Walk right up to them with a chair and plonk yourself at the head of the table from your side of the garden. Topless. With chicken shit and manure. Hi neighbours! What cha lookin at?

£32 from Amazon, right by the table

Wind breakers are inexpensive and give you instant coverage, and are easy to store.

I would have put those up the minute they moved their table.