To build a fence and chop their hedge.

[Sportynotspice]

There's a laurel hedge between our garden and next doors and it's only 5 foot at its highest; the garden slopes towards the back so there are sections even shorter and we can see straight into next doors garden and theirs ours. We have asked them politely to allow us to grow the hedge up as we'd like more privacy but they have refused and continued to cut the hedge ever shorter. They have extra long hedge trimmers and cut our half as well because apparently the previous owners never kept it neat enough for their liking and never protested when they started taking over the trimming. We've been polite but very clear that we don't like the height and would like it to grow up an extra foot but they have once again cut it too short and cut our side. The hedge actually sits much more into our boundary than theirs so DH, who has reached his final straw after coming home to yet another few inches off the hedge tonight, has declared he's ordering fence panels this weekend, chopping the hedge back right to the boundary and putting up the fence. The hedge will look utterly rubbish on their side because of how little actually encroaches their side of the boundary so I said to DH maybe we should just build the fence from when the hedge finishes now but DH, rightly, points out that means we lose a foot of our garden because the hedge takes up so much space as it is. As we have tried to be reasonable with them, DH doesn't care about upsetting them by chopping back so much of the hedge.
We have only lived here 9 months and they have been here 20 years plus and their argument for not letting the hedge grow is this is how its always been and no one that's lived here before has ever had an issue with it. But this is our home now and I really don't think it's unreasonable to have a proper barrier between our garden and next doors!
I will go speak to them tomorrow to advise that this is what we are going to do but we're not asking permission, just informing as a courtesy. Are we being unreasonable? I don't think they've really left us much more choice.

It is also difficult to be exact with boundaries if for example a neighbour has taken a couple of inches of boundary over a number of years it then may become theres. The deeds are not exact. Old fence posts or irons are the only clues sometimes.

If a hedge has been planted on a boundary and it would be hard to prove one way or another you cannnot just dig it up for ecological reasons as much as anything else.

*theirs

Our neighbours at the bottom put up a really high fence & it's been a blessing as we don't have to see them at all now plus we can grow attractive climbers up it. Your neighbours sound like they're such good gardeners they'll be able to adapt to what you plan to do & it doesn't sound as if you're going to be on good terms anyway.

@DistrustfulDinosaur

If it's a bit of extra privacy during summer that you're wanting, I would cut your side of the hedge back a bit and put in a fedge. Something like this www.yorkshirewillow.co.uk/willow-screening. It would look nicer than a fence and not take up too much ground space. Cost seems reasonable when compared to a fence and potentially an easier DIY job than a fence.

I sympathise though, our neigbour is the same with our boundary hedge. When we first moved in, she told us how upset she was that the lady who here before us suddenly chopped the fence from 8ft to 4ft, as she her lost privacy. We told her that we're happy to let it grow talller again, but she insists on chopping back our side every time she cuts the hedge (which is at least once a week from March to October)! We've even been told off on occassion if we don't cut our side as often as she'd like us to as she likes the edges to look perfectly square. I personally think once a month during the summer is quite enough for a box hedge, plus we both work fulltime!

be really really careful with willow near a house or near drains. They are a water seeking species and the roots will grow long distances in search of water. If your drains have even a small crack or access route, the roots will find it and grow into the drain. For hedges to be of use to wildlife they shouldn't be cut at all during the nesting season....to provide winter shelter, they also shouldn't be cut until spring....tiny windows of opportunity that are getting smaller year by year. I understand why but I don't think it encourages gardeners to plant for nature :(

oops forgot the link www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/blog/why-willows-and-drains-do-not-mix

I have had personal experience of this with an acacia....lovely tree but not near houses or drains

Please consider a hedgehog hole in your fence. A fence will block their access to valuable habitat.

www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-create-hedgehog-hole

@Woodmarsh

If the hedge is 5ft and the maximum you're allowed to have it is 6.5ft it seems a lot of work for a small gain?

I can see over a 5ft hedge but I can't see over a 6.5ft fence so a massive gain I would say!!

PeachesPumpkin Wed 11-Aug-21 22:48:47 I would leave the hedge. Just because hedges are so much nicer to look at than fences, support more wildlife, allow access for things like hedgehogs too

I'm not sure hedges do much good for wildlife if people are chopping them back several times per year and especially during the bird nesting season. I have a similar issue with my neighbour who has lived here longer than me and insists nothing can change on my property because 'it's always been that way'. People need to rethink this idea that 'the garden must be perfectly tidy and perfectly trimmed' while also saying 'we must be wildlife friendly'. There is nothing wrong with the OP trimming back the hedge (not getting rid just trimming back), installing the fence for privacy and then planting wildlife friendly plants on her side.

I don't think you are being unreasonable OP. You have tried talking with the neighbour they aren't listening so install the fence.

@seasonalremarks

If it is a boundary hedge it is illegal to remove it.

no it isn't

For hedges to be of use to wildlife they shouldn't be cut at all during the nesting season....to provide winter shelter, they also shouldn't be cut until spring....tiny windows of opportunity that are getting smaller year by year. I understand why but I don't think it encourages gardeners to plant for nature Very true. I never allow neighbour to pressure me into cutting my side of the hedge before the birds are fully fledged. She also moans about dandelions every spring. I try to compromise and make a point of nipping off as many flowers once they start to turn into 'clocks' but I'm not going to dig up the plants just because she thinks they look messy.

oops forgot the link www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/blog/why-willows-and-drains-do-not-mix. I have had personal experience of this with an acacia....lovely tree but not near houses or drains It's been a while since I've researched fedges, but my understanding is there are varieties that aren't as invasive as a fully grown willow tree, providing you keep on top of maintenance. A bit like bamboo, certain ones will spread like wildfire others won't. I'm sure companies who sell the kits would be able to advise on whether they would be suitable in this case.

I do think something less solid than a fence would work better in the situation OP describes, perhaps hazel hurdling or trellis if something living would be unsuitable/more work than they want to take on. Also in terms of maintenance, planting a potentially unwanted (by the neighbour) fence very close to a hedge could prove problematic down the line. Presumably the hedge would still need cutting so it doesn't start to grow into the fence and push it over? I totally get the need for privacy and how frustrating it is when your neighbour encroaches on 'your side' of the boundary. Neighbours should really just let OP grow their side of the hedge how they want it and do as they wish with their own half.

I'm not sure hedges do much good for wildlife if people are chopping them back several times per year and especially during the bird nesting season.

We had to cut ours back several times a year as it was next to the front path and we wouldn't have been able to get to the front door if we hadn't!

Good luck op!

@DistrustfulDinosaur

For hedges to be of use to wildlife they shouldn't be cut at all during the nesting season....to provide winter shelter, they also shouldn't be cut until spring....tiny windows of opportunity that are getting smaller year by year. I understand why but I don't think it encourages gardeners to plant for nature Very true. I never allow neighbour to pressure me into cutting my side of the hedge before the birds are fully fledged. She also moans about dandelions every spring. I try to compromise and make a point of nipping off as many flowers once they start to turn into 'clocks' but I'm not going to dig up the plants just because she thinks they look messy.

oops forgot the link www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/blog/why-willows-and-drains-do-not-mix. I have had personal experience of this with an acacia....lovely tree but not near houses or drains It's been a while since I've researched fedges, but my understanding is there are varieties that aren't as invasive as a fully grown willow tree, providing you keep on top of maintenance. A bit like bamboo, certain ones will spread like wildfire others won't. I'm sure companies who sell the kits would be able to advise on whether they would be suitable in this case.

I do think something less solid than a fence would work better in the situation OP describes, perhaps hazel hurdling or trellis if something living would be unsuitable/more work than they want to take on. Also in terms of maintenance, planting a potentially unwanted (by the neighbour) fence very close to a hedge could prove problematic down the line. Presumably the hedge would still need cutting so it doesn't start to grow into the fence and push it over? I totally get the need for privacy and how frustrating it is when your neighbour encroaches on 'your side' of the boundary. Neighbours should really just let OP grow their side of the hedge how they want it and do as they wish with their own half.

"providing you keep on top of maintenance."

which negates the wildlife aspect...maintenance needs to be minimal in order not to discourage wildlife....also chopping down the top won't control the roots...see video

"I do think something less solid than a fence would work better in the situation OP describes, perhaps hazel hurdling or trellis if something living would be unsuitable/more work than they want to take on"

why?

"Presumably the hedge would still need cutting so it doesn't start to grow into the fence and push it over? "

nope. with the roots removed to erect the fence and the light at the fence side taken away by the fence, it will only grow outwards away from the fence

" Neighbours should really just let OP grow their side of the hedge how they want it and do as they wish with their own half."

indeed but they won't...thats the problem

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I'm not sure hedges do much good for wildlife if people are chopping them back several times per year and especially during the bird nesting season.

We had to cut ours back several times a year as it was next to the front path and we wouldn't have been able to get to the front door if we hadn't!

yup...different wildlife friendly actions work in different places.

How did the talk go op ?

Tall fences make for great neighbours, so the saying goes!

I personally love the privacy I have in the back garden and it will not be changed for anyone. All fences are on the boundary lines installed by the builders over 50 years ago when the houses were built. Not one person has changed them in our road of twenty houses (google earth evidence ha ha). They are brick and solid and most people have climbers growing up them.

I'm on the side of team fence completely.

@seasonalremarks

If it is a boundary hedge it is illegal to remove it.

Not illegal to trim it back to the boundary edge though.

www.stephensons.co.uk/site/news_and_events/uptodatenews/think_before_you_remove_that_hedge_dispute

Please put in hedgehog holes in your fence.
I’m like a broken record on these threads, but they are so important.

Id be planting hawthorn into the hedge, great for wildlife and id love to see the fuckers cut that down and take away the old branches.

Could you put planters your side with trellis?

@Sportynotspice

I'm in no way anti hedge and fully appreciate the importance of it for wildlife. But if they won't let us grow it up so we actually have some proper privacy what can we do? We would plant our own hedge (not laurel but something native more likely) in front of our fence but at least the fence would be there as a clear barrier and we wouldn't have to see them in their garden and feel overlooked in ours.

That sounds a wonderful way of meeting both your needs and that the local wildlife. Might you consider putting a hole into the bottom of the fence for any hedgehogs to get through?

@Spanielsarepainless

Laurel hedges are not good for wildlife, so don't worry about that aspect. All hedges are definitely not equal.

I'd always thought that about Portuguese Laurel, but ours are packed with blackbirds! I don't think they nest in it, just use it as a crèche. We have lots of native, other hedging too though. The whole garden is designed with birds in mind (we inherited the Laurel).

Did you see them yet - Any update OP?

@Ruddyknackered
"I'd always thought that about Portuguese Laurel, but ours are packed with blackbirds! I don't think they nest in it, just use it as a crèche. We have lots of native, other hedging too though. The whole garden is designed with birds in mind (we inherited the Laurel)."

that's more a reflection on the blackbirds than on the laurel though. In my garden they will nest and roost anywhere they can get a clawhold.

I must admit I don't do much to encourage birds into the garden as it's cat proofed with netting to stop the cat getting out. It seems a bit like inviting the poor birds into the lions den if I feed them. He can't hunt to save his life but I still don't want to tempt fate!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat fencing your garden to keep your cat in is one of the best possible things you can do for wildlife and I salute you for it. Probably best not to add a bird feeder tho.

Any kind of shrub cover is always useful for wildlife, but some has more benefits than others.