To block some light to neighbour?

[Donotshushme]

I bought my house about 10 years ago and the next door neighbour has previously built a conservatory with windows facing directly into our garden, with some of that film stuff that you put inside it to obscure it. You can still see the shape of people through it. The conservatory was built right on the exact boundary line, so parts of it, like the windows, actually protrude onto our property. It appears they've actually amended the fence line to do it but again this was before we moved in.

Obviously we bought the house knowing this, but it does feel like we are lacking privacy. If they see us come into the garden they'll sometimes risk up to the end where the fences are lower to complain about us/other neighbors. The conservatory is about 3 metres long. The wall that's on our side looks ugly and intrusive with really chunky white plastic. The other side and front of their conservatory is also glazed so they have light coming from other sources. The neighbours have said no to doing anything to the side that faces into our garden. They're not the sort that keep themselves to themselves either - they're always on the lookout for what everyone else is up to so they can complain about it. Now we are having our entire garden landscaped and it's going to look amazing - apart from the conservatory. I want to screen it (on my property) in some way, haven't decided yet, but it will ruffle feathers either way as it's possible it will block out some light.

WIBU to go ahead and put up some sort of screening so i don't have to look at their conservatory?

If so what can i use to screen it?

@YouveGotAFastCar

Thanks, sounds a nightmare. Thinking now sink an old bath tub into the ground, maybe a caste iron one😊 Where there's a will....

Oh build a fence, for sure.

Running bamboo (phyllostachys) will 'punch' through most plastic pots and membrane - even the 'tough' stuff. There are guides online on how to plant it safely but it is high maintenance in that you have to keep checking and acting to stop it running. The bamboo being sold at B&Q etc is almost always phyllostachys.

Clumping bamboo (fargesia) is quite well behaved but you should only buy it from a reputable garden centre so that you are sure it's genuinely the clumping sort. Fargesia is usually always more expensive than phyllostachys.

Fargesia still needs looking after - the shoots pop straight up next to the clump (rather than running underground), so you need a sharp spade to slice off unwanted bits to keep it in check. However it's a wonderful architectural plant and makes a fantastic screen. I have some in my garden - I go at it with the spade twice a year and it's fine.

We have bamboo along our fence, it's not caused an issue at all, but it is an excellent screening plant and very low maintenance

Bamboo doesn't run off and go crazy. It's lovely. It screens but also isn't as solid as a hedge and looks lovely when the wind blows.

If they see us come into the garden they'll sometimes risk up to the end where the fences are lower to complain about us/other neighbors.

What does this mean?

How tall are the fences currently?

Trellis with a rambling rose like this one is amazing. It's called Alexandre Girault from David Austin, I planted this as a bare root twig 3 years ago and it goes all the way along my fence, 4 meters in each direction and is awesome!

Our bamboo is in a long built in planter along the fence so that's probably why it hasn't spread.

As for the window film, it isn't all just one way, we have some that isn't, so don't worry too much about that.

Check all the legalities, max fence height, any restrictions with hedges or other plants close to the boundary, and planning rules relating to their conservatory in case they kick off when you do something they don't like. Depending on what they're like and whether you want to maintain a civil relationship with them one of you could tell them what you're doing, but that could backfire. Or you could just do it and tell them as if you've done them a favour 'we put in a fence/some plants as I'm sure you don't want to see us on the patio everyday right next to your windows!'

They have no right to light from your garden at ground level so I would stick a 6 foot fence along the entire boundary and be done with it.

If it is frosted film, it obscures the view for both sides. Is it frosted film, op?

I wonder if one of those covered benches would do it. It’s a temporary structure, it’s not a building and would be a nicer place to sit.

Could you maybe have a pergola built on the back of your house OP, you could then block in the side where your nosy neighbours are, something along the lines of this:

https://www.cambridgehomeandgarden.com/product/galaxy-3m-x-3m-pergola/

Something like this on top of a 4ft fence? instead of trellice https://www.charlesandivy.co.uk/collections/decorative-panels?pf_t_panel_shape=panel-type_Rectangular

Now I feel really worried about the bamboo my neighbour has planted next to our fence 😕

Easy way to check - dig a few inches down on your side of the fence. If there are roots running to your garden then you need to tell them.

I've got the running type of bamboo and it's great. I've got it running along the inside of my boundary wall to soften it. I will be thinning it soon. If you are in the West Midlands you can have some.

This site has a good graphic showing you how the roots differ between running and clumping.

If it's a clumping kind you can just use a space to slice anything off that you don't want on your side.

https://lewisbamboo.com/pages/clumping-vs-running-bamboo

If they are the nosy type of bet the film stops you seeing them but not them seeing you.

Screen all the way without a doubt.

Fence/plants/anything. You owed them nothing and I would bet the film is only one way and they can see in. You can do what you want in your garden, enjoy it!

Thans! So far no roots, I have dug a flower bed there recently. But how far down would they be? Just a couple of inches? And how long till the roots start coming through (bamboo been there approx 18 months).

I can’t believe this wasn’t picked up when you were buying the house! Your solicitor should have pointed this out, and surely you saw the conservatory build against your property? I wouldn’t have touched it with a barge pole!

I would get all your documents out and have a look. Then get an appointment with a solicitor to see if you have any rights at all. Worth paying for with these type of neighbours….

And if there is nothing else you can do, put up a fence inside their fence. 6ft with climbing flowers….

It depends on the variety. If it's been in over a year I'd expect it to be growing this year.

This is a useful guide (and also if you are worried, you could dig in and install some barrier on your side of the fence, to stop the bamboo from coming through. If you see any shoots trying to come over the top you can chop them and let the neighbour know. However if you put a barrier down then the root can change direction so it doesn't stop it from trying to go further along the fence.

https://www.rhizomebarrier.com/how-to-contain-bamboo-a-helpful-illustrated-guide/

I think the easiest thing to do would be to ask the neighbour. If they aren't sure what they have planted then I suspect it will probably be phyllostachys. In which case they need to know that they need to look after it.

OP if you are worried you can always buy faux bamboo plants instead of real ones and just pop them into a large planters and put by the fence for screening.

How long as the conservatory been there do you know ?? Whilst the AO building and windows seem totally unreasonable right to light exists after 20 years so you need to place an obstruction there sooner rather than later to prevent the easement of right to light.

Bamboo is fine in planters, I have a massive long planter with it in, it's gorgeous and does the job.