Another thread about screening advice with photos. HELP!!

[Honeyandfizz]

I am going round the bend with indecision on this. When we bought our house 2 years ago we had a fruit tree at the bottom of the garden and on the neighbours side which screened us well from their house. New neighbours moved in and pulled down the tree and are now in the middle of a big extension which will have 2 large windows to 2 bedrooms and the loft room window over looking us.

I HATE being overlooked, problem is i cannot afford to spend a fortune and there is also a lovely wall of ivy which i am loathe to remove. I have looked at pleached trees (expensive and not tall enough), thought of bamboo (would have to tear down the ivy) and leylandii but there isnt much space between the back of the deck and the boundary (previous owners built). Ive also looked at other clear stem trees such as photinia but im looking at over £1k which i cannot afford.

The new owners to the rear have planted leylandii on their side which i can just see peeking over the ivy BUT i don not know how tall they will let it grow and it may not be to my satisfaction.

So what the hell should i plant? Should i jut suck it up and plant a load of bamboo? I like to idea of a clear stem tree with blossom? Its making me feel really stressed as when we are in the lounge all we can see is this hideous mess.


Can anybody help please?

[Honeyandfizz]

Shove Its actually east facing so no shadow on us at all!

following advice from Barcham trees and trickyex i have ordered one Elstar Apple
Amelanchier and a Crab Apple I am feeling much better about it now and cant wait for them to be delivered. Thanks for the advice all i will post when they are planted x