Neighbour not happy with my garden renovation.

[Perimenirant]

We have a very dull garden. Basically it is grass and that is it. No trees or planting. We have employed someone to do a massive project to turn it into a dream outdoor space. This will involve planting some trees to add to privacy. Right now privacy is an issue. One of my neighbours got annoyed when I mentioned we are having our garden done and said they don't want anything above the fence line on their border. I just had a walk outside and counted 7 trees on their side that go above the fence and up to 2 metres above and still growing.

I don't want to upset my neighbour nor block out light but it the obvious thing for me to say that..well you have 7 trees above the line blocking so I am entitled to do the same.

FYI we don't plan on making an impenetrable forest we are talking about one tree and some trellis on their side to block out my view of their garage.

Ignore them.

Talk to them, pop round, take a pic first so you can refer to the obvious. Are they planning to cut back their trees?

I'd ignore them and if they mention it again ask them why it's acceptable for them to have trees above the fence line but not you? I can only assume that they don't want shade where you are planning on planting trees, but that's life I'm afraid and if you want privacy (which you are entitled to do) then you have to raise the fence line.

In any case, you don't need a LOT of height in order to get privacy - a row of 60ft Leylandii I can see their point but a couple of 10-12ft shrubby trees - get over it!

Are their trees blocking out your sun, or would your one single tree block theirs? Maybe that's what they are moaning about?

No it is nothing like Leylandi. Our border line is about 30 metres. I am only concerned with about 10 metres of it because the rest is behind my house and I can't see it. Of these 10 metres, 5 of this is a brick wall on their side so my covering this will not impact them at all. I plan on covering about 5 metres along the open fence with a tree and/or trellis. It may be one of those lollipop trees that have a long stem and then the evergreen. I haven't decided yet.

The thing is all their other neighbours have massive 200 year old trees overlooking their garden and other trellis and hedge. I must be a pushover as people seem to whinge at me for the slightest thing I do. One of my neighbours moaned because I leave a big plastic box outside for deliveries when I go out so none of them are bothered by deliveries.

Apparently it is unsightly.

And this is why I don’t talk to my neighbours beyond a smile and a hello and occasionally taking in parcels for them.

If you hadn’t told them your plans they wouldn’t have been able to make stupid demands.

Just go ahead and do your garden up as you want. Don’t tell them anything they seem to think you’re asking their permission.

And ignore the neighbours moaning about your plastic box point out something they do and moan about it right back.

Neighbour sounds a bit cheeky & it doesn't sound at all unreasonable what you are planning!
A landscaped garden will bring benefits to all with wildlife, seasonal colour , noise reduction, wind break and (best of all when you are overlooked) privacy.
We struggle with the privacy bit - our neighbours have just built a wooden platform deck that is a 2nd storey level and completely overlooks our entire house & garden.
I'm not delighted, especially because they chopped down all the established shrubs (really pretty ones) that kept both our houses private...
Might encourage dh to take up naked contemporary dance & mime in the garden... ...that should have it sorted quickly...
I think you are well within your rights to plant a selection of things in your own garden.
Personally, I don't like being fully pickled in the sun all day so I love a shady tree here and there.
Perhaps point out the visual benefits if they grumble, with a reassurance that you will aim for a similar height to the tall trees & shrubs they've got

Ignore them.

But be aware that evergreen trees are covered by some restrictions... Have a Google. You might find you need to put in a non-evergreen tree. We have ornamental pear trees. They are quite compact but lots of branches so even in winter they block a bit of the view. Right now they are in bloom and you can still see through them, it's not a thick canopy, but still provides privacy.

three-wheeler that sounds like something which would have required planning permission.

Trees are lovely OP. They really improve a garden.

Your neighbours are just being silly. They can’t stop you from having plants above their fence line. You’d think they’d want your garden to look nicer.

Thank you for the reassuring comments. I try and be neighbourly but sometimes I just feel annoyed that I never moan about anything they do but they seem to have a lot of comments on what we do.

Well they can 'not want it' all they like - it is your garden and you can do what you want with it (within permitted planning permission of course). Just crack on and let them sulk about it. Your plans sound lovely.

honeysucklejasmine
Unfortunately not - they built it on a bit of land that slopes upwards at the end of their garden so have done it as part of a terracing effect.
It's about 30 feet from the back of our house, so pretty close.
Not sure why they needed a bloody skyscraper deck though.
They aren't the most approachable neighbours either!
I did grit my teeth a bit when I watched it going up & I've decided to plant some lovely (big, evergreen, fast growing) mature shrubs on my side to block it out! Any suggestions welcome!
Bloody annoying though, limits our use of the garden at the moment and means I tend to have blinds drawn along back of house.

Three be careful though, these are the 3 criteria which would allow them to raise a complaint against you:

1. 2 or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs
2. over 2 metres tall
3. affecting your enjoyment of your home or garden because it’s too tall www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/high-hedges-trees-and-boundaries

Their decking sounds horrible... Have you asked your council if it's ok? Surely if it overlooks your entire garden it can't be ok without anyone signing it off - thinking of the rules around putting in new windows, for e.g.

Honestly, some people..... If I were you neighbour I would probably piss you off by being nosy but delighted. I would be very interested and maybe a bit jealous too - I would want all the details only because I might copy you .

Ignore them.

NDN are in no position to tell you how to plant and landscape as long you avoid the well-known culprits. A bit of mistake to open a discussion about your plans, but it's done now.

Ideally no tree should be within 15' (5m) of your house, and more if it's larger or you will risk subsidence caused by fluctuations in the moisture uptake of the root system. Plant trees much farther apart than you might think because overcrowded mature trees will look scruffy and malformed.

There would seem to be a sense of entitled 'ownership' lurking in the minds of your neighbours, which you will have to discourage by developing a thicker skin, OP. There's always some sort of moaner, probably originating from envy of your plans. Who knows?

A deliveries box sounds ideal, and whoever criticised it should go forth and multiply, preferably in their shed.