Neighbour dispute, what are my rights in my own garden?

[SarahH13]

Can anyone give me some advice on what rights you have in your own garden and how to deal with complaining neighbours? I’ve lived in my semi detached cottage for 16 years and have a lovely garden. I’ve recently moved my patio to a secluded corner next to the adjoining neighbours fence. Is my boundary and a high fence. My neighbours tried to stop it being built, saying they didn’t want us sitting near their garden, that they could hear us talking. It’s only a few feet closer than my lawn and old patio. We have had weeks of them watching us out of their upstairs window or peering through a gap in the fence. It’s such an invasion of privacy and very uncomfortable to feel constantly watched. They now keep phoning or calling over the fence, complaining about small petty things, the latest being that they didn’t like the colour of our garden umbrella. Red. Asked us to take it down as it was visible to them if they looked over the fence. Sounds really pathetic but I am upset and scared to enjoy my garden. Just waiting for the next complaint or rude nasty phone call. We are a quiet family, two teenagers who are well behaved. We enjoy eating outside and chatting, like most people. The neighbours are in their seventies and been here the full time we have. Any advice on how to deal with it? Has anyone else had a similar issue? Thanks

Sorry. The red umbrella thing is beyond ridiculous. But if you have a large garden why do you need to sit right next to the fence. But as previous poster said beware it escalating.

Throw flaming bags of cat shit. It’s the only way.

I have images of you been at the bottom end of your garden nowhere near anywhere where you would actually effect them.
I think we need a diagram!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I feel more confident about standing up for myself now. Thanks for making me laugh too. Thanks again everyone and have a good day. Sx

They are out of order, but getting old and probably paranoid.

Sabbatical - did you mean to be so ridiculously ageist?

At what age do you think people start getting 'paranoid'? 50? 60? 80? FFS.

Put a 'Fuck Off' flag on top of your red parasol. (White with big red letters)

I have neighbours next to me with a young child and a young teenager. These kids aren't always in the garden but when they are, they are full on and it's mostly lovely - all but when the squealing becomes full on screaming but it doesn't happen much.

Over the end of my garden, I have neighbours in their 80s. Their garden is about 60 m long but they have built their patio right up against my fence because it is the sunniest spot.

I hate it. but I know they are not being unreasonable and I am. It's their garden, they can do what the hell they want. I don't have to like it but I don't have any right to complain about it.

Ask them what colour umbrella they would prefer you to have. When they tell you say you look forward to them ordering a new one for you and how generous it is for them to buy you a new umbrella.

I would lean over their fence...have a good look at their garden...and then phone them and complain about every little detail...seriously you need to fight fire with fire or they will bully you for ever more....id have told them to fuck off at the very start of this crazy behaviour.