Neighbour complaining about my hedge.

[WokesFromHome]

We have a hedge that runs about 5 m alongside my neighbour. It is not a Leylandi hedge. It is no more than 2m, just under. Our fence is shorter than the hedge so it sticks out a bit above the fence.

My neighbour has trees that run alongside this fence and hang over my side of the fence, which I don't really care about.

Neighbour is saying my hedge (about 4" above fence) is blocking out her light, which it really isn't as the fence runs the opposite direction to where sun hits our gardens and her bedroom is nowhere near my hedge. The hedge being just under 2m is really not an inconvenience to her except perhaps for the fact that it doesn't look great her side with green hedge poking above fence. She is citing the "light" as she knows it is one of the reasons to get the council to agree to hedge being a nuisance.

Is it the case that I can keep my hedge at 2m? Or does she have a case. I'm sure she will whinge to council if I don't cut it. Funny thing is, we have the hedge to cover up the eyesores from our other neighbour.

You can ring your council to clarify hedge height rules but 2m doesn't sound too high to me. I'd start complaining about her overhanging trees which you could chop and then throw the branches over to her side of the fence

I wish I could complain about hearing her whinging on to her DH when I am in the garden.

Just say to her you will contact the council yourself as you believe you are within legal limits. Then ask the council to clarify the legal limits but don't mention a neighbour dispute or the neighbour at all.

Then inform the neighbour of the council position.

They are wrong anyway, you're allowed 6 feet, makes no difference if a fence or a hedge in terms of light.

As far as I remember, 2m is the accepted height now. I imagine if someone from the council came out and saw her TREES growing in front of the offending hedge, they'd tell your neighbour to stop being ridiculous -once they'd managed to stop laughing.

Couldn’t you politely suggest that it is her trees that are blocking her light?

Start speaking loudly to your plants when she's whinging your her DH.

Oh look Geranium, mad whinging neighbour is in the garden again. Science really isn't her strong point is it? No Rose, the hedge is under 2m, perfectly legal. Yes, cyclamen you'd THINK common sense would tell you 2" of hedge will make no difference to the sun! On & on...

Besides, with the weather getting colder I don't suppose you'll have listen to her much longer! And as a PP said, if the council come out. Her trees, not your hedge, will be the problem!!

Gosh id love to live next to a neighbour with lush big plants ... it costs so much to buy mature shrubs and trees and to benefit from shade, greenery lushness for free ....and good for the environment.. at 2m what is there to complain about....it also gives privacy...i dont get people like your neighbour.

Some people just love a good old whinge.

That is a very good point that her trees cover half the length of her fence and spread out and up to about 3m. Maybe she should trim the trees rather than worry about my lush 4" about the short fence.

My hedge is lush by the way. Much better than looking at brown fence.

Better looking and no doubt home to so many different species of wildlife. We need more hedges not less, your neighbour sounds like a control freak, please continue to ignore!