I need a visionary for my garden dilemma .

[WildFlowerBees]

We have a good sized garden but we're over looked by 3 townhouses at the bottom corner.

I really want to create a sanctuary that's not overlooked but the big sticking point is we have a cat proofed garden. We have the discrete roller type which prevents cats getting in and our oldies potentially jumping the fence.

Because of this putting anything against the fence is a no. How can I create a calm space with privacy whilst keeping the cat proofing doing its job?

The trick is to interfere with the line of sight. Things that are not especially tall will screen you if they are closer to you than the other buildings, and you can add to a secluded feel with big shrubs.

Start with a few trees - they do not have to be very tall to give you considerable privacy even when they are young, as the branches prevent anyone from seeing well. Obviously evergreens are more screening, but even deciduous trees can really add to a feeling of privacy and sanctuary

Have a look at crab apples, amelanchier, sorbus, for trees that will stay slender and graceful even as they get tall.

You can also use strategically placed trellis walls.

This [[https://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/books/the-complete-guide-to-garden-privacy www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/books/the-complete-guide-to-garden-privacy/ is a really useful book

Agree with Fern re trees.

you could also create a seating / shade area with umbrella trained trees.

In the time it took me to draw a diagram, Ferns had supplied the answer! Here's a video from TMSG about privacy.
Another tip that I picked up from a TV programme: we tend to think in straight lines and view our garden as a grid on rectangular base but we need to think also about angles. You said that the townhouses were in the corner, so think about doing the tree / screen / whatever at a 45 degree (for example) rather than in a line parallel to the back of your house.

Thank you! I do follow the middle sized garden, I'm still clueless! I've added a diagram. The arrows show where we're overlooked. It pretty much all of the garden.

Love the tree idea, I just bought a dwarf crab apple, not for screening though. How many trees would be enough do you think?

If you are overlooked try changing your perspective so that the overlookers are behind you. Plant some tallish shrubs behind and to grow over the top of you and yin will feel less exposed.

We have a medium sized L shaped garden. We have used bamboo to screen off a corner of it … it is relatively cheap and grows quite quickly.

Which way is North?
Would it help to move the route of the path to the other side, and cover it with an arch / pergola type affair which will stop the view from that corner.

Looking at the houses from our house is NW, the current path takes you to the back gate and garage. We could move the path, I worry if I add a pergola the cats will be able to get in/out.

We looked at bamboo but it's quite invasive. Could look at pot grown but I'd quite like something lovely to look at that's good for wildlife.

Not much use with garden design I’m afraid but I would be grateful if you could find time to tell me about your cat proofing please? We have cats that we would like to prevent leaving the garden for their own safety. Thank you

Have I got this right, that the right hand side of the garden gets the sun? Except that the decking near the house doesn't during the day because it is shaded by the house but it gets the setting sun.

We have katzecure, it's been in for 6 years and not had any issues. Looks discreet no one can see from outside. I didn't want the net hanging over.

Almost, the deck by the house gets more sun than I anticipated given it's aspect, it's in the sun most of the day.

@Isthereanicknamenotused this one

katzecure.com

Silver birch trees with spring bulbs underneath.

Looking at our cat proof system we could actually put up a pergola and then have the cat rollers attached to it.

Good idea, I love silver birch. Glad I asked here, knew there'd be some great ideas.

How about making a pergola the focal point at the centre of the garden, not against the fences? Something like this (but with climbers for privacy)

Thank you for your trouble - much appreciated

Not wanting to derail the thread, but this might be of interest if other options don't work, sometimes they find a way out and extra proofing is needed.
https://www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cat-runs-cat-proofed-gardens.211361/

What does the decking by the back gate bring to the party? Is the solution to move it from top-left to top-right and introduce some height (pergola / arch / etc or tree*) behind it.
That way the decking at the top of the garden has some screening from the townhouses and, as lightlypoached said, also has their back to the problem.
The same structure will also screen the decking near the house. If the screen follows the shape of that cut-off corner (45 degrees) then it won't block the setting sun so much.

You then need a focal point for the pergola-decking to look at. The focal point for the house-decking will be the pergola/tree.

*The tree can be something wafty. You don’t need to totally block the townhouses’ view, just do enough to baffle it.

I'm thinking of taking up the existing path and the bottom decking which is never used and redoing a path. Currently it's all so sharp, I'd like something softer path wise more meandering.

Also we do want to sell at some point and I can't seem to get my head around doing what I like in case buyers don't like it. We'll be here for at least another 5 years.

You've given me lots to think about, thank you so much. All ideas welcome!

Regarding re-doing the path:
if you relocate the decking from top-left (is that what you call the 'bottom decking'?) to top right, then you could re-do the path from the new decking to the back gate (so it no longer goes up the LHS). If I've got it correct this would be on a north/south axis. Apparently this is the best aspect if you want to do a path with borders both sides because both sides get similar light so the same plant will do well in both. This double-border path could be a great focal point from the new decking, as well as being practical (access).
You will also have to think about what the borders will look like from the house.

This is a good idea, I could put a pergola over the newly placed deck and from there we will be completely unseen. Thank you so much @senua

Ooo, I really want that!