Fast growing shrubs as alternative to 6ft fence???

[ninj]

Had a quote for a 6ft fence.. it was £600+.. it's only for one side of the garden (5 panels) and we really can't afford that!
Sooo, I've been trying to come up with an alternative. I thought about the reed/willow panels that you can attach to your current fence (we have a 3ft fence (frame style) with the green netting for extra security) BUT in the last few weeks some of the next door neighbours things have been growing through and it's a shame to get rid as they're pretty.
SO.. we've decided we'll probably go for some bushes/shrubs etc for extra privacy, we've added a few so far, but they don't do much I have to say..
I've seen conifers at Focus priced at £9.99 buy 1 get TWO free so that idea crossed my mind.. but I'm impatient!!! Can you suggest any fast growing shrubs for borders etc? Ideally I want things to be at about 5ft within the next 2/3 years.
Thanks xx

bamboo is fast growing, makes a pleasant sound and has different coloured stems to choose from...

the problem with fast growing things is they tend to be invasive, as i think bamboo is. so you need to think about how much time you are willing to spend keeping it in check. the best thing is to find something which will stop at about 5ft. imagine if you bought something that would be bigger than your house in 2 years!

Privet.

can't you put up the fence yourself? will be tons cheaper

eleagnus ebbingei grows fast in our clay soil and is evergreen.
We planted 5 and half years ago and I have had to prune to keep it at 6ft over the last couple of years.
Also ceanothus grows quickly and has pretty blue flowers

If you go for thorny things it'll help discourage stray children/burglars trying to get through. Blackthorn, hawthorn, wild rose (Rosa rugosa), berberis, pyracantha all fit the bill and grow reasonably fast.

Beech can make a nice hedge, and holds the leaves well in through the autumn so you'll keep some privacy.

Thomson & Morgan do a range of Hedging Fuchsias (which is nice if you want the variety, but your garden centre would probably do the same or similar cultivars).

Unconventional, but my parents wound up with a Hebe that was about 7ft tall and 1ft wide, so fairly hedge like - I think it just got trimmed regularly...

How much would a chain link type fence cost? Not attractive in and of itself, but would be a good base for a whole host of climbers...

leylandii ... cheap, fast growing, thick and look nice if you keep them trimmed.

I know they are the source of much garden snobbery here but I've just come back from switzerland and more or less EVERY house (even the lovely huge grand ones) had a leylandii hedge ... nice and thick and trimmed neatly. Don't know what everyone's problem is with them really ... (grumble grumble)

Solanum, a type of jasmine plant, is brilliant. We have it on both sides and it gives loads of privacy. It flowers for 9 months of the year and the evergreen foliage grows vigorously. Everyone always comments on it, especially during the winter months when it is still flowering (with white flowers). It's only usually available around this time of year, so have a look for it now if you are interested.