Problem with my neighbour - invasion of privacy

[Feebs7]

I've been digging a hole next to my garden boundary wall, to see how deep the foundation goes, as I may be doing some landscaping work - depending on what I find with this garden wall.

My neighbour noticed I was digging a hole - and has sent me an email to ask me to provide them with all information about the building work.

I have not employed any builder and so far - all I am doing is digging a hole. I verbally told my neighbour this.

I finished digging the hole, placed a board over it to cover it up, and then I left my home for a couple of hours.

I came back to find the board I had carefully placed to cover the hole, had been dislodged and the hole exposed.

I am not sure how my neighbour did this (probably with a long stick over my fence), but I feel like I am under their surveillance and that they have totally invaded my privacy.

I have no idea what to do, as I want to keep good relations with this neighbour, as they may need to be involved if the landscaping work goes ahead.

However, I genuinely feel like I can't even dig a hole in my own garden without them invading my privacy.

I don't know what to do - as I feel like they are breathing down my neck, and that I can't even sneeze without them want to know why.

My freeholder doesn't agree, with me writing any statement of assurance to my neighbour, and I agree that it's not worth the paper it's written on.

However, since understanding the situation a bit better, I have found that a structural engineer that can write a letter of assurance to my freeholder/neighbour - after they've done their calculations. Even if a Party Wall Agreement not needed.

This provides everyone, with assurance, and no need to go into any lengthy details about the planned work.

I'm sorry,... but I just can't stand hypocritical neighbours who use the law when it's suits themselves, but then do things that are against the law in a way that they think no one will notice....