I have nothing to hide, I just want a decent fence

[amightywhoosh]

Would appreciate some advice on neighbourhood politics. Just moved into a new house: little gardens all packed tightly together. Fences waist-high. We'd really like standard 6fters, not because we are weird or dangerous or anti-social or criminal, just because we like privacy.

Fences jointly owned. We've offered Side A to replace, paid for by us - they are ok with that. Side B have said 'Fence has been recently replaced' (it doesn't look like it), and 'I don't like those high fences'.

I know we could go 'what the hell' and go ahead with 6fters within our boundaries. But - the neighbours all know each other! Some of them are related to each other! The previous owner comes back to see one of them regularly!

This is all very nice and we don't want to upset people but - we want a decent fence! Also, I do not look good at 6am and want to be able to run out and put washing out without frightening them.

WWYD?

More trellis/fancy fencing ideas here

Probably your 'I don't like high fences' neighbour might like one of these!

Thanks everyone, that is really helpful.

Soupdragon, I'm confident I'm not a shit neighbour riding roughshod over anyone. The tone of my original post indicates that.

Thank you all.

OP - don't worry, you come across as a decent person. I don't know why Soupdragon has got on her high horse but assume it must be something a bit close to her heart.

AMightyWhoosh, I think you are doing ok, you asked, they said no, you are putting up your own fence on your own land, you tried to do the decent thing.

If you don't want a fence, how about some clumping (not rambling) bamboo. We have it along one side and it's fab. We keep it chopped to around 6ft in height and it's lovely having the evergreen through the winter, plus softer looking than a fence. Alternatively trellis on (ideally concrete) posts on your side of existing fence. Can recommend tracheospermum jasmine as a good evergreen climber. We started with honeysuckle but it took over a bit and was too heavy for the trellis once it'd grown. The Jasmine takes a while to establish but once going is brilliant. Flowers smell delish too.

I couldn't wait to get a decent fence when we moved in as the old lady next door, who was lovely but very lonely, used to lean over the fence whenever, and I mean whenever, we were in the garden, even if we had friends over, and I felt I had to almost sneak out the back door and crawl along the grass to get to the bottom of the garden without alerting her! Good luck!

Plant a hedge your side and grow it to however tall you like , put trellis on the top in the meantime.

We live at the bottom of a hill so everyone can see into our garden. We also have the lowest fence between us and the neighbours 'up' the hill. It may seem rude but I would like to enjoy my garden without feeling like we are on top of each other.
I like my neighbours but don't want to have to talk just because we are hanging out washing or walking through.
I have a detached house and would like some privacy, people who are higher will still be able to see in, but I can still have 'my' garden.
I will also make the fence within my boundary so it isn't an issue.

Thanks everyone, these are great suggestions. I think I will do both - 6ft plus hedging, using your ideas - simply because I am 'new to gardening' so not to confident about not killing things.

Looks like I need to spend some time on the gardening board!

Many thanks for ideas and solidarity