Neighbour's huge new extension, how can I create privacy in the garden again?

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My neighbour has built a large new extension that now heavily overlooks my 30ft long garden. The end fence (which is theirs) is already slightly over 6ft tall as it stands on concrete gravel boards. The extension ground floor stands 3ft higher than the top of the fence as their land is higher. So they can look out of their huge kitchen window and see all of my garden. In addition, there is a large bedroom window above also giving a birds-eye view. I'm thinking the only thing I can do is plant trees but they won't totally disguise the house. My neighbour is against me planting any kind of dense hedging like Yew or trees because the fence is already at max hedge height 6ft and it would block out the sun to their tiny garden.

I thought about putting in some very tall posts with only thin wires between them and then growing roses along them, so it's tall but pretty from both sides. So perhaps adding another 3 -4ft higher than the fence. The extension is nicely built but it devalues my house now as I'm so overlooked. Any ideas?

Im not sure the downstairs window overlooks you that much- I suppose it depends how tall they are!

If they don't want you or your successors planting trees, I wonder if they would consider screening the side of the upstairs window so the window itself was not so obvious, and anyone in there would have to lean out and peer round to overlook you? Probably not practicable. Otherwise I would suggest a tree with very open "habit" like a birch, that wouldn't block all their light but would definitely break up the view between you. Does not need to be 100% solid to give you privacy.

I understand you want to keep on good terms with them but they have kind of made a rod for their own backs here. Who made their garden so small? Not you!

I would plant a row of pleached hornbeam along the end of your garden, assuming your garden ends to the front of your photo.

www.bing.com/images/search?q=trees+for+privacy+pleached&qpvt=trees+for+privacy+pleached&form=IGRE&first=1

Or if you prefer evergreen then a row of laurel. I would avoid Leylandii as that could grow too tall very quickly, and would probably be considered unneighbourly - though you are entitled to plant them if you prefer.

Your neighbours have extended their property within their rights, and you can also plant your garden to your own preference, which now includes trying to create privacy again.

Your neighbours don't have a right to light and where a boundary fence has to be max 2 metres, a hedge isn't bound by the same law and can be higher.

If your garden is long, and you don't want to plant a row of trees, you can create privacy by staggering trees so their canopies create privacy from a distance.

Lots of good ideas here:

www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/the-8-best-perfect-for-privacy-garden-trees/#:~:text=Top%2010%20privacy%20garden%20trees%201%20Ornamental%20pear,%28%20Prunus%20%E2%80%98Snow%20Goose%29%20%E2%80%93%20deciduous%20More%20items

i don’t think the neighbour has any right legally or morally to stop you planting trees after building that. I think that would be your best option. If you plant evergreens as a hedge they could breach planning but if you space them out and use deciduous trees as well there is nothing they can do. Check the planning rules and get planting some for screening ASAP.

Does the upstairs window have pp? The lower one won't really be an issue. Whatever you plant won't prevent that overlooking, you need something like a pergola planted with climbers.

sorry I didn’t mean the hedge would breach planning i meant that the neighbours could make a complaint to the council about certain hedges so worth checking the local council guidelines and planting something that would not infringe them in the future.

They won't see much from the kitchen so unless you think they are going to hang out in the bedroom watching you it's probably not that big on an issue

Yeah plant the trees. I planted a crab apple in an old garden I had and I loved it. Also not too fast growing. Tell your neighbours that you’ve compromised by planting a variety which is not too dense (see leylandii and move on- really what did they expect, plus trees are great for air quality and wildlife).

I also agree you could add some trellis to the top of the fence with planting. You could also add a corner pergola or shed thingy in the corner to block the overlooking at least from that spot.

Something a bit like this with a tall ish tree next to it.

So the extension is actually sideways to your garden? Not sure how you can be construe that as them overlooking your property when both windows actually face the rear of their garden. They'd only be able to see into your garden if they hung out of them and looked to the right.

But if it's really bothering you I'd plant fast-growing laurels along that back fence to block them. They won't be able to touch the height because the bushes shouldn't overhang their side, whereas that would be an issue with tree branches.

Surely not everyone in the house is 6ft?

As a previous poster suggested, what about pleached trees - but crab apples/apples/pears? You can buy them reasonably well established. When young, they need a fretwork of canes to support them but as they mature you entertwine the branches of the adjoining trees to form a hedge. Beautiful blossom in the spring and luscious green leaves and fruit in the summer. Admittedly bare branches in the winter (whereas hornbeam keep brown leaves).

I can't add anything to the fence because they own it.

Reading the responses, I should add that it's not all about being overlooked, but about me having to look at a new building so close to my rear windows. My garden is 5 fence panels long so the new building feels close.

Please, no, not a bloody birch

first, way too big a tree to be planting near house

second- the little birch seeds from the pendulum catkins are a fucking nightmare. They are so small they blow everywhere , they blocked our drains twice, they block gutters, they drift up in seed banks on every surface wall interface for weeks and weeks.

of all trees, they’re a bloody menace to live with. Just no

If they own the fence then you ask permission to add the trellis to the top. If they say no then you suggest that you’ll erect your own fence 2 inches in front of theirs which is higher and has trellis on the top! It sounds petty and you probably wouldn’t ever have to do it, but you need to stand up to them if the garden situation is annoying you. There’s no way I would have said no in the position of your neighbours, I would understand the impact of the extension and be happy for you to do anything within reason to mitigate it.

This clump-forming bamboo is lovely for screening:
www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/fargesia-rufa/classid.2000017340/

Erect your own fence inside your boundary line and add trellis.

That's fair enough, it does look imposing. Definitely go for something dense like laurel which won't overhang their side though, something you can plant well inside the boundary, because if they are antsy about light, you don't want them cutting it back just when it reaches a good height.

please Make sure that any trees are planted at least 3m from any building once they’re at mature size. Not 3m as a sapling-at mature height

im fed up with folks suggesting it’s fine to plant large trees ( or trees that will be large at maturity) on a boundary line and close to buildings.

you might not have a restriction in your deeds to plant them this close, but it is highly irresponsible , selfish and will lead to problems with neighbour disputes in years to come.

m looking to plant trees in my garden, they are needed as place is a dessert , but not near boundaries , and I will be choosing trees that won’t get above 12-15 foot at maturity , except right at bottom fence where backs just onto neighbours hedge at bottom of their garden , and won’t block their light and will be nice for them to look out onto as well -even there I wouldn’t plant a birch, oak, chestnut or another big species, but will stick to something with max height of say 25 foot.

That seems like a lot of overlooking. Did they get planning permission for their extension and importantly is the extension in accordance with the approved plans? I would check that out.

Were you consulted for the planning permission? Did you not object? Plant something. It’s not their decision about ‘light’.

You could plant bamboo, do your research first though

I would plant bamboo in really large pots and put a row in front of the fence. They grow extremely tall very quickly but in pots they won't spread. No pot and your garden will be full of them. They are light and airy so don't block all your light but the leaves are an effective screen

I'd plant something that deliberately blocks their light - it doesn't matter what they would or wouldn't like. They are entitled to the same level of consideration they gave you. So do whatever you want so long as it's legal