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Neighbours hedge

hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
in Problem solving
I have lived in this house for 15+ years. When I moved in the neighbour kept her hedge adjoining our properties to around 4 feet. Since the house was sold (about 10 years ago), the new neighbours have never cut the hedge. It is a mixed hedge - lots of hawthorn, elder, sycamore, privet etc. which makes it a b*gger to cut. I have done my best yearly by keeping my side cut and in previous years also cutting the top. A few years ago I gave up cutting the top and only cut my side. They still did nothing. They do know it is their hedge. It now towers well over my head.
Having started the battle with it again yesterday, I have had enough. And have decided to get my side cut back as far as I can and put up a six foot fence along its length. 
So why do I feel unneighbourly????????
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Have you ever had a conversation with them about it?
  • blameitonthedogblameitonthedog Posts: 122
    You have my sympathy.  We live in a small terrace of cottages with gardens just 13' wide, with our seating area just out back of the kitchen.  My neighbour's pyracantha hedge, running from behind my back door for a length of approx 30' has grown steadily up and up (despite them clipping it yearly) above the 6' fence, throwing our patio into complete shade all day long... they aren't bothersome neighbours but NOT the kind who would respond well to being ever so nicely asked to take it down just a bit further on its next haircut
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It is tricky stuff.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Years ago I did have half a conversation with the husband but he clearly was not interested. The hedge is about 12 m long. It's not the height really that bothers me, it is just all the extra work involved in my part in trying to control it. If they had agreed to do the major part of it, I would have continued to do my side as I need the access but its the 'do nothing' bit that gets my goat. I thought leaving the height uncut for the last few years would spur them into action but to no avail. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I inherited a large ivy hedge growing over a party fence. It holds a lot of wildlife and is a nice green wall to have. My neighbours (renters) are not interested in gardening at all and the ivy bugs them - because, in truth, it does take staying on top of. I feel bad for them as it feels like a PITA, but it's a great screen (for us both) and wildlife haven. Both my neighbours either side are not interested in gardening and I have started to offer to go over and cut back my plants that overhang or intrude (as I can't reach from my side). As we are terrace neighbours, I guess the issues are always going to come up. None of my neighbours seem to be riled but I do wonder, too, about the best way of handling things....
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    As I get older I don’t have the energy nor the inclination to do more work than I should. They are more able than me to cut their hedge. The fence is my way of washing my hands of it for once and all. Not the solution I really wanted but needs must. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    hogweed, don't be bullied by them. 
    Do you have a "community support officer" at the police station. Might be worth having a little chat and asking their advice. If your neighbour goes ahead and cuts your trees, against your wishes,that's actual criminal damage.
    Devon.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    @Hostafan1. The hedge/trees are not mine. And it will be me cutting the hedge back to the boundary to put a fence up. Thereby leaving them the problem of their hedge! 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    oops, confused you with another thread. SOZ ( embarrassed smiley face )
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    The only problem with your solution is that their hedge will get taller and taller over your fence anyway and might make maintenance of the fence more difficult. Would it perhaps be easier to use the money instead and get the hedge professionally cut on both sides if your neighbours would agree. If they see how tidy it would look they might then be inclined to keep it that way. Just an idea....
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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