Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Trees/Screening/NewNeighbours/Noise!

Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
in Problem solving
Hi All

I was reading on a thread about a lady with an unwanted tree-cutting down neighbour. Someone mentioned about growing something 3m in from the perimeter and erecting a pergola. Just wondered, is this an actual thing please. Could you actually grow a ‘legal’ hedge over 2m high if its more than 3m from the perimeter?
i ask as i want to screen off my garden, but dont want. To fall foul of the law plus dont want to affect neighbours foundations, but DO want privacy.
any advice please?
thanks

Posts

  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    😀
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    For noise you could try an acoustic fence.  Have a look at this thread - https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2248401#Comment_2248401

    If you select a suitable tree you only need one or two to give you visual privacy or you could go for a pleached hedge which has the virtue of being tall but narrow and allowing you light and other planting opportunities whilst providing height and privacy - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=155#:~:text=Pleaching%20is%20a%20method%20of,%2C%20arbours%2C%20tunnels%20and%20arches.&text=A%20pleached%20hedge%20at%20RHS%20Garden%20Wisley. 

    A cheaper option would be a pergola covered in climbers which could bring you changing seasonal interest, colour and perfume. 

    Good idea to check local bye-laws before you decide on one or more options.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    Ps. Would a shrub be considered in the same way as a tree if it went over 2m high?

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's the height that counts, and where you position it.  

    Look on your council website about regulations for fences, hedges, trees before you over think things.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I think you have a mangled understanding of restrictions regarding hedges. I have not researched it so do not take this as gospel but I believe a neighbour can complain to the council about you if you have a line of two or more evergreen or semi evergreen trees over two metres in height which block their light.

    You are free to grow anywhere in your own garden as many free standing trees or shrubs as you like without your neighbour having any right to challenge you. Similarly a deciduous hedge can be as high and long as you want it to be. However if your tree or shrub causes structural damage to a neighbour’s property I can envisage you being on the wrong end of a law suit. If your plant overhangs your neighbour’s land they have the right to prune it back to the boundary line. Encroaching roots can similarly be trimmed.

    The next issues are whether such planting would disrupt your own enjoyment of your garden, would sour relations with your neighbours, would afford you privacy and would block noise. There is a whole set of considerations there which can only be satisfactorily answered with more information. What do you want to be private from? What is the source of the noise? And how long do you intend to stay in the house as privacy-affording trees can take years to grow enough to fulfil that brief.

    A set of pertinent photos would be helpful.
    Rutland, England
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @BenCotto is right - two shrubs/trees counts as hedge if they're at that height.
    I'd agree - take into consideration what your needs are. When I moved in here, most of the garden was grass, with just an enclosed, paved/gravelled section at the back. That was around three metres in from the boundary, and was fenced at around 6 feet.
    I fenced the boundary, as, being at the end,  the whole garden borders a pavement, but I have a 6 foot screen in roughly the position the old fence was. I now have hedging etc, but it provided a bit of privacy while I created a garden from the gravel and paving, and I had climbers etc.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    BenCotto said:
    I think you have a mangled understanding of restrictions regarding hedges. I have not researched it so do not take this as gospel but I believe a neighbour can complain to the council about you if you have a line of two or more evergreen or semi evergreen trees over two metres in height which block their light.

    You are free to grow anywhere in your own garden as many free standing trees or shrubs as you like without your neighbour having any right to challenge you. Similarly a deciduous hedge can be as high and long as you want it to be. However if your tree or shrub causes structural damage to a neighbour’s property I can envisage you being on the wrong end of a law suit. If your plant overhangs your neighbour’s land they have the right to prune it back to the boundary line. Encroaching roots can similarly be trimmed.

    The next issues are whether such planting would disrupt your own enjoyment of your garden, would sour relations with your neighbours, would afford you privacy and would block noise. There is a whole set of considerations there which can only be satisfactorily answered with more information. What do you want to be private from? What is the source of the noise? And how long do you intend to stay in the house as privacy-affording trees can take years to grow enough to fulfil that brief.

    A set of pertinent photos would be helpful.
    Hi there,

    thanks for the reply, and for the clarification.
    I hadnt realized that about deciduous hedges...thats v interesting.
    i will try and get some photos later..am not in good shape today (bones playing up)

    I have a very bare garden and most trees are in neighbours gardens as i am afraid of damaging peoples property.I dont ever want to be a problem for anyone.

    The new neighbours at the back right hand side have had a big extension but it has a big glass front (Not vis from photos) and it bounces sound out when they open the doors as it leads to a very wide kitchen running the length of the house which is tiled

     I have a long boring fence down one side anyway and wanted to break it up before the new neighbours came. It is 2m high , but people are visible above it as their garden now seems higher than before (?)
    hopefully you can see from the brick where the new bit is so we are trying to soften it off.
     We’ve been here 40 years and have been lucky enough to enjoy privacy and would love it if we could continue. If not, so be it, but thought it might be worth an ask.


Sign In or Register to comment.