Do you mean she cut your hedge without permission - ie the height of it as opposed to what's on her side? That's a criminal act, so you may want legal advice. However, I know how horrible these things are, so perhaps a screen inside the hedge is the beat way to go, whether a structure with climbers etc, or a line of trees that aren't too intrusive, like rowans or similar. Incidentally - there's no such thing as a right to light - not in Scotland anyway
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I sympathise. I am sure my neighbours have better things to do than watch me pottering around, but the sense of being overlooked is not nice.
My hedge down the side is much more than 2m (hornbeam) but it backs onto a road where people park, so I feel justified. The hedge at the bottom of the garden is kept to 2m, as it backs onto two neighbours with very small gardens. Instead, at the end of my patio I have a grove of bamboo which is very dense and higher than 2m. I also have a pergola over the patio with a sun sail. So when I am on the patio, no-one can see me. It's an important haven for me!
@Pianoplayer Thank you - it doesn’t seem too much to ask, does it, for a bit of courtesy so we can continue to enjoy our gardens in private. I will look into some of your ideas to regain some privacy. 😊
@Hostafan1 We both live in 2 storey detached houses but my neighbour’s side wall (an integral garage) forms the boundary. My own rear facing kitchen window is also close to this boundary so I don’t want to put anything directly in front of it as I quite like the view I have of my own garden. The problem really stems from her new extended kitchen window which is downstairs and only 4-5 metres from the boundary line facing towards me. All the other windows in her house look directly into her large south facing back garden. I think she must just stand at her cooker looking towards the boundary, despising the hedge. She is in her seventies and still astute and active but maybe just needs something else in her life to focus on! Thanks again 😊
@Fairygirl Thank you. Seven years ago she got a “garden company” to come and cut my hedge without saying a word in advance. They decimated it and it has never been the same since then. I let her know how upset I was about what she did and although she seemed sorry (I don’t think she actually said as much right enough) it hasn’t stopped her getting busy with the shears in the intervening years. 😔 I believe karma will sort out thoughtless people eventually. 🙏
It's a very difficult situation, and the subject of many threads on this forum. I think some people feel they have a 'right to interfere' with hedges, rather than just trimming on their side which is fine. It's also understandable that you don't want a lot of grief with it either.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I wonder what you'd make of a nearby neighbour whose bathroom is facing our garden on her first floor...the frosted glass leaves little to the imagination but we just find it hilarious...don't even think she realises she's that visible. Living in the city, I'm not fussed about feeling private in an outdoor space. Frankly it has been nice saying hi to them during this strange year so far and sharing produce and plants with them.
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However, I know how horrible these things are, so perhaps a screen inside the hedge is the beat way to go, whether a structure with climbers etc, or a line of trees that aren't too intrusive, like rowans or similar.
Incidentally - there's no such thing as a right to light - not in Scotland anyway
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you ,and your neighbour live on flat plats , in bungalows, the height required for privacy is much lower than for 2 storey buildings.
If your neighbours' plots is higher than yours, ( eg on a sloping site ) the hedge would need to be taller.
If your "neighbour" is an office block, or industrial unit, or a railway line, you're into a whole different ball game.
My hedge down the side is much more than 2m (hornbeam) but it backs onto a road where people park, so I feel justified. The hedge at the bottom of the garden is kept to 2m, as it backs onto two neighbours with very small gardens. Instead, at the end of my patio I have a grove of bamboo which is very dense and higher than 2m. I also have a pergola over the patio with a sun sail. So when I am on the patio, no-one can see me. It's an important haven for me!
Thank you - it doesn’t seem too much to ask, does it, for a bit of courtesy so we can continue to enjoy our gardens in private. I will look into some of your ideas to regain some privacy. 😊
We both live in 2 storey detached houses but my neighbour’s side wall (an integral garage) forms the boundary. My own rear facing kitchen window is also close to this boundary so I don’t want to put anything directly in front of it as I quite like the view I have of my own garden.
The problem really stems from her new extended kitchen window which is downstairs and only 4-5 metres from the boundary line facing towards me. All the other windows in her house look directly into her large south facing back garden. I think she must just stand at her cooker looking towards the boundary, despising the hedge. She is in her seventies and still astute and active but maybe just needs something else in her life to focus on! Thanks again 😊
Thank you. Seven years ago she got a “garden company” to come and cut my hedge without saying a word in advance. They decimated it and it has never been the same since then. I let her know how upset I was about what she did and although she seemed sorry (I don’t think she actually said as much right enough) it hasn’t stopped her getting busy with the shears in the intervening years. 😔 I believe karma will sort out thoughtless people eventually.
🙏
I think some people feel they have a 'right to interfere' with hedges, rather than just trimming on their side which is fine.
It's also understandable that you don't want a lot of grief with it either.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...