I did on online search to find a solution to an identical issue and was directed to your question. It couldn't have been much closer in similarity - it would appear that we are neighbours! We have just planted several small Photinia Red Robins in the gap between the railings and our back wall. They were inexpensive (three for £10) so if Network rail does spray the area with weed killer then we won't have wasted too much money. Obviously it is going to take a few years before we benefit from the plants providing screening but we aren't planning on going anywhere soon. In addition we have dug up some bamboo that wasn't in a great position in our garden and we've relocated it to the gap as well. That is already quite tall and we'd noticed that there is a large clump of bamboo which is thriving on the opposite side of the train tracks so hopefully ours will too. We found a solution to accessing the gap despite the barbed wire. Feel free to pop down and take a look at what we've done if you are still trying to find a solution. We are at number 25. .
Thanks for responding. Yes, we are indeed neighbours! I’m
at No.19. I can make out part of my adjoining neighbour’s (at No. 21) trampoline
in your first photo.
I haven’t found a satisfactory solution to the problem so
I might try following your lead with the Photinia Red Robins or similar. However,
I am aware that Network Rail do cut back all the plants in the gap (using
heavy-duty strimmers, etc.) between our back fences and the metal railings from
time to time. I don’t know if they also put down weed killer but I wouldn’t be
surprised. On the advice of a garden supplies company I did buy and plant out a
Mountain Ash tree but, after being out for a few days, it was looking very
sorry for itself so I brought it back in before it died. I doubt it would have
survived Network Rails programme of clearance anyway. Also, it turned out to be
completely unsuitable for obscuring the flats as it is bare of leaves for at
least 6 months of the year!
Posts
We have just planted several small Photinia Red Robins in the gap between the railings and our back wall. They were inexpensive (three for £10) so if Network rail does spray the area with weed killer then we won't have wasted too much money. Obviously it is going to take a few years before we benefit from the plants providing screening but we aren't planning on going anywhere soon.
In addition we have dug up some bamboo that wasn't in a great position in our garden and we've relocated it to the gap as well. That is already quite tall and we'd noticed that there is a large clump of bamboo which is thriving on the opposite side of the train tracks so hopefully ours will too.
We found a solution to accessing the gap despite the barbed wire. Feel free to pop down and take a look at what we've done if you are still trying to find a solution. We are at number 25.
.
Thanks for responding. Yes, we are indeed neighbours! I’m at No.19. I can make out part of my adjoining neighbour’s (at No. 21) trampoline in your first photo.
I haven’t found a satisfactory solution to the problem so I might try following your lead with the Photinia Red Robins or similar. However, I am aware that Network Rail do cut back all the plants in the gap (using heavy-duty strimmers, etc.) between our back fences and the metal railings from time to time. I don’t know if they also put down weed killer but I wouldn’t be surprised. On the advice of a garden supplies company I did buy and plant out a Mountain Ash tree but, after being out for a few days, it was looking very sorry for itself so I brought it back in before it died. I doubt it would have survived Network Rails programme of clearance anyway. Also, it turned out to be completely unsuitable for obscuring the flats as it is bare of leaves for at least 6 months of the year!