Security/Wildlife Hedging
Sam Jesson
Posts: 121
Hi,
I've got a small garden in London which backs onto a park. So, i'd like to put a gate in the back so i can get in and out of the park. I'd also like to be able to look out the window and see a hedge rather than a fence. So my plan is to grow a hedge the other side of the fence for a couple of years until its mature and then take down my fence! I'd probabley put up a simple wire fence the other side of it to put intruders off but i'd also like the hedge to be good for security. I've mentioned this to a few mates who all think it's a bad idea for security reasons but if i was a burglar i'd rather quietly dismantle/scale a fence than try to pass through a 6ft prickly double row hedge!
Some advice on the practicalities of this and also some recommendations of hedging plants would be appreciated 
Many thanks,
Sam
Posts
Forgive me for asking Sam - but if your fence is your boundary, would you be allowed to plant a hedge the other side of it?
Is the park council land? Surely inside would be safer - and keep the fence too 
Snap pansyface
actually i was going to plant the hedge on the other side. The previous owners of our house build the current fence 2ft in to avoid some concrete they didn't want to bash up and remove (which i've already done). I'm 100% certain it's my land and to make that clear to the rangers (it's already clear because of the line of fencing of the neighbours) i'll put up my wire fence too. So the hedging plants will sit between the park-side wire fence and my current wooden fence until they reach maturity.
Shouldn't be a problem then
How about holly - looks lovely and brilliant for wildlife and pretty secure ....... or hawthorn in a double row again for wildlife and security
But just remember Sam - you're putting in a gate. The intruders will simply scale that. It's the weak point, so you'll have to make sure it's very secure, and you can only do that when you're on the inside of it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the suggestions. Is there any plants which do well when trained to be quite narrow? perhaps 1.5-2ft?
I see your point about the gate, however the gate won't be more/less secure than if i had a fence. I want a hedge for mainly cosmetic/environmental reasons but want it to be as security conscious as possible.
perfect! thanks
How thin can pyracantha be clipped pansyface - but still keep a decent cover? This would be from a single row?
I would plant a mixed hedge with 50% hawthorn (nice and prickly). The remainder can be made up wild roses (prickly), blackthorn (super prickly), privet, hazel and anything else that takes your fancy. Still time to plant bare rooted , which is very much cheaper than potted, but not for much longer.