Help! How to avoid High Hedge legislation

bonty44

Our council have in their wisdom decided to build a 4 bed detached house behind our property which completely overlooks our back garden and newly installed conservatory. To say that I am hopping mad is an understatement.

The only way I can afford some privacy in the back garden is to build a high hedge; but how do I do this without being stung by the High Hedge Legislation?

It would need to be a semi-evergreen or evergreen hedge to act as a screen; if I build a high retaining wall and then plant a hedge in that, if I am required to trim it to 2 metres, then where does the 2 metres start, iyswim? Does that include the roots?

Mojisola

The high hedge legislation only applies to a row of evergreens so if you break it up with a couple of deciduous trees you should be alright. A fence or wall can only be 2 metres in height but you won't be required to cut a row of trees down to that level, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Most deciduous trees will give you some privacy. Have a look around now while trees are still bare and pick out the really dense twiggy ones which will give you the best screening.

It would be a bad idea to plant trees on top of a wall but, if you build a thick double wall with plenty of soil between, you could get away with a line of shrubs.

In this situation, people are often advised to plant bamboo. There are very tall growing varieties and they don't come under the high hedge legislation. Check that you buy clump-forming ones, not spreaders, otherwise your whole garden could be taken over!