Prickly hedge

rcpa

Hi - Can anyone help me with this. My hubby and I have grown a prickly hedge along our garden fence. We keep it very neat on our side and we don't let it grow higher than the fence but it does grow through the fence into my neighbours garden. Our neighbours on the other hand does not cut it on their side. This would not normally bother me but they have a young child now who is running about the garden and I am concerned that he will get hurt by the thorns as they are quite large. I do not have any relationship with my neighbour since her adult son shouted obscenities at my 5 year old and his friend (she thought this was acceptable because he was drunk), otherwise I would ask her if I could cut it. What way does the law work should this child hurt themselves, am I responsible

Artytarty

I think it is their responsibility to cut it and return the cuttings to you, the rughtful owner!
We call this anti - pesonnel hedging, very useful in the right location.
I should think that if your neighbours young son gets scratched then your neighbour will cut the bits sticking through the fence, or else ask you to do it.
he'll maybe get scratched once or twice and then stay away from the hedge!

Charco_2

I would still offer!

Regardless of the tenuous nature of your neighbourship, go over there and raise your concerns about the hedge and offer to cut it back neat.

As angry as you are about the incident with your son it might be better to move on. I doubt you'll be buddy buddy again with your neighbours but it's better to try to move on... this can be a form of putting it in the past - good fences make good neighbours!

Farway

Not a lawyer, but surely your neighbour should be treated as an adult and can readily see the thorns and any remedial action is up to them?

As Artytarty says, the kid will soon learn to avoid the hedge, as we all learned not to go barelegged into stinging nettles or hawthorns