Neighbours climbing frame - what are my options?

skinnirib

I live in an old house and my front drive and my neighbours' back garden is separated by a staggered brick wall. The lowest point of the wall is about 6' and it's topped with metal railings. A couple of years ago the neighbour built his kids a wooden climbing frame with a platform at the level of the wall (right up against the wall). We didn't have a problem with it initially but as the kids have got older they've started to shout at us as we go to and fro from the car to the house. They can also now see into our main garden and shout at our kids when they're in the garden etc. The neighbour didn't mention the climbing frame to us, he built it when we were out!

The parents seem unconcerned and I'm reluctant to push things so I wonder what options I have in terms of screening the climbing frame? I would add that all boundaries belong to my house. The neighbour paid for the railings on the wall when we first moved in for extra security for his back garden but otherwise the wall is ours. We have a tarmac drive right up to the wall.

elsien

Shouting what? Obscenities, or saying hello?
I had two neighbour's kids who'd stick their heads over the gate asking what I was doing every time I set foot in the garden. Eventually it got really annoying so I set them to work weeding. They didn't do it so much after that.

skinnirib

Thanks for your reply. Mainly making fun of us, calling us names etc. I don't understand it because we've never had an issue up to now. My husband says just to ignore it but unfortunately I was bullied at school and it pushes all my buttons. I just want to find a way so they can't see from this platform thing.

martinthebandit

http://www.wykehammatureplants.co.uk/

skinnirib

Thanks for the link martinthebandit. I have tarmac right up to the wall but could get some removed I guess in order to plant these. It would be an immediate solution!

stator

You can generally build screening up to 2m without planning permission.

If it was built within the last few years just report it to the council as it doesn't have planning permission. The council will get it removed.

If you've left it too long then the council won't be able to get it removed

skinnirib

Thanks stator, I did consider this but I feel they would know it was us who reported them and things might get worse. We're looking to move in a few years and this would then be a 'dispute' we'd need to disclose. I think the screening is a good solution but just didn't know which plants to get, what would grow vigourously etc, but martinthebandit's link has offered a solution I think. It also solves the problem of a pretty ugly wall, and it won't affect the neighbour's light as the sun will always be their side of the hedge.

elsien

skinnirib wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. Mainly making fun of us, calling us names etc. I don't understand it because we've never had an issue up to now. My husband says just to ignore it but unfortunately I was bullied at school and it pushes all my buttons. I just want to find a way so they can't see from this platform thing.

What are the parent's doing while this is going on? Is it not possible to talk to them about it?

skinnirib

We've tried to tell them what's going on. The mother is all 'boys will be boys' but the dad seems to rule the roost and won't give us the time of day. Any time we've mentioned it or answered back it's got worse afterwards. I'd hate to think the dad was actively encouraging it but.....

stueyhants

Bamboo is fast growing and will provide good screening. Just make sure you use a proper root barrier so it doesn't spread.

robatwork

Another vote for clumping bamboo which I went for (see my thread in the green fingered forum). But I do also like the sound of pleached beech and pleached hornbeam. Not sure I like the look of them, but I do like saying them!