Garden issues can anyone advise please

teabag29

I moved into my property a few months ago (it’s a housing association house) and have been busy slowly trying to get it looking good. I am now looking at getting the garden in good order but have several issues;

1. I want to get 6 foot fencing on the left and back of the garden and replace the fencing on the right also. The right side already has 6 ft fencing but 3 panels are damaged with holes. The left has a small waist size fence but is mostly knocked down (the neighbours on this side have a reasonably untidy garden and don’t seem to care) and the fencing at the back is also waist size and has all been broken due to the trees over growing from the house behind it.

I have permission to fence both left and right sides but the council say I need to find out if the back property is owned or one of their houses first and if so get their permission. So my first dilemma is what do I do if they don’t give permission as this broken fence caused by the overgrowth of their trees is causing me a lot of problems.... this leads to dilemma 2.

2. The house behind the back of my garden mentioned above has a family of foxes living somewhere in it. There are several big trees at the back of their garden bordering my garden and I’ve noticed the neighbours have piled up a lot of black bags and other rubbish about 5 foot high which is probably why the foxes are living there as they’ll be getting food from this household rubbish. I have also noticed 2 dead mice at the back of my garden in the past 2 weeks too. Each day at various times I see a family of 3 foxes (1 is a cub) come into my back garden from theirs via the broken fence. This week they have ripped my children’s paddling pool and I’m worried about leaving my son out to play in the garden as he’s only 3 and loves animals but has little sense of danger. On top of this I was planning on getting him some rabbits for his birthday in 2 months if I can get these issues sorted out by then but now I’m worried. I know the steps to take to fox proof my garden but with all that rubbish the neighbours have they are unlikely to move on, also I’m worried the dead mice I found are coming from their rubbish too.

My question is what if anything can I do about this? I was planning on going to speak to them but I’m wondering if it’s a good idea, they are a large Jamaican Family and don’t seem very friendly, I’ve heard them arguing in the garden a few times and swearing loudly/aggressively. I’m a single mum with no support and have ms so the last thing I want is to be getting into any disagreements with anyone. Who would I speak to about their rubbish, would it be the council (if they own the house) although I’m worried about potential consequences as I’m the only house behind them where the rubbish is so they’ll know it’s me. Also they are unlikely to give me permission to defence if I make a complaint.

I really need to get this sorted, as it stands I can’t let my son out to play unless I’m with him as the broken gate means he could potentially go into their garden but also the fox issue. This heat really triggers my ms so I can’t stay in the garden for long meaning my little boy isn’t able to play out much.

Sorry for the long post but can anyone advise on these 2 issues please.

Doodles

Whilst this won't address all the issues here, the most non-confrontational way is just to put a fence up at the back on the inside of your boundary. So you are not replacing or touching their broken fence, just placing your own new one a few inches into your garden.

Gloomendoom

I think you are worrying unduly about the danger the foxes pose to your son.

kazwookie

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I think you are worrying unduly about the danger the foxes pose to your son.

I don't, there was a piece in a paper about a women bitten on her arm, by a fox, who came into her house via an open patio door.

Can you son for now play in the local park.

I would suggest going round to the other house and carefully / nicely explaining to them about the fence and trees and see what the reaction is.

Or as already suggested just put your own fence up just inside the boundary

Nicki

kazwookie wrote: »

Can you son for now play in the local park.

Her son is 3 years old and she wants to fence the garden so he can play out alone and unsupervised because she has MS and can't sit out in the sun.

Leaving aside whether that's safe with or without a fence, he clearly can't be left in a public park alone at that age.

If she's happy to be outside with him, he can be in her own garden with or without the fence.

System

If they don't give permission, put the fence up on your land - end of thread.

Artytarty

And don't get the rabbits, it'll only end in tears.

Mojisola

A high fence won't stop a fox if it wants to get into the garden, particularly if you have something interesting like rabbits in it.

System

We had lots of rabbits growing up. Lost a couple to foxes mainly because of our fault. Just don't leave them in the garden after dusk.

Mojisola

teabag29 wrote: »

Each day at various times I see a family of 3 foxes (1 is a cub) come into my back garden from theirs via the broken fence.

This week they have ripped my children’s paddling pool and I’m worried about leaving my son out to play in the garden as he’s only 3 and loves animals but has little sense of danger.

andydownes123 wrote: »

We had lots of rabbits growing up. Lost a couple to foxes mainly because of our fault. Just don't leave them in the garden after dusk.

The rabbits might not be eaten if you're careful but their presence will encourage the foxes to come into the garden which is what teabag is trying to stop.

gwynlas

Do not bother trying to find out ownership of property behind. You can fence your garden all round as long as it sits within your boundary, You can also cut off branches that intrude over your boundary providing that you offer them back to owner(I would just leave them piles up next to their rubbish)
Contact HA and environmental health re mice, rats and foxes as they should take responsibility for tackling your neighbour re clearing rubbish as potential health hazard.
See if you can get local volunteer involvement in setting up your garden then just enjoy it with your son.