Will a 6 foot fence all around block out the sunlight in my garden?

ellierose6

Hi, I've recently bought my first house and would like to put up a new fence to gain some privacy. I have checked the deeds and with the landlord next door. I'm in the process of removing the trees in the right of the first picture also. Grass garden belongs to neighbours. My initial plan was to put up a 6 foot fence all the way round the garden (and a gate to get out!) but I'm concerned this would block out too much sunlight. Any ideas or suggestions? Possibly higher fence to the left than bottom and right? Many thanks! 

GDB2222

Your neighbour has it right. A very low fence is all that garden can take. 

rach_k

We have a tiny garden too, with high fences.  The main thing that blocks light is the house.  During the hours we're normally in the garden, the sun isn't low enough in the sky to be blocked by a 6 foot fence.  

You could compromise, perhaps, with trellis on top of a lower fence.

markin

You'll probably kill the grass more than the trees you cut down ever did.

ashe

We had a garden not much bigger than this and had taller fences just fine. when we moved in, it was like what your neighbour had. We hated this, as it was rented next door and they changed tenants every 12 months or so. Always a bit weird when you're sat in your garden and someone else comes and sits in the space next to you as you feel like you have to engage, and you're just trying to relax. Its fine for a bit of neighbourly chat, but i would rather have privacy and enjoy my garden, and let them enjoy theirs. 

Ectophile

If the end of your garden is a public highway, you shouldn't be putting up a 6 foot fence at that end without planning permission.

The whole privacy thing is an illusion anyway, because the houses around aren't all bungalows.  Any neighbours can see you from their upstairs windows.

ashe

True, but there is a huge difference to having a bbq or sitting in your chair next to a fence and doing so next to someone sat 2 feet away from you. 

I literally would not buy a house with such an open plan neighbour garden ever again because having neighbours you don’t get on with is an absolute nightmare. 

Davesnave

markin said:

You'll probably kill the grass more than the trees you cut down ever did.

Gardens that size shouldn't be grassed anyway. You just have to take a view whether you want privacy enough to shade part of the neighbour's garden and your own. It won't be great looking at fences all the way around though, like prison yard, so a 'proper' gardener or landscaper would use fencing in key places and plants in others to break the monotony.

stator

When were those photos taken?

Does your garden face north or south?

If your garden is north facing I think you should go with a solid fence about 3ft with another 2ft of trellis on top. This will give the illusion of privacy.

If the garden is south facing, then go with solid fencing  6ft next to the house and switch to the trellis type fencing nearer the end of the garden.

If you moved the shed closer to the house and replaced with trellis type fence, it would compensate for loss of light through higher fence

ellierose6

stator said:

When were those photos taken?

Does your garden face north or south?

If your garden is north facing I think you should go with a solid fence about 3ft with another 2ft of trellis on top. This will give the illusion of privacy.

If the garden is south facing, then go with solid fencing  6ft next to the house and switch to the trellis type fencing nearer the end of the garden.

If you moved the shed closer to the house and replaced with trellis type fence, it would compensate for loss of light through higher fence

Thank you. They were taken 23rd February and the garden is south facing. I'm considering a 6ft panel next to the house and then possibly the trellis type but will consult the gardener.  Yep, it's in the plan to move the shed closer to the house. Thanks to everyone for their input! 

stator

I meant what time of day