Neighbour Falling Out / Hedging

Razorfish · 27-06-2020 10:05pm #1

Sorry but a complicated post and looking for advice.

I live in a semi-d with a boundary hedge (berberis dawwini) in the front garden between the two gardens. It was planted by the builder 20 years ago and we like it. It has grown to a height of 6 feet.

Recently (in May) the neighbor started placing her trimmings from her side in a bag in our garden. We put them in our bin at the time as we didn't have the time to ask the reason why she did this.

When it occurred yesterday we asked her and she vehemently accused us of reporting her on a family matter to the Gardai in May (as she had a visit from the Gardai). We didn't and refuted this to her yesterday and to her husband (though I don't think they believed us). She was very upset and angry but so were we to be accused and shouted at at her door.

On indicating we didn't report her today to her husband, the husband diverted our attention to the state of our hedging noting he didn't like it and intends concreting his garden up to it (the boundary) in the next few weeks. His main argument was it was too high, blocked light, not a pleasant hedge and at times was untidy. We had expressed to liking the hedge 6/7 years ago when they mooted the idea of a wall as an alternative.

He also noted he didn't like our other plants that grow at fencing on the way to the back garden as it has grown into his garden. Up to now he has trimmed overgrowth into his garden with no issue from us. He said today it makes the side/ back garden look untidy and blocks light.

We are shocked to be accused (with no evidence) of calling the Gardai on them but we would like to keep the hedge in the front garden at its height as its great privacy. I'm looking for a little hedge related advice tonight if people have been in similar situations. I am upset tonight as per events and perhaps was thinking of getting a professional person in for advice on the hedge next week with a view to cutting it a little but keeping it at a height for privacy. Also if they concrete up to it using a builder, will it survive?

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

bassy · 27-06-2020 10:08pm

nothing the can do as long as its not real high and at 6ft is fine,so i would just ignore them and there sad mindset.

macraignil · 27-06-2020 10:33pm

Move house now!
Lived for a short while in a semi-detached with neighbours who dumped their clippings from a shrub in the front garden in our driveway and nearly caused an accident when I had to stop reversing into the drive suddenly when there was another car passing and I saw the drive way blocked. They also trespassed into the back garden when the girlfriend and myself were away at work and defaced mature trees that my grandmother had planted. They did not like that the trees blocked some of the sunlight getting to their back garden. I guess they were hoping the eye sore they created by wrecking the trees would force us to cut them down. Moved away from there now and am happy I don't have to speak with them again. Not sure if this would be an option in your situation but it is the easiest way to deal with ignorant neighbours.

looksee · 27-06-2020 10:45pm

Is the neighbour to the north or south of you - does the hedge in fact block sunlight into his house? He has no right to sunlight and there are no rules about height of hedges, but this has nothing to do with being neighbourly and doing the right thing. I would think personally (and it does not matter what I think) that 6 ft is a bit high for a front garden hedge, maybe room for compromise there. You being seen to make a friendly gesture by maybe cutting it down to 5ft might change the situation.

The compromise might be that the concreting only goes as far as the bottom of the hedge - even if it goes up to the trunks it is unlikely to do any harm unless the builder digs down and cuts roots to put in shuttering.

They are being unreasonable in assuming you reported them to the Gardai, and putting clippings in your garden was passive aggressive and silly. Its a shared boundary hedge, they are responsible for their side; there is no connection between the Gardai incident and the hedge. It might be a starting place in discussion to ask them to accept that you had no part in calling the gardai and to discuss the hedge separately. Offer to lower the hedge a bit.

Look honestly at the hedge - Berberis is an attractive and useful shrub, but it has been in 20 years; apparently their lifespan is maximum around 30 years. Maybe it is getting a bit scruffy at this stage? Is it worth fighting over?

Edit, just realised - we just pulled out a large berberis that had been in our new-to-us garden presumably 20 years (since the house was built). It was neglected, whereas yours is not, but my, was it ugly. I will replace it as I like them, but that one was a dark gloomy tangled and overgrown thicket of a thing, no loss!

Rows Grower · 27-06-2020 10:45pm

macraignil wrote: »

Move house now!
Lived for a short while in a semi-detached with neighbours who dumped their clippings from a shrub in the front garden in our driveway and nearly caused an accident when I had to stop reversing into the drive suddenly when there was another car passing and I saw the drive way blocked. They also trespassed into the back garden when the girlfriend and myself were away at work and defaced mature trees that my grandmother had planted. They did not like that the trees blocked some of the sunlight getting to their back garden. I guess they were hoping the eye sore they created by wrecking the trees would force us to cut them down. Moved away from there now and am happy I don't have to speak with them again. Not sure if this would be an option in your situation but it is the easiest way to deal with ignorant neighbours.

Whoah, whoah there.

Calm down now, real easy, deep breaths.

macraignil · 27-06-2020 11:03pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

Whoah, whoah there.

Calm down now, real easy, deep breaths.

Perfectly calm now. Thanks for the concern. Miles away from the bad neighbours now so no worries to me if they want to act like they did when I lived next door to them. I'll probably never see them again.:D

Razorfish · 27-06-2020 11:05pm

looksee wrote: »

Is the neighbour to the north or south of you - does the hedge in fact block sunlight into his house? He has no right to sunlight and there are no rules about height of hedges, but this has nothing to do with being neighbourly and doing the right thing. I would think personally (and it does not matter what I think) that 6 ft is a bit high for a front garden hedge, maybe room for compromise there. You being seen to make a friendly gesture by maybe cutting it down to 5ft might change the situation.

The compromise might be that the concreting only goes as far as the bottom of the hedge - even if it goes up to the trunks it is unlikely to do any harm unless the builder digs down and cuts roots to put in shuttering.

They are being unreasonable in assuming you reported them to the Gardai, and putting clippings in your garden was passive aggressive and silly. Its a shared boundary hedge, they are responsible for their side; there is no connection between the Gardai incident and the hedge. It might be a starting place in discussion to ask them to accept that you had no part in calling the gardai and to discuss the hedge separately. Offer to lower the hedge a bit.

Look honestly at the hedge - Berberis is an attractive and useful shrub, but it has been in 20 years; apparently their lifespan is maximum around 30 years. Maybe it is getting a bit scruffy at this stage? Is it worth fighting over?

Edit, just realised - we just pulled out a large berberis that had been in our new-to-us garden presumably 20 years (since the house was built). It was neglected, whereas yours is not, but my, was it ugly. I will replace it as I like them, but that one was a dark gloomy tangled and overgrown thicket of a thing, no loss!

They are to the north of us. They are not joined to us and there is a larger than normal gap between the houses so we really can’t see how they would be losing light as it is.

I’m happy to compromise to 5 foot but in all honesty I don’t think they will be happy as they don’t like the hedge or any other type of greenery around them.

Their side of the hedge does look a little barren as they’ve kept cutting it lately to within an inch of its life but our side and top looks really good.

looksee · 27-06-2020 11:26pm

You have to figure out your solution for yourself, but the north side of a solid hedge is not going to ever grow as vigorously as the south side, or even a single shrub. A 6ft high solid bank of 20 year old berberis is going to be pretty unforgiving, as tolerant as berberis is generally.

Lumen · 28-06-2020 6:48am

6ft is not a high hedge. If the hedge wasn't there and they put up a low wall on their side you would be entirely within your rights to put up a 2m fence on your side, and they'd end up with less light cos the fence would be half a foot taller.

It seems that this isn't all about hedging. If you want to improve relations then this issue about the Gardai really needs to be cleared up. If they really think you did that, the prickly hedge will be compounding the issue.

Normally I'd suggest compromising, but given they have an issue with any overgrowth you risk setting a precedent by doing that. If they don't like plants then nothing you can do will satisfy them.

However, I do think there's a case for treating the Berberis differently because (correct if wrong) this is ON the boundary rather than on your side and overgrowing.

Boundary structures and vegetation require more in the way of mutual consent. If they concrete their side I'd imagine the Berberis may seriously suffer or die (concrete requires whacked subbase) and the builder will be taking instruction from them, not you. You may have a legal case if it does but you really don't want to be suing over a small boundary hedge.

I would sort the Gardai issue, explain how much you love your plants, explain that 2m high boundaries and overhanging plants are normal, offer to accommodate their plans to concrete the front, be prepared to lose the hedge but don't offer to take it down, explain that if the hedge dies in the process of their works you'll plant another one on your side which may end up overhanging too, but offer to put up a 2m fence on your side of their proposed wall to limit overhanging.

In all probability they'll never build a wall or concrete the front, it sounds like they have enough going on.

_Brian · 28-06-2020 7:03am

I’d say sit it out for the moment and see if things calm down. It may be just blister about the hedge because they know you like it.

But sometimes things don’t calm down and that’s where it gets tough.

We lived beside a lady who had some mental issues. It got really bad. Cutting down hedging, spraying it with roundup. Coming into our garden to cut it back.
I would be mowing my lawn sitting on the ride on with earmuffs, when I’d go along their fence she would run alongside shouting profanities across. Detached houses on 1 acre sites.
We got a trampoline and she came over complaining that we got it so our daughter could jump up and look in their windows !!
What really made up our mind was an incident not involving us. They had a contractor in doing work and a row ensued over money and the contractor got chased with a knife and received a light would on his arm when she lunged at him.
We got the hell out of there.
That was 12 years ago, she seems to be on medication now as the people we have the house rented to have no issues.

So it’s possible things will calm down, but be aware that it doesn’t always and I can’t live in that sort of environment

maestroamado · 28-06-2020 7:05am

macraignil wrote: »

Move house now!
Lived for a short while in a semi-detached with neighbours who dumped their clippings from a shrub in the front garden in our driveway and nearly caused an accident when I had to stop reversing into the drive suddenly when there was another car passing and I saw the drive way blocked. They also trespassed into the back garden when the girlfriend and myself were away at work and defaced mature trees that my grandmother had planted. They did not like that the trees blocked some of the sunlight getting to their back garden. I guess they were hoping the eye sore they created by wrecking the trees would force us to cut them down. Moved away from there now and am happy I don't have to speak with them again. Not sure if this would be an option in your situation but it is the easiest way to deal with ignorant neighbours.

I think really not on to block sunlight from someones back garden.
Are you sure you the victim....

Lumen · 28-06-2020 7:10am

maestroamado wrote: »

I think really not on to block sunlight from someones back garden.

The moral responsibility to enable your neighbour's enjoyment of their property has to be balanced against your right to enjoy your own.

maestroamado · 28-06-2020 7:12am

If i were you i would do nothing and hopefully they will reflect on blaming you for Gardai thing and it will pass.
Hedge, i know this is not what you want to hear but just my opinion, i think 6ft hedge far to high for front garden between 2 houses front garden, more appriopriate for back garden...

maestroamado · 28-06-2020 7:14am

Lumen wrote: »

The moral responsibility to enable your neighbour's enjoyment of their property has to be balanced against your right to enjoy your own.

sunlight is major factor in planning....

Lumen · 28-06-2020 7:37am

maestroamado wrote: »

sunlight is major factor in planning....

If you're using the law as an indicator of what society deems reasonable then you're on weak ground, because the law places no limits on what you can grow, only on what you can cut down.

Waldram diagrams and sky factor calculations have been around for a century, and other jurisdictions (France springs to mind) have explicit rules about boundary planting heights, but Ireland has chosen to not legislate for this despite ample opportunity, which indicates that in our society the home owners rights to grow what they choose are more highly valued.

mrcheez · 28-06-2020 7:53am

The neighbour leaving the cuttings in a bag in your driveway seems fair as those are from your hedge and so your property. I have similar agreement with my own neighbour when her huge palm tree leaves litter my garden, otherwise I'd be paying to dispose of them constantly.

28-06-2020 7:57am

Suit yourself within the law and ignore them after that. People always say about the main thing being to appease the neighbours every whim but do you really need to be friendly with them?

Sinus pain · 28-06-2020 8:08am

mrcheez wrote: »

The neighbour leaving the cuttings in a bag in your driveway seems fair as those are from your hedge and so your property. I have similar agreement with my own neighbour when her huge palm tree leaves litter my garden, otherwise I'd be paying to dispose of them constantly.

It’s not his hedge it’s a boundary hedge planted by the builder - it’s both neighbours hedge

GreeBo · 28-06-2020 8:17am

6ft would be high for front garden in my opinion, also how wide is the hedge?
Maybe they cut it back hard on their side as they don't want a huge, wide barrier?

As above, the North side of some hedges just won't do well.

If it's worth saving I'd take it down to 4-5 ft and make sure it's no more than 3ft wide.

How much privacy do you need in your front garden?

28-06-2020 8:19am

GreeBo wrote: »

6ft would be high for front garden in my opinion, also how wide is the hedge?
Maybe they cut it back hard on their side as they don't want a huge, wide barrier?

As above, the North side of some hedges just won't do well.

If it's worth saving I'd take it down to 4-5 ft and make sure it's no more than 3ft wide.

How much privacy do you need in your front garden?

As much as they want if it’s their own front garden.

GreeBo · 28-06-2020 8:23am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

As much as they want if it’s their own front garden.

Not if you have neighbours either side though.

If you want total privacy in the front of your house then a semid is the wrong house for you.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 8:28am

maestroamado wrote: »

If i were you i would do nothing and hopefully they will reflect on blaming you for Gardai thing and it will pass.
Hedge, i know this is not what you want to hear but just my opinion, i think 6ft hedge far to high for front garden between 2 houses front garden, more appriopriate for back garden...

Exact opposite is what I have found to happen, leaving it is seen as some people as a sign of guilt. Go head on in and tackle this problem. You need to resolve or you are going to have years of pain

If you can resolve that then approach the hedge issue. I guess if taking down and building a wall the cost will be 50/50?

I build a wall between house when living in semi D, we put block and then steel railing at top which was lovely and didn’t block light.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 8:30am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

As much as they want if it’s their own front garden.

Semi D and private garden front and back don’t happen....you will always have people overlooking or can see in....

macraignil · 28-06-2020 8:38am

maestroamado wrote: »

I think really not on to block sunlight from someones back garden.
Are you sure you the victim....

I never said I was a victim. I took the easy option and moved away from the neighbours who were acting like p****s.

The trees they complained about were reduced in height by about a half by a tree surgeon before they then decided to deface them when they were trimming some shrubs at the back of their own garden. Even if you make an effort to accommodate ignorant neighbours they can still continue to act as p****s and my point is that it is just easier to move somewhere that you don't have to deal with people like that.

So to clearly answer your question I am not a victim and I am sure the neighbours I moved away from were acting like p****s and am happy I wont have to see them again.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 8:42am

macraignil wrote: »

I never said I was a victim. I took the easy option and moved away from the neighbours who were acting like p****s.

The trees they complained about were reduced in height by about a half by a tree surgeon before they then decided to deface them when they were trimming some shrubs at the back of their own garden. Even if you make an effort to accommodate ignorant neighbours they can still continue to act as p****s and my point is that it is just easier to move somewhere that you don't have to deal with people like that.

So to clearly answer your question I am not a victim and I am sure the neighbours I moved away from were acting like p****s and am happy I wont have to see them again.

Based on this post, maybe you had some anger issues?

28-06-2020 8:43am

GreeBo wrote: »

Not if you have neighbours either side though.

If you want total privacy in the front of your house then a semid is the wrong house for you.

You say it like most people have a choice. That’s the housing setup of the masses and most have to live in them, so you make the best of what you have for yourself within the law.

Lumen · 28-06-2020 8:44am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Exact opposite is what I have found to happen, leaving it is seen as some people as a sign of guilt. Go head on in and tackle this problem. You need to resolve or you are going to have years of pain

If you can resolve that then approach the hedge issue. I guess if taking down and building a wall the cost will be 50/50?

I build a wall between house when living in semi D, we put block and then steel railing at top which was lovely and didn’t block light.

Yeah, except nice looking walls are cripplingly expensive so I'd expect you'd be left with a low ugly block wall you'd paid half for, and no nice hedge, which is hardly a compromise.

If neighbours disagree over boundary treatment then it's better not to have anything on it and let each do their own thing.

If he wants a wall let him build one on his own side that he pays for himself. It won't solve the overhanging though.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 28-06-2020 8:45am

looksee wrote: »

Is the neighbour to the north or south of you - does the hedge in fact block sunlight into his house?

Utterly brilliant question.

looksee wrote: »

He has no right to sunlight and there are no rules about height of hedges,

Oh wait, I meant utterly irrelevant.

maestroamado · 28-06-2020 8:56am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Exact opposite is what I have found to happen, leaving it is seen as some people as a sign of guilt. Go head on in and tackle this problem. You need to resolve or you are going to have years of pain

If you can resolve that then approach the hedge issue. I guess if taking down and building a wall the cost will be 50/50?

I build a wall between house when living in semi D, we put block and then steel railing at top which was lovely and didn’t block light.

Maybe you used to looking through iron bars...

I did not mean leave forever, hopefully they will reflect on false allegation and be easier to talk to at later time.
I think if i was living next to difficult people i would also move, i once lived next to people and they would never speak unless i spoke first, they used to leave light on that shone into my back door which was half glass.
I eventually developed good relationship with them

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 8:56am

Lumen wrote: »

Yeah, except nice looking walls are cripplingly expensive so I'd expect you'd be left with a low ugly block wall you'd paid half for, and no nice hedge, which is hardly a compromise.

If neighbours disagree over boundary treatment then it's better not to have anything on it and let each do their own thing.

If he wants a wall let him build one on his own side that he pays for himself. It won't solve the overhanging though.

How much is crippling expensive?

I got a price for a brick wall between houses in Dublin, it was 2-3 years ago but was 700 quid between both houses so 350...that was red brick

I wouldn’t put that in crippling expensive

maestroamado · 28-06-2020 8:57am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Exact opposite is what I have found to happen, leaving it is seen as some people as a sign of guilt. Go head on in and tackle this problem. You need to resolve or you are going to have years of pain

If you can resolve that then approach the hedge issue. I guess if taking down and building a wall the cost will be 50/50?

I build a wall between house when living in semi D, we put block and then steel railing at top which was lovely and didn’t block light.

Maybe you used to looking through iron bars...

I did not mean leave forever, hopefully they will reflect on false allegation and be easier to talk to at later time.
I think if i was living next to difficult people i would also move, i once lived next to people and they would never speak unless i spoke first, they used to leave light on that shone into my back door which was half glass, it was difficult but i ignored.
I eventually developed good relationship with them...

After i moved i seen the woman in the family attacking a TD on the news about a hospital issue.
I met her afterwards and congratulated her...

macraignil · 28-06-2020 8:58am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Based on this post, maybe you had some anger issues?

No. I don't think so. I did find it a bit shocking that they would just trespass into the back garden and mutilate the trees the way they did but I think my response was proportional to what the neighbours did and not an anger issue on my part. There was never any angry confrontation with the neighbours and as I mentioned I just took the easy option and moved to somewhere with less anti social behavior. I don't think getting angry would have been any use in that situation and doing something about it in changing the place I live was a much better response.

Flippyfloppy · 28-06-2020 9:02am

If its high enough to give you privacy its high enough to block sunlight on their side. It must be very annoying for them not being able to plant flowers in their garden because of an ever growing hedge blocking sunlight.

It's a pity you havent told them that it's their hedge too because they're within their rights to reduce the height?!

Just tell them, and let it be trimmed. 6 foot high boundaries are not the norm in front gardrens.

Lumen · 28-06-2020 9:16am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

How much is crippling expensive?

I got a price for a brick wall between houses in Dublin, it was 2-3 years ago but was 700 quid between both houses so 350...that was red brick

I wouldn’t put that in crippling expensive

About 1k per linear metre of 2m high stone wall faced on both sides.

What height and depth was the brick wall? Any piers?

Mrsmum · 28-06-2020 9:30am

If they really hate the hedge, it must be a real irritant to them. And really if the hedge belongs to both gardens, then their opinion is just as important as Ops. I wouldn't like being on the ugly side of a hedge that was supposedly half mine but that I had no say about either. Looking around the other homes on the street, which were built and separated originally in the same fashion, what is the norm now, these high front hedges or no ? That would give an idea of how many other neighbours would take kindly to this type of hedge. Cutting it back a foot or two would be a good compromise imho and the thing about the Gardai needs to be cleared up.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 9:33am

maestroamado wrote: »

Maybe you used to looking through iron bars...

I did not mean leave forever, hopefully they will reflect on false allegation and be easier to talk to at later time.
I think if i was living next to difficult people i would also move, i once lived next to people and they would never speak unless i spoke first, they used to leave light on that shone into my back door which was half glass, it was difficult but i ignored.
I eventually developed good relationship with them...

After i moved i seen the woman in the family attacking a TD on the news about a hospital issue.
I met her afterwards and congratulated her...

Why would you congratulate someone for attacking a TD?

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 9:34am

Lumen wrote: »

About 1k per linear metre of 2m high stone wall faced on both sides.

What height and depth was the brick wall? Any piers?

Why are you building a 2m high stone wall at the front of a house?

Next you will be putting in a moat

It was one pier and a standard height wall at front of house

Lumen · 28-06-2020 9:39am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Why are you building a 2m high stone wall at the front of a house?

Next you will be putting in a moat

It was one pier and a standard height wall at front of house

Boundary wall on a large site, not along the roadway/path.

The house is over 10m from any boundary so it would make no sense to drop the height.

I do actually have a moat. I'd post pics but it's off topic.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 9:41am

Lumen wrote: »

Boundary wall on a large site, not along the roadway/path.

The house is over 10m from any boundary so it would make no sense to drop the height.

I do actually have a moat. I'd post pics but it's off topic.

The OP is talking about a wall between houses at the front....not the back garden.....

If you built a 2m wall I think that would be the end of the argument, the neighbour would hate you for ever :-)

Lumen · 28-06-2020 9:44am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

The OP is talking about a wall between houses at the front....not the back garden.....

If you built a 2m wall I think that would be the end of the argument, the neighbour would hate you for ever :-)

But 2m is perfectly allowed along any boundary except along a path or road. There's nothing special about the front or back.

omeara1113 · 28-06-2020 9:49am

I agree
Move house now!
Lived for a short while in a semi-detached with neighbours who dumped their clippings from a shrub in the front garden

Nekarsulm · 28-06-2020 9:56am

Lumen wrote: »

About 1k per linear metre of 2m high stone wall faced on both sides.

What height and depth was the brick wall? Any piers?

€1000 per linear metre !
On what planet ?

And if it's a stone wall, why would you then be facing it?
99.9% of garden walls are cavity or solid block.

Shefwedfan · 28-06-2020 10:18am

Lumen wrote: »

But 2m is perfectly allowed along any boundary except along a path or road. There's nothing special about the front or back.

The neighbour has complained about light, you going to put in a 2m wall as the boundary wall at the front of the house???

Who would think that is acceptable?

delly · 28-06-2020 10:23am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Based on this post, maybe you had some anger issues?

Stick to the topic at hand rather than trying to get a rise out of another poster.

delly · 28-06-2020 10:26am

Kadence Calm Grease wrote: »

Utterly brilliant question.

Oh wait, I meant utterly irrelevant.

You don't get to decide what's relevant to the thread, check your attitude.

Mrsmum · 28-06-2020 10:27am

Lumen wrote: »

But 2m is perfectly allowed along any boundary except along a path or road. There's nothing special about the front or back.

With neighbours, there is more to consider than what's "allowed". Presumably, you would like them to consider the impact on you of what they do in their garden and therefore they deserve the same respect.

mrcheez · 28-06-2020 11:05am

Sinus pain wrote: »

It’s not his hedge it’s a boundary hedge planted by the builder - it’s both neighbours hedge

A boundary hedge generally belongs to one neighbour. It has to have been planted on one neighbors land as there's no such thing as no-mans land between properties.

It should be on the ordnance survey map of the property.

Hannibal36 · 28-06-2020 11:23am

omeara1113 wrote: »

I agree
Move house now!
Lived for a short while in a semi-detached with neighbours who dumped their clippings from a shrub in the front garden

These moving house posts are madness,you want to spend the rest of your life running because you meet some ignorant person.

Stop being weak be firm and fair and if they don't like it tell them where to get off do not let people bully you like this,this is schoolyard stuff happening in adulthood.

blackbox · 28-06-2020 11:32am

Sorry for your troubles, OP. It sounds like your neighbours are not the most pleasant.

I am a keen gardener, nevertheless I consider a Berberis hedge to be a nasty, prickly thing. It would be especially nasty if it was 6 ft high.

Ask them if they would like you to cut it down to a more civilised 3 ft and maybe you might get a positive response. (I know you said it's on the boundary and they could do this themselves, but it might be seen as a friendly offer).

omeara1113 · 28-06-2020 11:33am

Hannibal36 wrote: »

These moving house posts are madness,you want to spend the rest of your life running because you meet some ignorant person.

Stop being weak be firm and fair and if they don't like it tell them where to get off do not let people bully you like this,this is schoolyard stuff happening in adulthood.

We lived beside a neighbour from hell years ago we got on great for about 10 years dont know what happened but it was like a switch was pressed
We endured 3 years of total torture and went to a solicitor and his words to us was
"Your as well off moving in my experience an old witch like that lives forever "
That was in 2002 the last 18years have been bliss I'm speaking from experience so I wish the OP the best with whatever decision they make

Rows Grower · 28-06-2020 11:42am

Nekarsulm wrote: »

€1000 per linear metre !
On what planet ?

And if it's a stone wall, why would you then be facing it?
99.9% of garden walls are cavity or solid block.

i'd presume he meant facing the block wall on both sides with stone.

The price is realistic when you consider materials and labour for foundations, block wall and stone wall x 2.

I don't know where you got your figure of 99.9% from but it is way off even if you've never seen a garden wall outside of a housing estate.

Neighbour Falling Out / Hedging

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