For detailed information on this newsgroup you are recommended to
read the charter for uk.rec.gardening at:

http://www.usenet.org.uk/uk.rec.gardening.html

There are a number of FAQ files (answers to Frequently Asked
Questions) which have been put together by the contributors
to this group and are available at:

http://www.u-r-g.co.uk/urgfaqs.htm

If you are new to this group and have a particular question you
want to ask, do take a look at the FAQs first to see if your
question has been covered. The FAQs will usually give a more
comprehensive answer than is possible in a newsgroup article.

Now a little more information about the aims of uk.rec.gardening,
which we would ask you to read whether you are new to newsgroups
or an old hand. Note particularly the request not to post photographs.

Uk.rec.gardening is based in the British Isles for the discussion
of gardening within those islands. Some here are quite experienced
gardeners, others are (or were when they first joined urg) complete
beginners. It is an unmoderated self-help group and is not owned or
dominated by anyone.

If you are a newcomer (newbie) or a "lurker" (someone who reads but
has so far not posted anything), you are invited to introduce
yourself (though don't make it a reply to this thread - start a new
thread). Please do not feel any obligation to do this, but telling us
a little about yourself and, roughly, where you live, will help those
trying to answer your questions to give the best advice. Don't be
afraid of asking a question that you may fear is naive - remember,
we were all beginners once!

Sometimes people feel a little disappointed when they don't get an
answer to a question. There may be several reasons for this, the most
common ones being (1) no-one has the answer, (2) you didn't give a
clue in the subject header what your question was about, and (3) for
some reason the message did not get through. The best thing in the
last situation is to post the message once more. Urglers do try to
respond to new posters and no-one is deliberately ignored.

You may be puzzled by references to "urg" and "urglers". It's simply
an acronym and means this newsgroup and contributors to it!

Contributors from outside the British Isles are not discouraged but,
because this newsgroup is intended to help gardeners in the British
Isles, it should be remembered that all questions and answers should
relate to a climate similar to that found in the British Isles. We
thank you for your cooperation in this.

Here are one or two pointers to help you if you are not familiar with
newsgroups:

(1) NEVER post binaries (photographs or illustrations) in urg. They
will be cancelled automatically by the Usenet watchdogs! The reason
is that many will complain about the length of time taken to download
such files. If you want people to see your photograph then post it on
your own web page and put a message in urg telling people where to find
it.

(2) When you are replying to a message, it's a good idea to edit down
your quotes (snipping) to the point(s) that you are actually addressing,
but be sure that you have kept enough in to make it intelligible!

(3) Think out what you want to say and try to make it as concise as
possible. A long message in a busy newsgroup runs the risk of losing the
attention of readers.

Thank you for reading this and we hope that you will find
uk.rec.gardening a very helpful forum.

I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated, namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
whereas there has been law since 2003!!

On 2009-07-04 10:15:09 +0100, "Angela" said:

I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated, namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
whereas there has been law since 2003!!

All this is being worked on as you speak. The person who used to keep
all the urg stuff going is too busy to attend to it now or to post to
the group, so someone else has very kindly taken it on. It will take a
while but it is being looked at.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 Angela wrote:

I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated, namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
whereas there has been law since 2003!!

If you have more up-to-date information then please do let me have it so
that it can be included. If you can give me references it would be
helpful.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
| On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 Angela wrote:
|
| I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated,
namely
| leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
| the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
| example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
| whereas there has been law since 2003!!
|
| If you have more up-to-date information then please do let me have it so
| that it can be included. If you can give me references it would be
| helpful.
|
| David
|
| --
| David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
| http://rance.org.uk
|

Look up Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 Angela wrote:

| I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated,
namely
| leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
| the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
| example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
| whereas there has been law since 2003!!
|
| If you have more up-to-date information then please do let me have it so
| that it can be included. If you can give me references it would be
| helpful.
|
Look up Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.


And it says?

Angela, I have offered to help to bring the files on the urg website
up-to-date. What I haven't offered to do is to research facts and
figures. This has always been a self-help group. When I ask for more
information I didn't expect to be told, quite unceremoniously, to go and
look something up.

Perhaps you could do that and email it to me. I will then add it to the
relevant document(s). You can easily un-monge my real email address from
the From: line. Or simply look below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

--
..
"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 Angela wrote:

| I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated,
namely
| leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to
read
| the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date.
For
| example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
| whereas there has been law since 2003!!
|
| If you have more up-to-date information then please do let me have it so
| that it can be included. If you can give me references it would be
| helpful.
|
Look up Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.


And it says?


Part 8 High hedges
Introductory
65 Complaints to which this Part applies
(1) This Part applies to a complaint which-

(a) is made for the purposes of this Part by an owner or occupier of a
domestic property; and

(b) alleges that his reasonable enjoyment of that property is being
adversely affected by the height of a high hedge situated on land owned or
occupied by another person.

(2) This Part also applies to a complaint which-

(a) is made for the purposes of this Part by an owner of a domestic property
that is for the time being unoccupied, and

(b) alleges that the reasonable enjoyment of that property by a prospective
occupier of that property would be adversely affected by the height of a
high hedge situated on land owned or occupied by another person,

as it applies to a complaint falling within subsection (1).

(3) In relation to a complaint falling within subsection (2), references in
sections 68 and 69 to the effect of the height of a high hedge on the
complainant's reasonable enjoyment of a domestic property shall be read as
references to the effect that it would have on the reasonable enjoyment of
that property by a prospective occupier of the property.

(4) This Part does not apply to complaints about the effect of the roots of
a high hedge.

(5) In this Part, in relation to a complaint -

a.. "complainant" means-

(a)
a person by whom the complaint is made; or

(b)
if every person who made the complaint ceases to be an owner or occupier
of the domestic property specified in the complaint, any other person who is
for the time being an owner or occupier of that property;

and references to the complainant include references to one or more of the
complainants;

b.. "the neighbouring land" means the land on which the high hedge is
situated; and

c.. "the relevant authority" means the local authority in whose area that
land is situated.

66 High hedges
(1) In this Part "high hedge" means so much of a barrier to light or access
as-

(a) is formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreens;
and

(b) rises to a height of more than two metres above ground level.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a line of evergreens is not to be
regarded as forming a barrier to light or access if the existence of gaps
significantly affects its overall effect as such a barrier at heights of
more than two metres above ground level.

(3) In this section "evergreen" means an evergreen tree or shrub or a
semi-evergreen tree or shrub.

67 Domestic property
(1) In this Part "domestic property" means-

(a) a dwelling; or

(b) a garden or yard which is used and enjoyed wholly or mainly in
connection with a dwelling.

(2) In subsection (1) "dwelling" means any building or part of a building
occupied, or intended to be occupied, as a separate dwelling.

(3) A reference in this Part to a person's reasonable enjoyment of domestic
property includes a reference to his reasonable enjoyment of a part of the
property.

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 Angela wrote:

I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated, namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots.

I meant to ask about growing potatoes in pots. You didn't say what was
out of date about it.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 'Mike' wrote:

....................................

Sorry, Mike, I can't quote your message because it was all below the
tear line.

Anyway, that was most useful but quite unsuitable for inclusion in a FAQ
file. Would you like to précis it for me into two or three vital
sentences?

Thanks, David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/a..._20030038_en_1

--
..
"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 'Mike' wrote:

...................................

Sorry, Mike, I can't quote your message because it was all below the tear
line.

Anyway, that was most useful but quite unsuitable for inclusion in a FAQ
file. Would you like to précis it for me into two or three vital
sentences?

Thanks, David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

Part 8 High hedges
Introductory
65 Complaints to which this Part applies
(1) This Part applies to a complaint which-

(a) is made for the purposes of this Part by an owner or occupier of a
domestic property; and

(b) alleges that his reasonable enjoyment of that property is being
adversely affected by the height of a high hedge situated on land owned or
occupied by another person.

(2) This Part also applies to a complaint which-

(a) is made for the purposes of this Part by an owner of a domestic property
that is for the time being unoccupied, and

(b) alleges that the reasonable enjoyment of that property by a prospective
occupier of that property would be adversely affected by the height of a
high hedge situated on land owned or occupied by another person,

as it applies to a complaint falling within subsection (1).

(3) In relation to a complaint falling within subsection (2), references in
sections 68 and 69 to the effect of the height of a high hedge on the
complainant's reasonable enjoyment of a domestic property shall be read as
references to the effect that it would have on the reasonable enjoyment of
that property by a prospective occupier of the property.

(4) This Part does not apply to complaints about the effect of the roots of
a high hedge.

(5) In this Part, in relation to a complaint -

a.. "complainant" means-

(a)
a person by whom the complaint is made; or

(b)
if every person who made the complaint ceases to be an owner or occupier
of the domestic property specified in the complaint, any other person who is
for the time being an owner or occupier of that property;

and references to the complainant include references to one or more of the
complainants;

b.. "the neighbouring land" means the land on which the high hedge is
situated; and

c.. "the relevant authority" means the local authority in whose area that
land is situated.

66 High hedges
(1) In this Part "high hedge" means so much of a barrier to light or access
as-

(a) is formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreens;
and

(b) rises to a height of more than two metres above ground level.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a line of evergreens is not to be
regarded as forming a barrier to light or access if the existence of gaps
significantly affects its overall effect as such a barrier at heights of
more than two metres above ground level.

(3) In this section "evergreen" means an evergreen tree or shrub or a
semi-evergreen tree or shrub.

67 Domestic property
(1) In this Part "domestic property" means-

(a) a dwelling; or

(b) a garden or yard which is used and enjoyed wholly or mainly in
connection with a dwelling.

(2) In subsection (1) "dwelling" means any building or part of a building
occupied, or intended to be occupied, as a separate dwelling.

(3) A reference in this Part to a person's reasonable enjoyment of domestic
property includes a reference to his reasonable enjoyment of a part of the
property.

Complaints procedure
68 Procedure for dealing with complaints
(1) This section has effect where a complaint to which this Part applies-

(a) is made to the relevant authority; and

(b) is accompanied by such fee (if any) as the authority may determine.

(2) If the authority consider-

(a) that the complainant has not taken all reasonable steps to resolve the
matters complained of without proceeding by way of such a complaint to the
authority, or

(b) that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious,

the authority may decide that the complaint should not be proceeded with.

(3) If the authority do not so decide, they must decide-

(a) whether the height of the high hedge specified in the complaint is
adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of the domestic
property so specified; and

(b) if so, what action (if any) should be taken in relation to that hedge,
in pursuance of a remedial notice under section 69, with a view to remedying
the adverse effect or preventing its recurrence.

(4) If the authority decide under subsection (3) that action should be taken
as mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection, they must as soon as is
reasonably practicable-

(a) issue a remedial notice under section 69 implementing their decision;

(b) send a copy of that notice to the following persons, namely-

(i) every complainant; and

(ii) every owner and every occupier of the neighbouring land; and

(c) notify each of those persons of the reasons for their decision.

(5) If the authority-

(a) decide that the complaint should not be proceeded with, or

(b) decide either or both of the issues specified in subsection (3)
otherwise than in the complainant's favour,

they must as soon as is reasonably practicable notify the appropriate person
or persons of any such decision and of their reasons for it.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5)-

(a) every complainant is an appropriate person in relation to a decision
falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection; and

(b) every owner and every occupier of the neighbouring land is an
appropriate person in relation to a decision falling within paragraph (b) of
that subsection.

(7) A fee determined under subsection (1)(b) must not exceed the amount
prescribed in regulations made-

(a) in relation to complaints relating to hedges situated in England, by the
Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to complaints relating to hedges situated in Wales, by the
National Assembly for Wales.

(8) A fee received by a local authority by virtue of subsection (1)(b) may
be refunded by them in such circumstances and to such extent as they may
determine.

69 Remedial notices
(1) For the purposes of this Part a remedial notice is a notice-

(a) issued by the relevant authority in respect of a complaint to which this
Part applies; and

(b) stating the matters mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) Those matters are-

(a) that a complaint has been made to the authority under this Part about a
high hedge specified in the notice which is situated on land so specified;

(b) that the authority have decided that the height of that hedge is
adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of the domestic
property specified in the notice;

(c) the initial action that must be taken in relation to that hedge before
the end of the compliance period;

(d) any preventative action that they consider must be taken in relation to
that hedge at times following the end of that period while the hedge remains
on the land; and

(e) the consequences under sections 75 and 77 of a failure to comply with
the notice.

(3) The action specified in a remedial notice is not to require or involve-

(a) a reduction in the height of the hedge to less than two metres above
ground level; or

(b) the removal of the hedge.

(4) A remedial notice shall take effect on its operative date.

(5) "The operative date" of a remedial notice is such date (falling at least
28 days after that on which the notice is issued) as is specified in the
notice as the date on which it is to take effect.

(6) "The compliance period" in the case of a remedial notice is such
reasonable period as is specified in the notice for the purposes of
subsection (2)(c) as the period within which the action so specified is to
be taken; and that period shall begin with the operative date of the notice.

(7) Subsections (4) to (6) have effect in relation to a remedial notice
subject to-

(a) the exercise of any power of the relevant authority under section 70;
and

(b) the operation of sections 71 to 73 in relation to the notice.

(8) While a remedial notice has effect, the notice-

(a) shall be a local land charge; and

(b) shall be binding on every person who is for the time being an owner or
occupier of the land specified in the notice as the land where the hedge in
question is situated.

(9) In this Part-

a.. "initial action" means remedial action or preventative action, or
both;

b.. "remedial action" means action to remedy the adverse effect of the
height of the hedge on the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of the
domestic property in respect of which the complaint was made; and

c.. "preventative action" means action to prevent the recurrence of the
adverse effect.

70 Withdrawal or relaxation of requirements of remedial notices
(1) The relevant authority may-

(a) withdraw a remedial notice issued by them; or

(b) waive or relax a requirement of a remedial notice so issued.

(2) The powers conferred by this section are exercisable both before and
after a remedial notice has taken effect.

(3) Where the relevant authority exercise the powers conferred by this
section, they must give notice of what they have done to-

(a) every complainant; and

(b) every owner and every occupier of the neighbouring land.

(4) The withdrawal of a remedial notice does not affect the power of the
relevant authority to issue a further remedial notice in respect of the same
hedge.


--
..
"'Mike'" wrote in message
...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/a..._20030038_en_1

--
.
"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 'Mike' wrote:

...................................

Sorry, Mike, I can't quote your message because it was all below the tear
line.

Anyway, that was most useful but quite unsuitable for inclusion in a FAQ
file. Would you like to précis it for me into two or three vital
sentences?

Thanks, David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 'Mike' wrote:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/a..._20030038_en_1

Sorry, Mike, I should have explained what "précis" means. "Précis is
where you reduce a very long text to just two or three sentences
containing the main points. (Those with a grammar school education will
tell me that précis is not exactly like that. I know!)

Do you think you could do that for me?

Thanks in advance,

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

I am well aware of what a 'précis is but as you are compiling the said FAQ's
I felt it was for you to put in what you wished.

Mike

--
..
"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 'Mike' wrote:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/a..._20030038_en_1

Sorry, Mike, I should have explained what "précis" means. "Précis is where
you reduce a very long text to just two or three sentences containing the
main points. (Those with a grammar school education will tell me that
précis is not exactly like that. I know!)

Do you think you could do that for me?

Thanks in advance,

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On 2009-07-08 10:15:11 +0100, K said:

RG writes
I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated, namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to read
the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date. For
example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
whereas there has been law since 2003!!

If you would like to help updating any of the you would be very
welcome. We're all volunteers here!

Just a teensy correction, RG didn't write that. 'Angela' did. I think
you may have been misled by incorrect attributions, Kay - it happens!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2009-07-08 10:15:11 +0100, K said:

RG writes
I just checked out the FAQ's and the two I read were horribly dated,
namely
leylandii and growing potatoes in pots. If you're wanting people to
read
the FAQs rather than post then they really do need to be up to date.
For
example the leylandii page says there is no law governing high hedges
whereas there has been law since 2003!!

If you would like to help updating any of the you would be very welcome.
We're all volunteers here!

Just a teensy correction, RG didn't write that. 'Angela' did. I think
you may have been misled by incorrect attributions, Kay - it happens!
--

The FAQ's have suffered from a lack of updating, so David and I have offered
to try and update them.
As Sacha says, this is a voluntary effort, so any contributions will be
welcomed.
All you have to do is post any corrections (or a new FAQ !) in here, and if
your contribution receives general support it will be included in the FAQ.
Don't be shy!

As far as potatoes are concerned, Angela mentioned the 'Growing Potatoes in
Pots' FAQ. I'm no expert on spuds, but it seems fine to me so I would be
glad if Angela or anyone else could say what is wrong with it. The more
general 'Potatoes' FAQ does have a number of out-of-date links, but this
page is actually a link to someone else's site so we can't change it. Given
time I will create a new page with just the growing information, and again
if anyone has comments please post them here.

http://www.u-r-g.co.uk/urgfaqs.htm

RG