Hi Terry

Thanks so much for your reply. But, the council was very strict on this replacement fence. The boundary wall, of course is stone, and as they said, "would not be allowed today."

I hadn't thought of questioning their response, I will ask on the website you suggested, many thanks.

I find their attitude outrageous, everyone should be allowed privacy and security in their garden, especially when they have children. A five foot boundary wall isn't much of a deterrent.

Thank you so much for your reply.

Eloise

Hi Lannerman

Thank you very much for your reply. One of our main worries is that we're trying to have privacy for next year, thus the larger plants and price, but trying to establish them and keep them healthy and alive is something we're worried about - smaller plants would be ideal on our budget but...decisions, decisions...

The other worry we have that you astutely pointed out is: will we end up with a hedge that needs trimming a great deal of the time to keep it at 6ft? The last thing we want to do is have anything that looks unsightly or unkempt.

The Griselliinal littoralis that yourself and Sacha suggested sounds very interesting, I'll google some local nurseries and have a look around while on the school walk. That's great to know that it doesn't attract many insects, phew! That is is available now is also wonderful.

Many thanks for your help, Lannerman, it is very much appreciated.

Hi Lannerman

Thank you very much for your reply. One of our main worries is that we're trying to have privacy for next year, thus the larger plants and price, but trying to establish them and keep them healthy and alive is something we're worried about - smaller plants would be ideal on our budget but...decisions, decisions...

The other worry we have that you astutely pointed out is: will we end up with a hedge that needs trimming a great deal of the time to keep it at 6ft? The last thing we want to do is have anything that looks unsightly or unkempt.

The Griselliinal littoralis that yourself and Sacha suggested sounds very interesting, I'll google some local nurseries and have a look around while on the school walk. That's great to know that it doesn't attract many insects, phew! That is is available now is also wonderful.

Many thanks for your help, Lannerman, it is very much appreciated.

Eloise

My understanding (which may be wrong) is that if you are constructing a new fence, you need planning permission once it's over 2m (which is over 6ft). Therefore, the 5ft restriction sounds strange - are you in a conservation area?

Hi Sacha

Sorry about the goegraphic mix-up. Lucky you, living in Devon with glorious weather!

Yes, the Epipens are a pain to carry about but we always have a few on hand, just in case. I have a little hook just inside the garden door and hang them from it, that way they're just seconds from reach if my hubby does get stung.

I'd love to go for the Beech but am a bit worried that it might not survive a cold Scottish winter, it's really windy at that part of the garden.

I didn't know you could do the wavy look with the Beech, thanks so much for that info! I've been looking at the purple/copper variety Fagus Sylvatica Purpurea as it looks so pretty and is stock locally.

Hope you're having another gorgeous day in Devon!

Kind Regards and many thanks, Eloise

[quote=Eloise;954801]Hi Sacha

Aargh! That would be 'geographic mix-up.'

Hi Kay

I'm not aware of this being a conservation area but the fence allowed to be constructed is 3ft only (2 feet less than the original boundary wall!).

I called them again this afternoon, spoke with someone else and was given the exact same information.

Everywhere I look I see boundary fences of 6ft 5" and over and these people must be willing to put in their planning app to the council, pay £165 for the assessment then pay for the fence. Or, they're putting them up without planning permission and hoping no one objects.

Personally, we'd rather put the money towards a hedge, they can't do anything about it!

Besides, after much thought, as a family we decided we'd rather help our habitat and wildlife. It's a process that's really involved the kids in the garden, they're now seeing it as not just as a place to play but as a place to help the environment so maybe the local council have done us a favour.

Many thanks for your help and avice. Kind Regards, Eloise

On 4/2/2012 5:23 PM, Eloise wrote:

I'd love to go for the Beech but am a bit worried that it might not
survive a cold Scottish winter, it's really windy at that part of the
garden.

I have beech in my garden on the north coast of Sutherland - they've
been there for decades.

Hi Viemeister

That's great to know, thanks so much! We're all visiting a local garden centre as the kids are off school this week - hopefully a decision will be made soon!

Many thanks, Viemeister, Eloise

I know you're not interested any longer, but someone else who reads this may be ...

From the government planning portal:

"You will need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate and:
it would be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere .....

You will not need to apply for planning permission to take down a fence, wall,or gate, or to alter, maintain or improve an existing fence, wall or gate (no matter how high) if you don't increase its height"

So in theory you could have maintained it at its original height, since you were going to "maintain or improve" it. (Subtleties like this aren't always uppermost in the minds of council officials). Since this was the fence between you and your neighbours, I'm not sure why they were applying the lower limit.