Everyone has enough garden without using there neighbours,this isn't about
not liking kids on my garden as I have two of my own!This is about defining
boundaries & making the garden feel like it is actually mine.I want to make
it more private & make use of it,this can not be done if it is being used as
a football pitch.Kids are different nowadays they are not happy kicking a
ball to each other it has to be kicked 70 ft in the air & in every direction
possible.I love gardening my neighbours either side don`to, so there kids
are left to do whatever.My kids are only 3 years old & 14 month old,I am
involving them in the garden so they learn to respect it.I think I am going
to plant hedging,but haven't found what with yet.

--
Thanks Keith,UK.
"gary davis" wrote in message
...
On 4/28/04 11:40 PM, in article ,
"Rodger
Whitlock" wrote:

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 17:22:04 GMT, kenty ;-) wrote:

Hi All , I have just moved in to my new home which has a 225 ft long by
21ft
wide garden.At the house end there is a 87 ft long conifer hedge(
nicely
clipped) on the left side & a 87 ft long fence on the right, leaving
138 ft
long of open garden between neighbours, which the neighbours kids like
to
play football & cross over my garden.Can anyone suggest what they would
use
for the boundary.Fencing ? close board or picket? or plant hedging?

Let me offer my usual contrarian advice and suggest that you
completely reconsider your plans. Maybe, just maybe, having the
kids playing across the three gardens is a price worth paying for
the sense of spaciousness you get in the absence of boundary
hedges/fences.

Indeed, since you "just moved in", I urge you to try to live with
the situation for a season and see if it's really as bad as you
think it is.

Right on old chap!
I speak from a Canadian military youngster's point of view who grew up
on RCAF bases all across Canada with some time spent over in France. There
were never any fences where I lived. At the time I didn't relate to the
song
that has lyrics...
"Oh give me land lots of land under starry skies above, Don't fence me
in..."
But I sure do now.
When I bought my first house all of a sudden all those around me
started
building fences. The people who moved in directly behind me were aghast
that
I could even ask "Why do we need a fence?".
It took me several years to figure out just why I didn't want a fence!
It was just the way it was for me as a youngster...neither right nor
wrong...it was just the way it was. I grew up with no fences...
Children have an energy that is wonderful to behold. Watching them
learn
by participating in a match can be a learning experience. Should you build
a
fence or put in a hedge you may miss something that is important.
But then, it's your garden that they will be trampling on...or will
they? Could relocating the garden be a possibility?
Either way good luck.
Gary Davis
Fort Langley, BC
Canada

The message m
from "kenty ;-\)" contains these words:

Everyone has enough garden without using there neighbours,this isn't about
not liking kids on my garden as I have two of my own!This is about defining
boundaries & making the garden feel like it is actually mine.I want to make
it more private & make use of it,this can not be done if it is being used as
a football pitch.Kids are different nowadays they are not happy kicking a
ball to each other it has to be kicked 70 ft in the air & in every direction
possible.I love gardening my neighbours either side don`to, so there kids
are left to do whatever.My kids are only 3 years old & 14 month old,I am
involving them in the garden so they learn to respect it.

I think you said that the top 87 ft, nearest the house, is fenced? So
you have plenty of private space for a sitooterie. I'd put a fence (with
a gate) across at the 87ft level, which gives your toddlers a safe play
enclosure. But as someone else has said, it might be a very good idea to
hold off fencing the sides further down.

In 2 or 3 years time, you will view that "neighbourhood kids open
play space" as the most wonderful, precious asset your kids could
possibly have; where they can run around in absolute safety with a
diverse group of kids who are all neighbours and known to your family.
It's very rare these days for kids to enjoy the great luxury of making
their own social lives right on their own doorstep in a space that's out
of their parents view.

Janet.