Chasbear

[Guest]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice, the fence in our garden (that is our responsibility) adjoining our neighbours garden has been annialated by ivy which is growing from a huge tree in their garden it is so bad that it took a stranglehold on our apple and pear trees which we have had to cut down, we are looking to replace our fence as it is fit for nothing, are we entitled to ask the neighbours to replace the fence as well as tending to the unruly ivy? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks*

[Celestine]

I think you may struggle to ‘blame’ their ivy invading as the law permits you to trim back to the fence line, any branches or plants that cross the threshold of the fence line. It would certainly be worth explaining to them that the fence has been weakened by the sheer weight of foliage. It’s also worth mentioning that they are not allowed to do anything to your fence on their side without permission, such as attach trellis of plant supports. You can ask them to not attach anything to the new fence, but unfortunately ivy will climb anything.

[des8]

Have you spoken to your neighbour about the problem at all?

Re the ivy that comes into your property, you can cut back, but should offer the cuttings to your neighbour before disposing of them.
The ivy must have been there sometime to have damaged your trees. Why didn't you keep it under control?

Your neighbours should not allow the ivy to grow over your fence, and you could ask them to keep it under control*.
By all means ask for a contribution to the fence replacement, but that will then put it into shared ownership.

How old is the fence? What is it made of?

[efpom]

Roundup

[Chasbear]

Hi all, thanks for your responses, the ivy is really well established and it is like fighting a losing battle trying to keep it under control, the fence is quite old and wooden but ivy so bad you would think it was made of ivy, we constantly try to pull ivy off, just feel annoyed at having to replace something due to neighbours neglect

[des8]

Old wooden fence held up by ivy..... some might see that as a bonus providing a haven for wild life and birds nesting!

Depending on its construction a wooden fence can deteriorate quite quickly, so you might have difficulty persuading your neighbour to contribute to its replacement, especially if it doesn't bother them.

And I know all about ivy... our garden is bordered by a remnant of ancient ash forest which remains unmanaged and full of ivy.
That is almost as bad as the ash seedlings we have every year