Creating Privacy

Martyn Cox describes how to turn an outdoor space into your own peaceful haven.

IN an ideal world our gardens would be private sanctuaries where we can potter, entertain and relax away from prying eyes. Yet, for many gardeners, the reality is quite different - spending time outdoors can be like living in a goldfish bowl because there is nothing to screen their plot from passers by and neighbouring windows.

Owners of new build homes or with gardens on modern housing estates often feel quite exposed. And it’s particularly acute for those of us who live in cities. Take my mid-terrace garden; it’s overlooked on both sides and the back windows of the adjacent street are in clear view.

Making gardens like this more private can seem daunting, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in and accept that your every move will be observed forever. There are plenty of ways to improve privacy without resorting to tall walls, fences or towering leylandii hedges that leave you feeling like an inmate in a high security prison.