WHEN Caroline Duddridge bought her two-bedroom semi-detached house, it was the stunning rear garden – complete with mature 6ft hedge – that truly won her over.
But what semi-retired English teacher Caroline pictured as a peaceful retreat with a private river garden has instead turned into a living nightmare, and she has pledged to take dramatic action to save her beloved hedge.

Caroline Duddridge is prepared to go to extreme lengths to protect her hedge, which neighbour Dean Jones hates Credit: Adrian Sherratt

Caroline argues that it is a haven for wildlife, sheltering nesting birds and offering a safe corridor for visiting hedgehogs Credit: Adrian Sherratt
The gran of seven is locked in a war with neighbour Dean Jones, who sees the three-decade-old privet hedge as a nuisance.
While Caroline argues that it is a haven for wildlife, sheltering nesting birds and offering a safe corridor for visiting hedgehogs, her neighbour wants it ripped out and replaced with a simple wooden fence.
Their foliage fallout comes as new research from Checkatrade reveals that six in 10 Brits have battled with neighbours over garden issues.
And they say part of the problem is that many homeowners are unclear about their actual rights when it comes to shared garden boundaries.

While the hedge sits in Caroline’s garden, Dean, 68, a retired father-of-five, says it has become overgrown and claims he is constantly forced to cut it back from his side to stop it spreading further.
“The hedge drives me mad,” he says. “It’s over 6ft high and 3ft wide, with its roots firmly planted in the middle.
“I’ve had enough of cutting it back. It blocks out light from the garden and attracts cats who love to sit underneath it, then leave cat poo on the lawn.
“We’ve had several difficult conversations, but it’s become impossible to talk about it calmly because emotions are so high now.”

However, Caroline, a widowed mum of five, has refused Dean’s demands in a bid to protect nature and says she would even go as far as chaining herself to the hedge if it was ever threatened with destruction.
She says: “The hedge is part of a whole ecosystem. People underestimate how important these spaces are for wildlife, especially in towns and cities where habitats are disappearing all the time.
“I know it sounds dramatic, but this hedge means a huge amount to us.
“It’s been there for over 30 years and it’s absolutely teeming with wildlife.

Birds nest in there every year, hedgehogs wander through and it gives the garden a feeling of peace and privacy. It’s part of our family life now.
“If someone turned up with a digger tomorrow, my five grown up children and I would seriously consider chaining ourselves to the hedge to stop it being destroyed.”
The dispute started soon after Caroline moved into the house in Fairwater, a suburb of Cardiff, five years ago.
“At first, everything was friendly and we got on absolutely fine,” she explains. “But then Dean started mentioning the hedge and saying he thought it should come down.

Dean wants it ripped out and replaced with a simple wooden fence Credit: Adrian Sherratt

The dispute started soon after Caroline moved into the house five years ago Credit: Adrian Sherratt

“I honestly thought he was joking at first, because it’s such a lovely established hedge and only needs trimming twice a year, which I do myself. At around 4ft wide, it’s really not unmanageable.”
However, Dean remained unhappy and suggested replacing the hedge with a fence, arguing it would create clear boundaries, be easier to maintain and “look neat”.
But Caroline refused to back down, telling Dean that a fence would “look cold”. The pair soon fell out.
She says: “Although we haven’t had shouting matches in the street, you dread seeing the person next door because you know it’s going to end in another disagreement.

While the hedge sits in Caroline’s garden, Dean, a retired father-of-five, says it has become overgrown Credit: Adrian Sherratt

The hedge remains standing – a green symbol of a dispute that has transformed once-friendly neighbours into bitter rivals Credit: Adrian Sherratt
“I’d like to think Dean wouldn’t do anything crazy, like chop it down in the middle of the night or poison it, but I’m on ‘hedge high alert’ at all times, which is stressful.
“It changes how you feel in your own home. Your garden is supposed to be somewhere relaxing, but now there’s this constant anxiety hanging over it.”
However, Dean insists his concerns are practical rather than personal.
“I’m not trying to destroy nature,” he says. “I just think a fence would be tidier, cleaner and far less hassle.

“The hedge takes up space and bits fall into my garden. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to want a fence instead.”
Dean, who has lived next door for the last four years, says the dispute has never been about disliking his neighbour.
“I don’t hate Caroline and I don’t want a war with anyone,” he says.
“But I also think homeowners should be allowed to improve their own gardens without being made to feel like villains. I told Caroline the hedge was too big and that, as I’m getting older, I was finding it too hard to maintain. But she said no even when I offered to pay for a new fence.
“It’s awkward living next door to someone when there’s constant tension. I don’t want endless arguments. Nobody wins in these situations. But I don’t think Caroline fully understands my point of view either.”
For now, the hedge remains standing – a towering green symbol of a dispute that has transformed once-friendly neighbours into bitter rivals.
“I know some people will think it’s ridiculous,” Caroline says. “But once nature is gone, it’s gone. If protecting this hedge means fighting for it, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

NEIGHBOUR KNOW-HOW

JAMIE MacGregor, winner of Landscaper of the Year at the Checkatrade Awards 2025, shares his tips on how to stay on the right side of the laws and regulations that govern our gardens.

PAINTING FENCES: Homeowners should be aware that you can’t paint your side of a neighbour’s fence without permission, as it could be considered criminal damage. To establish ownership, check your title register and title plan via HM Land Registry.
A ‘T’ mark on the boundary indicates you own the fence and are responsible for its upkeep, while an ‘H’ mark indicates shared responsibility.
If the fence is shared, you will usually be entitled to paint your side, regardless of who paid for it.
PLEACHED TREES: Pleached trees – which look like a hedge on stilts – have surged in popularity, with the hashtag #pleachedtrees gaining more than 15 million views on TikTok.
These trees are trained to grow into flat, dense screens, offering a striking way to create privacy in gardens.
However, rows of pleached trees over two metres in height may be classed as a “high hedge”, giving neighbours the right to take action if they block light.
SLATTED PRIVACY FENCING: Slatted fencing has also grown in popularity, fuelled by social media clips showing homeowners upgrading to modern, horizontal designs.
While stylish, these fences can look very different depending on which side you’re on, with supports and fixings often visible from the rear.
When installing, you must stay within the two-metre height limit. Careful design and correct orientation are key, and it’s always best to agree placement with neighbours in advance.
INVASIVE PLANTS: The rise of “chaos gardening” – a relaxed, scatter-and-see planting approach – has become increasingly popular. However, using mixed or unlabelled seed can unintentionally introduce invasive species that spread beyond the garden.
Some invasive plants are controlled under legislation due to the damage they can cause. If they spread onto neighbouring land, you may be held responsible.
GARDEN LIGHTING: Gardens are increasingly seen as extensions of the home, with layered lighting transforming outdoor spaces.
However, poorly positioned or overly bright lighting can spill into neighbouring properties, causing glare and impacting privacy.
While most garden lighting is legal, excessive or disruptive use could potentially be classed as a “statutory nuisance”.