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A woman has threatened to chain herself to a hedge after falling out with her neighbour about the shared boundary. Caroline Duddridge claimed her neighbour has been "determined" to cut down the hedge and replace it with a wooden fence in recent years.

According to Ms Duddridge, a semi-retired teacher from Cardiff, the hedge requires little maintenance and is "full of nesting birds and hedgehogs". She said it brings her family "immense joy" but their neighbour has threatened to cut it down. They have since been involved in multiple arguments and reportedly "no longer speak".

Ms Duddridge explained: "I have a beautiful hedge between mine and my neighbours' garden. It's an absolute haven for
wildlife, full of nesting birds and hedgehogs, and brings me and my family immense joy. It needs very little maintenance - only cutting back about twice a year - which I'm more than happy to do."

She added: "Me and my neighbour have fallen out hugely over this hedge as for the past two years he has been
determined to cut it down and replace it with a wooden fence. We've had multiple arguments about this, causing stress on both sides and permanently damaging our relationship.

"I think he wants to do it because his neighbour on the other side replaced their hedge with a fence a couple of years ago. I also fell out with that neighbour over their decision, and we no longer speak."

She continued: "Me and my kids are both willing to chain ourselves to the hedge to prevent it being cut down. I'm not sure on the legalities, but I truly feel that we have a right to keep this."

Neighbourly disputes are common across the UK, with six in 10 Brits reporting to have garden-related disputes with a neighbour. Jamie MacGregor, winner of Landscaper of the Year at the Checkatrade Awards 2025 and owner of Green Earth Gardens Ltd has shared advice to make sure you govern your garden legally.

One of his first tips is to check who owns which fence on your title register and title plan from HM Land Registry. The presence of a "T" mark indicates that you own that fence, meaning you are responsible for maintaining it.

The expert also warns against putting up garden lights that spill over into your neighbours' garden or home. He added that all garden buildings located near boundaries should remain under 2.5 metres tall and cover less than half the garden.

Jamie said: "Gardens should be a place of enjoyment, and understanding the rules around fences, trees, lighting, outbuildings, and smart devices helps homeowners protect their property while staying on good terms with neighbours. With a little planning and clear communication, you can keep your garden beautiful - and dispute-free."