High Hedges

The recent High Hedges legislation strongly encourages the use of mediation to try to resolve concerns over high hedges. Before approaching any local authority to make a complaint about a neighbour's hedge, a resident will be expected to have tried speaking and / or writing to their neighbour about their concerns. If this does not prove successful or if they would prefer to, residents are then expected to try mediation to resolve any concerns before they approach their council.

The leaflet Over the Garden Hedge is a useful booklet describing ways in which a neighbour can be approached in as effective a way as possible without turning the issue into a dispute. It also describes how mediation can be used in such situations. Contact us on our Case Line if you would like to refer your situation for mediation.

For residents of the London Borough of Hillingdon, there is a High Hedges webpage that gives details of their local authority's charges for investigating a complaint as well as similar information to the above.

Mediation is strongly encouraged in such situations because even if a resident pays for the council to investigate their complaint, there is no guarantee that the council will find in their favour and demand action, and so it is in residents' financial interest to try all forms of amicable resolution before making a complaint - as well as it being more beneficial for their long term relationship with their neighbour.