DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Q How can I gain privacy without ruining my views?

Slatted screens, hedges and transparent grasses keep an open outlook, says Dawn Isaac

WE MIGHT LOVE our neighbours and enjoy chatting with them, but none of us wants to feel we’re on show the moment we set foot in our garden. Yet at the same time, if you have a lovely view, or much-needed light, erecting high walls would rob you of these delights. Fortunately, there are plenty of designer tricks to create a sense of privacy without feeling like you’re trapped in Colditz. Planting can create enclosures and screening as well as adding colour and form, and even filtering out some wind. Structures and clipped topiary help direct and distract prying eyes while well-placed boundary features add to a sense of security.