We need some ideas on how to make our wild garden secure.

[RATTER15]

Ok, so the situation is this:

We have a small field near our house, (100 metres away) that we have turned into a bit of a wild garden, we have now put a large summer house in there and a large shed will soon be erected there, both hidden away into the corners.

The problem being "security" we have extremely little crime in the area but if kids see the shed and the summerhouse they will want to investigate etc. We arent too worried about the road side as it has a substantial gate that they cant see over or through and the hedge has been laid and growing nicely forming a good deterrent.

The problem is, we have two sides which join other fields, they both have Elm trees as hedges but as is normal with elm they are nearly all dead or dying, its not a problem until the undergrowth dies back in the winter and will then allow the kids to come through to our garden, it hasn't happened yet though.
What we are looking for is something we can grow all along the (ground level) hedge which is shaded by tall trees. We are looking at maybe a fast growing rambling roses or something prickly and will wind its way through the current hedging to thicken it up fairly cheaply.

I think the biggest problem will be the hedges are very shaded.

Any ideas?

[redman41]

Grew this at my last House RATTER, very Thorny and a good deterrent, Birds loved it for the Berries and for nesting. Look it up


http://www.hopesgrove...lwebplantsID=11&pt=Hg

[Clanad]

Although not thorny, you might take a look at Hih Bush Cranberry... it grows quite thickly and about 12 feet tall with bright red berries for the winter birds...

Alternately, your rose idea is a good one... here in the U.S. we've grown 'Blaze' often and it's very hardy in our harsh western climate. As with all "climbers" (they don't really climb) they need guidance on where you want them to go...

Seen here: http://www.rose-garde...y.com/blaze-rose.html

[bushbaby_de]

Ratter, I know its not what you asked, but have you got planning permission to be using the field as a garden and to put structures on it? Otherwise its not just local children you need to worry about having a nosy look at the buildings...

[rowanwitch]

rosa rugosa, pyracantha, , berberis and hollies in a mixed hedge add in some blackthorn and the od hawthorn and rowan tree at intervals and you will gave a mix of flowers berries pricklies spines and other weapons... and a lot of birds part prune some of the lower growth to keep the lower levels dense

[RATTER15]

Thank you all, Rowan, these you suggest are pretty much the way we have been thinking and already have a few thorn in place, I think its the total shade that will cause the problems.

bushbaby_de, No we dont have planning permission for the garden, the garden is in a very quite country lane with a very small frontage onto the road that gives no view into the garden. I dot think we would actually need planning permission for a couple of wooden structures to be honest and like I say, its quite a wild garden, still a field in many respects.

[bushbaby_de]

Ratter - if its a wild field that is a different land use to a garden attached to a house so you probably would need permission for the structures and the use. But if no one can see it you might get away with it.

[RATTER15]

bushbaby_de When we took over the land, nobody had stepped foot in the field for over 40 years, the brambles were 20 foot high, we had to cut our way through with chainsaws. Its all looking a bit different now, 2 years later :)

Im really not going to worry about the planners in a field in the middle of nowhere :-)

[hammerman]

As per Rowans answer....a nice mixed hedge. See what birdlife you have around....some birds like nesting in berberis, others enjoy eating berries, some feel secure just living around prickly plants. Hawthorn, blackthorn, roses, pyrecantha, holly, mahonia, brambles and berberis are all very bird friendly.

Then come on to here http://www.gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi and show us the pics and it's development.

[rowanwitch]

just thought...add some hazel into the mix... fresh cobnuts are yummy

[RATTER15]

Thanks all, some great ideas, I will certainly be planting everything you mentioned, Berberis is a great idea, not quite as wild as I would like but very effective, we have shed loads of brambles, we have been digging them up for 2 years. we also have a huge wild rose that we can take cuttings from, that is savage!! gotta be a little careful though, I also want it child friendly!