We have a very ugly lamppost in our garden. It is partially hidden by an ageing conifer. Any ideas how to camouflage it further? Photo 1 taken looking NE. Photo 2 taken looking SE.
I imagine that the utilities company will want to have access to it from time to time, so it’s going to be difficult to hide it without having your efforts trampled on by workmen.
How about some kind of pergola, well away from the pole?
Apophthegm - a big word for a small thought. If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
I'd agree with @pansyface. You have to be very careful of trying to obscure lamp posts etc. A screen/pergola further in is always a good solution, and prevents any disturbance should access be required. I must say - it's a bit odd that it's in your garden though....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I used to work for a street lighting contractor, and it's rare these days to have a lamp post on private land. The majority were like yours, connected to a telegraph pole. As Pansyface says the telephone engineers and street lighting guys have the right to access your land, although in the interests of politeness they should notify you in writing first. With regard to your original question, l think the pergola is the way to go, making sure that access is easy if required
I described it incorrectly as a lamp post. It is, as some have noticed, a telegraph pole. Can any of those who have suggested a pergola post a photo (off internet is fine) of what they’re thinking? Thanks.
Any particular ivy that would grow up it? 3 “Italian” pencil conifers encircling it? At the moment can’t imagine what a pergola would look like 😞.
A pergola is a structure formed out of poles, the design or format being yours to determine, but, if you can a) erect it far enough away from the pole so that any workmen's ingress won't interfere with it and, b) find something to grow up it that will be bushy enough to hide the pole, you've got the solution. Chestnut would be the preferred poles to use for a good life span.
You could write to the utility company and request the pole be moved off your property so I'd try that first, although you might have a long wait. When you bought the house, your solicitor should have shown you what is called a 'wayleave agreement' which gives them a legal right to access your land for maintenance. Sometimes the agreement includes a payment to the land owner for the access right. Other than that, as the others say, a pergola or trellis fence is the way to go or a smaller tree nearer to your house.
We’ve owned the house for 7 years, albeit now in the middle of an extension being built, and no utilities services people have once wanted access, so still wondering if an ivy or other climber up it would work?
You could grow something up the pole, bearing in mind that it’s not your property so it would be akin to growing ivy up your neighbour’s house wall.
You could hope that Lady Luck smiled on you and that nobody ever came to climb the pole to fix anything.
But it would be Sod’s Law that you just get it looking nice and somebody comes to work on it and rips all your lovely ivy off because it’s not compliant with Telegraph Pole Appearance Regulation 116/1929 Paragraph b.
Had you gone down the other route, and erected something further away and not involved in “men and their work”, you could have avoided all the stress and heartache and waste of effort and the return of the unwanted view.
Apophthegm - a big word for a small thought. If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Posts
How about some kind of pergola, well away from the pole?
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
You have to be very careful of trying to obscure lamp posts etc.
A screen/pergola further in is always a good solution, and prevents any disturbance should access be required.
I must say - it's a bit odd that it's in your garden though....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As Pansyface says the telephone engineers and street lighting guys have the right to access your land, although in the interests of politeness they should notify you in writing first.
With regard to your original question, l think the pergola is the way to go, making sure that access is easy if required
The nearer the pergola is to you, the more of the telegraph pole it will obscure.
Don’t be tempted to plant anything close to the pole, especially something expensive and/or of value to you.
I can attest to the destructive qualities of a workman’s size 11 boots and their unfailing ability to stand on your most cherished plants.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
When you bought the house, your solicitor should have shown you what is called a 'wayleave agreement' which gives them a legal right to access your land for maintenance. Sometimes the agreement includes a payment to the land owner for the access right.
Other than that, as the others say, a pergola or trellis fence is the way to go or a smaller tree nearer to your house.
You could hope that Lady Luck smiled on you and that nobody ever came to climb the pole to fix anything.
But it would be Sod’s Law that you just get it looking nice and somebody comes to work on it and rips all your lovely ivy off because it’s not compliant with Telegraph Pole Appearance Regulation 116/1929 Paragraph b.
Had you gone down the other route, and erected something further away and not involved in “men and their work”, you could have avoided all the stress and heartache and waste of effort and the return of the unwanted view.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.