Fencing

Emma1970

We are redesigning our garden.  We have 2 levels, the lower level at the house has a patio.  Steps go up to a level app. 4 foot above.  We have taken down a metal railing as we are about to rebuild the retaining wall.  This has opened up the space and view.  However, we have small children and worry that they may fall from the higher level to the patio.  Does anyone have any suggestions to make this child friendly without having any unsightly fence?

Busy-Lizzie

I don't know what your budget is, but what about this sort of thing, toughened glass.

http://www.ukglassproducts.co.uk/#!project/cngp 

Dovefromabove

Would having a wide bed of small shrubs and herbaceous perennials in place of the fence keep your children away from the edge?  If they're like most children and they know not to walk on flower beds it would keep them away from the edge

Lizzie27

I agree with Busy-Lizzie that the glass panels would probably be the best solution but they are very expensive.

With small children you cannot take the chance of them falling over the edge onto a concrete/paved patio so I would suggest you re-instate the metal railings for the time being. Having said that I've got the same problem with small grandchildren and have planted a small row of box hedging on top of the wall as a visual full stop - below it is a somewhat softer flower bed if they did fall so I hope this will be a good enough safety precaution.