Assuming your fence is made of wood the ivy will destroy it if you do not remove. However if this does not worry you then just keep under control.

Thanks for the speedy response. I have rather a large garden on a new build site so the wooden fence was new, very bare and featureless and I liked it that the ivy was attracting so much wildlife. If it means that the fence will eventually fall down, I had better remove it as it is the boundary between my garden and a secondary school! Another reason why I have left the ivy grow wild is that it makes the fence less easy to climb over!

The ivy will eventually force its way through the wood but it may take years if its new. I personally think the ivy makes climbing it easier as there is something to grip.

Ivy is great for wildlife - but if you have a very vigorous variety, I second Moon grower's advice to keep it under control.
I have seen pics of what I thought were logs - that were actually ivy stems, they were so big. They came from an old ivy that had caused a (admittedly old and probably unstable) big wall to collapse.
I have various ivies - some are very slow and dainty - but my strong-growing one needs hacking back soon.

the ivy wont feed on the fence buts it weight may be a problem. so regular pruning to keep it in check is sound advice from my fellow GoYers.

Elaine why not remove ivy and fence and replace with a hedge. Or, at least to start with remove ivy, plant hedge and when big enough remove fence? The birds will much prefer a hedge to ivy over a fence... Have fun no matter what!

that is an excellent idea mg.

Thx. Sbg :-)

Mum planted a Ivy up against our neighbours fence and as it grew and covered it, it looked nice, insects and snails loved it then one day the fence keeled over and is just hanging onto a post, now we will have too re-new her fence.
Jackie x

Never a good idea to plant anything that will grow on or over a neighbour's fence, wall or other structure. For the very reason you have given Ladyessex. The mere fact that the snails loved it would have had me ripping it out instantly.

Don't worry Moon grower I have ripped it out but have noticed it has started to grow again as it is coming up from under concrete.

You need to treat the stumps with root killer

I will do that Carol (I think I got your name right )?
Jackie.

The ivy-covered wooden fence panels between my garden & my neighbour's garden are at least 35 years old - apparently fence panels are only supposed to last a maximum of 20 years, so it seems that the ivy has been actually holding the planks etc together!

Unfortunately ivy-hating new people moved in next door a couple of years ago, and one of the first things they did was to remove all the plant growth from their side of the fence ... you can probably guess the result?
I imagine the wood was well rotten after enduring 35 years of British summers and winters ... but nonetheless the neighbours blame the ivy for the disintegration of the fence.

They are planning to replace the fence panels ... and I'm under strict instruction not to allow any more ivy growth on my side. I shall smirk contentedly when their 'bald' wooden fence panels disintegrate within 20 years!