They most certainly are. I dug mine up last year because it was becoming a menace and appearing everywhere. They grow quickly.

Thanks Inverglen, thing is I'm overlooked from all points, even people walking past on the pavement can see through to the back garden I'm trying to creat a bit of privacy! I have a few seedling of Tetrapanax papyrifa, about 8in at the moment, but they will take a while I think to make any kind of screen! I did have Bamboo in pots about 9ft high but last winter killed them!

I didnt think Tetrapanax was hardy?Could try Cephalaria, they get huge and then die down in Autumn and come back bigger in spring. Cardoons do well but can be fussy i've found.

Thanks Nicky, for your suggestion, those are lovely plants, I have a smaller versions of those, in the form of Knautia and Scabious, I don't think I could ever tire of looking at those lovely plants, well those and the Echinacea family! I think the Tetrapanax might be ok with a mulch in a sheltered part of the garden, but there are plants that don't survive no matter what you do. But if they die, I won't plant them again, as I think thats just a waste of a plants life!

Isn't this the sort of situation that hedges were invented for?

Volunteer, your right there, but I would need quite tall hedging to stop the garden being overlooked, and it would have to go round 67ft x 31ft, that's why I'm looking for something that will have quick effect. I've also thought about dotting trees here and there , also things like Eupatorium, viburnum and ribes the latter I have to about 5ft in pots, I'm sure they'll soon get going once I plant them in the ground. I did want to have a go at making a Willow hegde, but where I would want it to grow, the water can reach 18in when we get heavy or prolonged rainfall! I know Willow like water, but I'm not sure about their feet sitting in it, for a couple of days till the water drains!