Fencing nowadays is pretreated and does not need 'painting' Hedges need cutting the brick wall is already doing a great job why not just replace the fence panels. But first check which you ones you own before replacing etc.

Make sure you buy pressure treated (previously known as tanalized, sometimes still are) panels and posts - you will have to pay more, but the more you pay, the better quality the panels you'll get. These shouldn't need treating or repainting for 10 years.

you can get thompson cement seal for the brick wall to stop that deterioating and i would get them cement posts with cement kicker boards . it will cost you a bit in the first place but wood realy suffers when it is next to soil . the other thing is as bamboo sais the pannels that are pressure treated dont need painting so much if at all if there not touching soil but they do tend to get brittle . when that does happen you just slip the old pannel out and drop a new one in .its well worth it in the long run . i dont do this as i have councel fencing but ive had there treated posts rot out even treated within a couple of years and had a fence pannel go in one year after a realy windy day . theres pannels and theres pannels . i would go andsee them and check how well they seam to be even if you pay a bit more . cheap fencing is false econemy .

Does depend on the fencing you choose NP Closeboard fencing will last over 25 years. I put this around a 1/3 acre in my previous house in 1985 cost a fortune but its still ok. Wooden gravel board and capping protects fencing to. My fence posts 4x4 here, have been in place over 17 years and still have not moved or rotted. You get what you pay for in terms of quality and long life.

Noseypotter makes a good point which I forgot to mention - use concrete gravel boards at the base of the fence, and if you use concrete posts, they have a groove in them which allows panels and boards to be slid down inside without the need for separate fixing. Means you've got to get the spacing exact though, otherwise the panels won't fit between the posts. If you want 6 foot fencing, your posts will need to be 8 feet - a foot of gravel board at the base and five feet high fencing panels.

i thaught thats what i said drc ie go and check , pay more and false econemy etc . just dont put wood next to dirt unless you dont want it to last as long .
also to stop thieves you can put a little bit of cement at the top of the fence pannel each side and tap it of if you have to change them.
i think youve got to get any post fairly spot on for the 6 foot pannels realy . youl probably need some professional help anyway as its heavy work but well worth it .

Np-I just think fencing panels dont last due to all sorts of reasons and if you can afford better such as close boarding it will repay you.

i totaly agree with you drc we are fighting the same fight mate .

:))