Would suggest widening the path, and keep it straight BUT halfway along widen it to create an area .say 8'x8' and put large pots planted with shrubs in around the sides, so the eye is diverted from the straight line, but you can still walk the shortest route. Plant an interesting small tree to either side, in the lawn, say Liquidamber, Witch Hazel, maple, Magnolia ... something with seasonal interest/foliage/flowers. Put a large attractive lamp at end of path.

I am currently involved in a project where we have buried the offending structure partially in a raised timber bed and planted a range of groundcover shrubs around the access - including: Pachysandra terminalis, Cotoneaster dammeri, Cornus canadensis to name a few. Good Luck!

I agree with Bespoke Interiors Redbridge UK, definitely put in full height fences, not trees. If the neighbours are problematic (sounds like they're related to mine), the fences will be a safer option than trees that shed leaves/fruit which they might take issue with. Fences also take up less room in a small garden. My garden is only 3m wide, and I have full height fences on both sides. You can paint them or whitewash them if light is an issue, though I have left mine to silver naturally (I just like the look). Get the kids involved in gardening and put raised beds in front of the fences: I am training berry plants up the fences, so they will be green and leafy once the (currently 18 inch tall) plants grow in. Sunflowers are also great to grow along fences and there are plenty of climbing or tall edible plants like sweet peas, maize and tomatoes that are easy for kids to look after (and snack on!). Be careful of getting any evergreen hedges. I have a school one side and have had to ask them to really cut back their leylandii hedge, which has been horribly neglected for years, and it's now getting close to 3.5m tall (guidelines say no more than 2m). It's expensive to cut them back if they have been neglected, so you may be setting yourself up for a big bill down the line.

Hi Barbara, Having lawn space is good as it softens the space and is great for children to play on (which, by the slider on the picture, I guess you have in your house!). But, too much of it, without any paved areas or borders or beds can make your garden a bit uninteresting aesthetically, and also limit what you can get from it. I don't know how big your garden is, but Leylandii cypresses are quite big when they reach maturity, so maybe having 9 of them could be too much (again, depending on where they are and the space that you have). If you would like more individualized help, I do online design and consultancy services, including sketches, which is an affordable way of having an idea of how best to layout your garden. Please do let me know if you are interested and good luck with your space! The Rooted Concept Garden Designs by Deborah Biasoli deborahbiasoli@gmail.com