On the rear boundary of our garden, which adjoining the rear boundary of another garden, there is a 6ft plus fence and on the other side a line of cotoneaster which do grow very well. The man from the house concerned does cut them back about once every two or three years and he has started again, but is cutting them back a lot further than normal.  He managed to drop his cutters over the fence so when he came round to get them back, we introduced ourselves and, long story short, as they say, he is going to come and do our side as well next week.  This is going to save me (or my gardening lady) a difficult job so I am very pleased.