Thanks again Jumpman,

I have already noticed the effects you are describing in terms of the plants behaving at a distance. I mentioned earlier that I didn't understand why they behaved as well as they did - and I believe it is because of what you are describing above. Most of the time the plants are not in the foreground.

I will have to give some thoughts to the solution. One simple thing is not to allow such a bush at a corner (thus allowing the player to get behind it and look through it) as is the case now in the above screen shot. This may solve the refresh problem. However it will not fix the 'flat billboard' problem - which can only be fixed the way you suggested.

I will have to experiment...more time. I don't know how anyone gets to end of job on these games.