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CF Stole my hedge

492 replies

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 18:09

We live in a naice part of London which thinks it’s the countryside but is actually just a green suburb. To the side and front of my property is our hedge. It’s a mix hedge; Holly, Ivy and other trees. Our Holly has been very good this autumn and we have lots of red berries. I make a door wreath for my front door each Christmas, and I usually forage from my own hedge to make my wreath. So far this year I haven’t gotten around to it but was hoping to make my wreath this weekend.

Well, I returned this afternoon and there was a lady stood on my driveway with a large blue IKEA bag in one hand and a pair of pruners in the other, helping herself to my holly.

I politely challenged her, but she didn’t seem to think that she was doing anything wrong helping herself to my Holly in my hedge. Infact when I protested that I was going to make my own wreath with my own Holly she told me she had a business making Christmas wreaths and usually only made 10 a season despite huge demand because she simply doesn’t have the time but was willing to make a professional wreath for me using my own Holly and charge me £85. I, less politely this time, declined her offer for a professional wreath and asked for my Holly back. She refused and accused me of being bitter and uncharitable.

OP posts:
12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:21

Haven’t found her as a local wreath maker yet. It is likely she isn’t local and took a tube ride over to us to forage.

OP posts:
Lilyundervalley · 06/12/2024 19:20

Saschka · 06/12/2024 19:08

Dulwich? Hampstead Garden Suburb? Ham?

All definitely in London.

Wimbledon or Barnes would also fit the bill, due to references to a 'common'...

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:19

allthatfalafel · 06/12/2024 19:18

Put a sign by it saying "Holly for sale £95 a sprig"

😂

OP posts:
allthatfalafel · 06/12/2024 19:18

Put a sign by it saying "Holly for sale £95 a sprig"

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:18

My Holly has lots of berries, apparently this autumn hasn’t been great for holly berries in our area.

Why not go to the countryside? Because this is London and you can catch a tube to our neighborhood to forage rather than a trip out into the actual countryside.

OP posts:
HazelTiger · 06/12/2024 19:17

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GoldenLegend · 06/12/2024 19:15

Blimey. Why does she need to steal holly from YOUR hedge? Walk along any country lane and the hedgerows are full of it. Additionally using holly to make a wreath is bloody painful hard work, she'd be better off with other evergreens!

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/12/2024 19:14

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 18:32

She has clearly trimmed from the front of the hedge by standing in the road but was stood about 2 feet onto our drive to trim the best bush which is on the edge, when I pulled into our driveway.
Had a look at CCTV and she isn’t really covered well because it was dusk and the camera covers the main part of the driveway to protect against car theft rather than bush theft

Can you post to your local facebook
page?

Saz12 · 06/12/2024 19:14

Similar has happened to me - but not a hedge, completely in our garden. And not London, but outskirts of a naice village. And they'd cut loads of it (which I did make them leave).
People are just fucking wierd.

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:13

We need to see a picture of the hedge. Before and after the misappropriation.

I am falling around in stitches of laughter at the amount of dander that's up in this thread over a few branches of holly. I'm sure there's tons left for OP. I won't believe there isn't unless I see a pic of the damage, then I shall be chastened into silence.

There are so many more things to get mad about. This ain't one of them.

All you lot are short of doing is calling for a firing squad. Typical self righteous mumsnetters. So over the top with reactions.

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/12/2024 19:12

OldJohn · 06/12/2024 18:17

An imediate 999 call and get the police to deal with the thief.

I do hope you are jesting

Whyherewego · 06/12/2024 19:11

I wouldn't mind people cutting a few sprigs for decoration for personal use but for a business that's really cheeky.
I have to confess I've nabbed the odd rosemary sprig from one of the houses round me that has an insane sized bush that overhangs the road a lot. But never would I package it up into bags and sell it on!

adriftinadenofvipers · 06/12/2024 19:11

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Is that relevant?

Tooty78 · 06/12/2024 19:10

She must be the winter twin of the infamous gooseberry bush thief, a legendary story on Mumsnet Classics.

Cf indeed

paddlinglikecrazy · 06/12/2024 19:09

Do you have a local community FB page ?
pop something on there, along the lines of, anyone else had a woman stealing cuttings from their property?
apparently she makes and sells wreaths and she stole from me today.
cheeky cow

Saschka · 06/12/2024 19:08

This reply has been deleted

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Dulwich? Hampstead Garden Suburb? Ham?

All definitely in London.

Wellingtonspie · 06/12/2024 19:07

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:01

Why the default to name calling, picture taking, revenge seeking ire?

I personally wouldn't care if anyone took some of my hedge as long as they didn't leave a big gaping hole or something.

I have huge lavendar at each corner of my drive nearest the footpath, and a couple of bay bushes. People take some all the time. I take it as a compliment.

It grows again.

But I don't live in a naice part of London, we are actually friendly around here and speak to and know our neighbours.

Get a bloody life.

Thing is that’s great for you, if you don’t mind someone taking your plants without permission cool.

The op clearly told the women she doesn’t want her to take it. Frankly she shouldn’t have even been trying to take away since it doesn’t belong to her.

The second op told her no she became a thief as she’s then taken it without permission she’s been asked for it back and refused.

She deserves for her customers to know she’s a common thief.

HazelTiger · 06/12/2024 19:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

adriftinadenofvipers · 06/12/2024 19:05

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:01

Why the default to name calling, picture taking, revenge seeking ire?

I personally wouldn't care if anyone took some of my hedge as long as they didn't leave a big gaping hole or something.

I have huge lavendar at each corner of my drive nearest the footpath, and a couple of bay bushes. People take some all the time. I take it as a compliment.

It grows again.

But I don't live in a naice part of London, we are actually friendly around here and speak to and know our neighbours.

Get a bloody life.

Don't be so bloody rude, it's uncalled for.

The OP has already said that she wants to make her own holly wreath. Why should she be left short because some cheeky bastard decided to help herself?

You might be zen with your "friendly" neighbours but not everyone would be happy with having their property stolen, and so brazenly!!

SoupDragon · 06/12/2024 19:04

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:01

Why the default to name calling, picture taking, revenge seeking ire?

I personally wouldn't care if anyone took some of my hedge as long as they didn't leave a big gaping hole or something.

I have huge lavendar at each corner of my drive nearest the footpath, and a couple of bay bushes. People take some all the time. I take it as a compliment.

It grows again.

But I don't live in a naice part of London, we are actually friendly around here and speak to and know our neighbours.

Get a bloody life.

You'd be happy for people to cut your plants to use in their money making business? Really?

Jostuki · 06/12/2024 19:02

Follow her home and dig up her roses .

Snazzysausage · 06/12/2024 19:01

Good lord,the entitlement! We've got a beautiful large blue spruce in our garden, cuttings of which I weave into a Christmas wreath for my parents grave. I better hire security guards after reading this. And warn my brother whose rowan tree is laden with mistletoe each year. Are there more CFs around or is it that we just hear about them more?!

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:01

Why the default to name calling, picture taking, revenge seeking ire?

I personally wouldn't care if anyone took some of my hedge as long as they didn't leave a big gaping hole or something.

I have huge lavendar at each corner of my drive nearest the footpath, and a couple of bay bushes. People take some all the time. I take it as a compliment.

It grows again.

But I don't live in a naice part of London, we are actually friendly around here and speak to and know our neighbours.

Get a bloody life.

MissMoneyFairy · 06/12/2024 19:00

civetcat · 06/12/2024 18:55

If you post on Nextdoor/local FB, warn people to be careful when buying £85+ wreaths as they may be receiving stolen goods

Absolutely this cheeky mare

savoycabbage · 06/12/2024 18:59

As the thief was still at the scene a quick response from the police would have her apprehended and charged. If she still had the secateurs and the holly that is adequate proof that she intended to steal.
If catching a thief is not the police’s job I’m not sure what their job is.

I called the police when I saw my next door neighbour's porche being stolen from their drive. They came five days later.

As it was a performance car, they had managed to get away in that time.

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