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Original poster

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:
lovelydayIhave · 07/12/2024 19:50

FayCarew · 06/12/2024 18:40

Report it on Nextdoor and the local Faceache group

And do this as well, just shame her publicly.

lovelydayIhave · 07/12/2024 19:49

FlangeSprocket · 06/12/2024 18:32

Can you do a bit of sleuthing and find her through her overpriced wreath making business. At £85+ she shouldn't be too hard to find?

Op yes do this.

WearyAuldWumman · 07/12/2024 19:47

JustMeAndTheFish · 07/12/2024 19:42

The general public is just shite. I work with my best friend. She lives in a castle - not Balmoral admittedly but proper castle built in the 1100s. Her family have been there 800 years +.
We regularly find people wandering around. .. they just want to take photos but don’t consider asking permission. The last lot were sitting in the courtyard on the edge of the fountain eating their sandwiches …

Not quite the same, but I've had dog walkers in my back garden. Yes, it had a fence and hedge, but the council cut their side of the hedge back a bit too severely and it appears that off leash dogs got through and their owners simply forced their way through the fence.

I spent parts of lockdown using up the pieces of wood in the garage to construct a replacement fence with pointed uprights.

I also found out from one of the neighbours that kiddies from the local primary were using my front lawn for picnics at lunchtime. (I admit that part of me found that quite funny.)

Proudofmynane · 07/12/2024 19:44

Hang on!! The CF Machine has smoke coming out..........

JustMeAndTheFish · 07/12/2024 19:42

The general public is just shite. I work with my best friend. She lives in a castle - not Balmoral admittedly but proper castle built in the 1100s. Her family have been there 800 years +.
We regularly find people wandering around. .. they just want to take photos but don’t consider asking permission. The last lot were sitting in the courtyard on the edge of the fountain eating their sandwiches …

ThianWinter · 07/12/2024 19:37

I hope no-one has really gone onto this woman's Instagram account and berated her for nicking holly.

Lilywc · 07/12/2024 19:36

I thought CF meant Close Friend?

Cazareeto1 · 07/12/2024 19:32

Calliecarpa · 07/12/2024 19:25

Re-read your own post.

Look at the first initials of the last two words of it.

You have your answer!

Show quote history

🤦‍♀️ I was also wondering but is quite blatant now you point it out. thank you, feeling a bit silly and pregnant foggy brain

Calliecarpa · 07/12/2024 19:28

Although calling 999 in response to this situation would clearly be absurd, I'm also puzzled at how many PP say it doesn't matter. Going onto someone's private property and helping yourself to something of theirs without their permission really isn't on, even it's just 'a few sprigs of holly' (though it seems to have been more than a few).

Calliecarpa · 07/12/2024 19:25

Lilywc · 07/12/2024 17:48

I don’t know wha CF means but what a cheeky fecker!!!

Re-read your own post.

Look at the first initials of the last two words of it.

You have your answer!

Allihavetodoisdream · 07/12/2024 19:23

Er, did no one else use to go out and cut down a Christmas tree?
Maybe a countryside thing.
I’d stop short of someone’s driveway, or of taking much, but I’ve been known to take a sprig or two from a hedge every now and again. This woman sounds like a twat though. I would never go in a person’s garden.

I have also been known to yell at the same person who climbs our tree every year to steal the fruit. So yes I’m a hypocrite.

I am acquainted with someone who always has some secateurs in her handbag when she visits National Trust properties. She owes much of her garden to Blenheim Palace.

Bring back hanging, I say.

evtheria · 07/12/2024 19:21

Wtaf, brazen arrogance!

DroopyEyelids · 07/12/2024 19:20

Oh my goodness. That’s hilarious ( not for you sorry) - Imagine going into someone’s garden in Spring (that you didn’t know) and cutting their flowers for some flowers in your table. It’s no different. She is an absolute loon.

Cazareeto1 · 07/12/2024 19:16

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.

Should threaten with police get the camera out film her and put on you tube! Soon she will be shown she is in fact a thieving Karen! A ring cam would be handy for you also

pollymere · 07/12/2024 19:05

She may have realised that you could get her for theft and vandalism and trespass... It's not good for her business if it's known she's stealing holly to run it! And anyone making a wreath at her workshop would also be handling stolen goods... Glad you got it back - hopefully in a state you can use it yourself.

It could also be that she spoke to baby- daddy or a friend about how you'd treated her and they'd pointed out she was stealing and rude.

EarthSight · 07/12/2024 19:03

MustWeDoThis · 07/12/2024 18:14

The plot bush thickens.

I am intrigued. Bet it was a mortified son. It's still damage and then fly-tipping on your property. You could actually swing this another way - Tell the police you grow it for your own wreath making business and this has meant a loss of trade and profit. She's stolen business material.

Also, can we all have the insta link? Some of us MN's have steam to let off.

Show quote history

Hahahaaaaaaaa.

Makes you wonder if she's seen this thread. She did the right thing by giving it back.

I don't think she should lie to the police though.

Skodacool · 07/12/2024 18:55

JaninaDuszejko · 06/12/2024 19:57

You need to share this information with the thread.

I pay £55 in the north east so can well believe you have to pay £85 in London. What's truly cheeky of course is that she clearly isn't paying for her materials.

Show quote history

I wonder whether she pays income tax 😁

tommyhoundmum · 07/12/2024 18:49

We have a bay tree in our front garden, people often help themselves but just to afew leaves.

When I was a child the same people came every year for the elderflowers to make wine. We never thought to ask for any and it was never offered

ThisRedLion · 07/12/2024 18:48

Cheeky cow take the bag of her and tell her never again to return and say for each wreath she makes with your Holly your going to take 100% profit, oh I'd be furious 😠

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 18:46

Nanny0gg · 07/12/2024 18:39

She stole them to profit from them

Can she come back in the summer to cut roses to make bouquets?

Where's the line?

Show quote history

My point was about clippings from the hedge, later left on the drive.
I have no idea whether or not this will develop into further and/or more serious garden offences.

LivinInYourBigGlassHouseWithAView · 07/12/2024 18:42

I would track her page down, post on it, tell her you have CCTV and you're going to the police unless she returns your holly OR makes you a lovely wreath free of charge AND promises never to steal from you again.

Londonmummy66 · 07/12/2024 18:41

YourAzureScroller · 07/12/2024 18:23

Message her on instagram and say thanks for bringing the Holly back 😆

Message her and say "thanks for returning the holly that you walked into my front garden and stole and refused to return when I stopped you and asked you to."

BettyBardMacDonald · 07/12/2024 18:41

miliop · 07/12/2024 16:23

Not quite the point but saw someone asking on FB earlier where they could go on a walk and cut some holly. Maybe just go to any florist? Instead of going off to ransack nature and take the berries from the birds.

If everyone just went out to grab what they wanted from paths and hedgerows, there'd be little left.

Exactly.

Let them buy some holly plants and grow their own, if they want it so badly. My shrubs and hedges are not a public resource.

Nanny0gg · 07/12/2024 18:39

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 11:49

So you'd report this to the police? Someone taking clippings from a hedge, then later leaving them on the drive?

She stole them to profit from them

Can she come back in the summer to cut roses to make bouquets?

Where's the line?

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 18:37

Nanny0gg · 07/12/2024 18:33

So what would you have a problem with being stolen or damaged?

Show quote history

Not the issue. I was agreeing with @pictoosh