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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:
republicofjam · 07/12/2024 15:00

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:51

Sorry, that was @Roryno , not you. Mea culpa.

No problem, appreciate it must be tricky trying to make £80 festive wreaths and read posts properly at the same time. Not to mention remember what you have written yourself.
Happy Christmas! 🤣😅

godmum56 · 07/12/2024 14:59

TheBluntTurtle · 07/12/2024 13:47

She is stealing. I really hate when folk do this - as well as taking cuttings from all the trees/ bushes in parks and nature reserves. Generally rule for parks/ public open spaces is if it is on the floor you can forage but you can’t be taking your loppers and hacking off all the Holly and ivy otherwise there will be none left!
plus as she is operating a commercial business by selling the wreaths it is actually illegal to forage on nature reserves and then sell the products without permission from natural England and the landowner. OP if you do find her details - see if the common and woodland are designated as SSSI, ancient woodland or local nature reserve (Google magic maps and this will show you) and then dob her in to the landowner and natural England - they probably can’t do anything now as you don’t have photos of her taking the vegetation from the common/ woodland but they probably will scare her with a warning letter.
for your own bush maybe the only thing you can do is put up a sign stating no foraging and that there is a camera (even if there isn’t) - far from ideal though.

Its not foraging when its in someone's garden, its THEFT.

godmum56 · 07/12/2024 14:56

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 12:31

For some holly clippings left on your drive?
My neighbours had two cars stolen from their drive and it took a week for police to follow it up.

no, for the holly theft in the first place.

starstar84 · 07/12/2024 14:55

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?

Do this and post on all of her socials what you caught her doing. You were very polite - I’m pretty sure I would have told her to fuck off

Anewstart2024 · 07/12/2024 14:51

Your thread title made me smile@12FreeRangeEggs so of course I had to click on it to find out what it was all about. I read your OP and was torn between laughter and shock at the sheer cheek of the holly stealing woman!😮

I haven't read the whole thread, only your posts, but I'm very glad to read you've got your holly back. I'd love to see a photo of your wreath when you've finished it, if you'd like to share one.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:51

Sorry, that was @Roryno , not you. Mea culpa.

republicofjam · 07/12/2024 14:46

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:38

I never said - your claim - that people could have what they want whenever they want.
Nope 👎
Some sprigs ain't that 😂

Please show me where I made that claim.

MissMoneyFairy · 07/12/2024 14:44

I need to know who she is, pleeeeeese

DisforDarkChocolate · 07/12/2024 14:40

She must have seen this on MN, or she mentioned the 'discussion' to someone who told her she was a thiefy cunt.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:38

republicofjam · 07/12/2024 14:35

Good Lord indeed. Read your own posts, you literally said " It's a holly bush. They're not digging up the prize zinnias or a crop of courgettes. It's Christmas. Let folks have some sprigs.

I never said - your claim - that people could have what they want whenever they want.
Nope 👎
Some sprigs ain't that 😂

republicofjam · 07/12/2024 14:35

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:14

You have failed to understand my posts.
I am not entitled. You cannot make that ludicrous claim. I have never taken anything from anyone's garden. At any point.
Nor have I ever claimed that anyone can do whatever they want and it doesn't matter!
Good lord. Read the posts.
Not what you imagine people have posted 😂!! Merry Christmas 😅 !

Good Lord indeed. Read your own posts, you literally said " It's a holly bush. They're not digging up the prize zinnias or a crop of courgettes. It's Christmas. Let folks have some sprigs.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:32

SockFluffInTheBath · 07/12/2024 14:31

‘Season of goodwill’ is emotional blackmail for decent people to sacrifice their own happiness to benefit CFs and miserable bastards they avoid for the rest of the year.

😂😂

SockFluffInTheBath · 07/12/2024 14:31

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 13:48

Dear lord. How can folks get so agitated about some sprigs of holly during the season of Goodwill?
Perhaps the Wassail Cup should be shared around once more, to help good cheer!

‘Season of goodwill’ is emotional blackmail for decent people to sacrifice their own happiness to benefit CFs and miserable bastards they avoid for the rest of the year.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:29

viques · 07/12/2024 14:13

Ps I don’t know where you live OP but just a warning to anyone foraging in the Epping Forest/ Wanstead Park area, The forest wardens have a particular set of powers and they will track you down and kill you teach you the error of your ways.

Quite right.
I think it's 2 fingers sliced off for the first offence, eyes gouged out for the second. I'm assuming Laws of the Forest still apply?.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:16

This is a very entertaining thread, thanks OP!
The wild misunderstandings! The outrage and the rudeness! 😂😂!
What will you do with the returned holly?.

WearyAuldWumman · 07/12/2024 14:14

MissMoneyFairy · 07/12/2024 14:10

Who is based in York?

I saw an ad on Etsy for £85 wreaths. It was the wrong location.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 14:14

Roryno · 07/12/2024 14:09

It’s still someone else’s property - had she had the manners to ask she might have been given some! It’s the entitled attitude (like you have!) that anyone can just do what they want and it doesn’t matter - and if anyone grumbles they gaslight back “aw chill out it’s Xmas” or “live and let live” (live and let live apparently means don’t complain when someone walks all over you nowadays).

You have failed to understand my posts.
I am not entitled. You cannot make that ludicrous claim. I have never taken anything from anyone's garden. At any point.
Nor have I ever claimed that anyone can do whatever they want and it doesn't matter!
Good lord. Read the posts.
Not what you imagine people have posted 😂!! Merry Christmas 😅 !

viques · 07/12/2024 14:13

Ps I don’t know where you live OP but just a warning to anyone foraging in the Epping Forest/ Wanstead Park area, The forest wardens have a particular set of powers and they will track you down and kill you teach you the error of your ways.

MissMoneyFairy · 07/12/2024 14:10

WearyAuldWumman · 07/12/2024 11:58

Yes, I didn't notice that.

Who is based in York?

Roryno · 07/12/2024 14:09

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 13:56

It's a holly bush. They're not digging up the prize zinnias or a crop of courgettes.
It's Christmas. Let folks have some sprigs. It grows back.
No need for all the craziness. 'tis all.

It’s still someone else’s property - had she had the manners to ask she might have been given some! It’s the entitled attitude (like you have!) that anyone can just do what they want and it doesn’t matter - and if anyone grumbles they gaslight back “aw chill out it’s Xmas” or “live and let live” (live and let live apparently means don’t complain when someone walks all over you nowadays).

viques · 07/12/2024 14:07

I am feeling a bit sad for the wreath making participants this weekend whose wreaths will be looking a bit bare and berry free, but at least ( though they don’t know it) they will have the moral satisfaction of not being unwitting collaborators in the Great Holly Heist.

great update @12FreeRangeEggs , the power of Mumsnet eh!

LookItsMeAgain · 07/12/2024 13:57

BrightOrangeDahlias · 07/12/2024 00:00

Make some wreaths and sell them for £80...?

YES!!

Undercut her prices!

Get yourself some oasis and get sticking that holly in there like a good one! Make centrepieces or whatever but do not let the holly go to waste at this stage. Better if you can make some money out of what she cut from your plants. Even better if you can under cut her prices while doing that.

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 13:56

Whaleandsnail6 · 07/12/2024 13:53

Its not about "a few sprigs of holly though"

Its about someone trespassing on anothers private property, cutting their bush to take away and then continuing to do so when the owner has asked them not to.

Would you seriously be ok with someone coming into your garden and cutting your flowers or plants or whatever to take away with them and continuing to do so when asked not to? You are a very tolerant person if you would be ok with that!

It's a holly bush. They're not digging up the prize zinnias or a crop of courgettes.
It's Christmas. Let folks have some sprigs. It grows back.
No need for all the craziness. 'tis all.

Whohasnickedthesellotape · 07/12/2024 13:56

@AlpacaMittens we don't cover the rosemary bush and it's quite large now and survives every winter (10 years?) The ends of the stalks can get a little frost damage if it gets really cold.
I'm on the look out for local wreaths being sold that contain my rosemary 🧐

Whaleandsnail6 · 07/12/2024 13:53

MaisieMacabe · 07/12/2024 13:48

Dear lord. How can folks get so agitated about some sprigs of holly during the season of Goodwill?
Perhaps the Wassail Cup should be shared around once more, to help good cheer!

Its not about "a few sprigs of holly though"

Its about someone trespassing on anothers private property, cutting their bush to take away and then continuing to do so when the owner has asked them not to.

Would you seriously be ok with someone coming into your garden and cutting your flowers or plants or whatever to take away with them and continuing to do so when asked not to? You are a very tolerant person if you would be ok with that!