Balls from neighbours in my garden

And when that doesn't work? I honestly wish talking to them had worked for me. But no, sadly it didn't. Cost us money to fix the damages caused which the parents denied. And as they got away with it, it's just got worse.

Yep. It's not nasty. It's consequences for inconveniencing others.

when it happens multiple times a day and damages your property it gets old very quickly and patience wears out.

tell them that any balls that come over will be returned once a week at a time of your choosing.

And give them a bill for all the damage.

You might want to ask them to move the things from the shared fence. If not, start bouncing your own ball against the fence at times that you know they won't appreciate it...

Seeing as the OP has already spoken to their neighbour in person and by text with no change, what is the reasonable next step in your view? Just put up with it?

Ops asked nicely all summer. The next steps are to make it an inconvenience for the adults.

If the adults noted ops issues and tried to mitigate against them she wouldn’t be posting here.

How petty are those that think letting a little air out of the balls is the way to deal with this. Besides, it hardly take any time to blow the balls up with an electric pump.
As for puncturing or hiding them, get a grip! Breaking or stealing children's toys is a low move, and will completely destroy your relationship with them while not solving the problem.
Speak to your neighbours. Tell them how you'd like them to manage the situation. Make your expectations clear to both the parents and the kids. But don't be unreasonable.

Mr Twit, is that you?!?!

Joy squashers 😂
Yes, don't worry OP. Just smile and shake your head wistfully as you look at your obliterated plants. At least they are having fun hey?

Our garden backs onto a school, attended by some very energetic autistic/additional needs children.... I wish it was only balls that came flying over!

We've had many shoes, clothes, sticks, signage....even a teacher's walkie talkie. I feel so bad for the teachers, as it's quite a long walk around. I can't really throw them back; not least because the fence is 8 feet high.

In your shoes, OP, I'd throw the balls back....but at a time to suit you.

I agree, borrow a ball loving dog. Preferably a large barky one who will dissuade any attempt to climb over.

Joy squashers? Presumably the wee lad hasn’t damaged anything yet and you’re not listening to ten hours of banging against the fence yet.

I must be neighbour of the year reading this thread! Wee lad next door is forever popping over to get his ball. Ive told him to go in himself but he lives in fear of my chihuahua so he always knocks. Imagine being the neighbour of some of the joy squashers on here

My neighbours sometimes have their grandchildren playing in the garden. I ignore any balls which come over. My gates are kept locked. A relative nephew arrives every few days and throws them out into the street where they will be bagged by whoever finds them. Balls very seldom come over nowadays as they know they will have to wait to get them back.

Don't return the balls immediately or answer knocks to retrieve. Pick a time of the day or week and throw them back all at once. Basically, like others have said, be inconvenient. They don't give a shit about being a pain to you...be the same way. They will soon get bored of the whinging when all the balls are gone. I frequently can't answer the door anyway while I'm WFH and put a sign saying as much on the door.
I don't know how much you can do about damaged plants. I love my garden and have spent a fortune on planting, but how would you prove that a ball has caused damage and how much that damage is worth? It's a massive pain and I'd definitely be really pissed off.
I assume all the fencing is fully up to height?

I’d do the same by ensuring it was the parents who came over to collect the balls. I’d also be presenting them with an invoice for broken or ruined plants

You have to inconvenience the parents.

Hold all the balls till a parent knocks only, slowly deflate the balls like a PP said. You’ve then not damaged them or refused to return them. You’ve just made life harder for the adults who refuse to fix their problem because it’s easier for them to not parent their children.

So by inconveniencing them you make them have to parent, they will then stop the balls as too much effort.

I too spent years cultivating a beautiful garden.
Why is the childrens’ right to damage plants more important than OP’s right to peaceful enjoyment?

You do know that letting a bit of air out of a ball doesnt ruin it? You can refill the air using the valve the poster mentioned

Let your children annoy the neighbours so much without making every effort to reduce it........ It works both ways. I would never encourage damage but inconvenience to the parents ABSOLUTELY yes. Its a little air that the parent is going to have to put back in each time. No balls in the garden, no issue

Hi there OPs neighbour

👋

I wouldn’t bother deflating them, I’d pop them. They can move the net to anywhere else in their garden apart from up against my fence

As I said, the problem resolved itself for me but unfortunately for them, a few balls did get damaged.

But no, I would not have purposely burst a child's ball. Neither did the pp who made the suggestion.

letting air out does not ruin them.
It does require the parent to pump it back up again, so it inconveniences the parents.

I would just put them all in the garage/shed or whatever and say I am busy working, I will return balls on Sunday afternoon only. Knock then, and only then.

I wouldn’t be on call, no. They’d have to wait to get them back. But I wouldn’t intentionally ruin their playthings either. Because it’s a cruel and nasty thing to do.