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Original poster

I'm so upset with new neighbours

221 replies

hedgedrama · 19/04/2021 15:11

I started a thread a good few weeks ago here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4195576-I-need-some-Mumsnet-sense-knocking-into-me

And to update on the hedge, they basically tore it down. Despite the agreement that some would be left. They have offered to buy me some new hedging for my side. I was sort of OK with it all, I didn't end up having much choice, just as people warned me on the first thread but I tried to just let it go and not create a war. The (probable) nesting birds was incredibly upsetting, but it was just too late - they sort of did it anyway.

But today has really been a new level of awfulness. They brought in some diggers to landscape the garden to install their astroturf, and I noticed something moving. It was a frog. As I paid more attention I could see literally tens of frogs so I went out and bearing in mind our gardens literally are joined at the moment as there is no fence or hedge, I went onto their garden could see there were a LOT of frogs being caught up with the digger.

The driver of the digger stopped when he saw me come over into their garden, and when I said there are frogs here, he was like "Yeah I've seen loads"

There was a natural pond there for years. It is breeding season, and as I went over I can see frogs everywhere trying to escape for their lives.

The owner of the house came out and we started to catch some and move them into my garden, but there were honestly everywhere. I said "you can't just do this. It is against the law. You are intentionally killing frogs etc.".

They have stopped the works and they have been out and caught about 60 frogs (no exaggeration) in a bucket and I have taken them to a local pond (within a mile as the wildlife conservation trusts recommend).

But I now have a message from them that they are starting work with the digger tomorrow again and will be on "frog watch".

I am so upset they would have just killed the 60 odd frogs that I put in the local pond, about how many have died already, but then also that they are going to start work tomorrow without being sure they have captured all the frogs.

AIBU? I feel so disgusted. I have called the council Environmental Health and am waiting for a call back, but I don't know what else to do??

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 19/04/2021 16:40

Op it doesn’t matter if it’s a shared boundary, you’ve already established it’s theirs as roots on their side. You can have a fence or a hedge but it’s on you to provide it, not rely on your neighbours to provide it for you.

Arrowheart · 19/04/2021 16:40

You are far to invested in someone else's garden. You really need to mind your own.

Original poster
hedgedrama · 19/04/2021 16:41

[quote imalmostthere]@hedgedrama
And? That's still a year of drama you could easily avoid. They own the land, they can do what they like. If you want a hedge on your side, you need to plant one. They don't need to discuss anything with you, it's not your decision. Honestly, you need to stop interfering. [/quote]
But you can't just do what you want even if you own the land

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects frogs whether you own the land or not. It is especially cruel at breeding season.

OP posts:
imalmostthere · 19/04/2021 16:44

They're not on a murder spree. They've caught the frogs, they're on the lookout. They have every right to continue the work on their garden. You're clutching at straws here, you aren't going to get anywhere with the constant complaints, but you will be known as the nightmare neighbour.

SeaTurtles92 · 19/04/2021 16:45

What the person on the digger was doing has nothing to do with the neighbours if they didn't see what he was doing. They stopped work and gathered up the frogs. You literally are just looking for anything now. You sound like an absolute bloody nightmare.

IbrahimaRedTwo · 19/04/2021 16:46

They own the land, they can do what they like

No, they can't. Don't talk about what you don't understand.

Bluntness100 · 19/04/2021 16:46

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects frogs whether you own the land or not. It is especially cruel at breeding season

What?

Pool frogs are protected but these are not pool frogs, the common frog is only protected from trade or sake.

BronwenFrideswide · 19/04/2021 16:46

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects frogs whether you own the land or not. It is especially cruel at breeding season.

Precisely, you can't just go round massacring wildlife because youi want to develop a property and anyone engaged in property development knows that or damn well should know that.

I personally think the consequences for the behaviour of your neighbours and those who do similar should be far more onerous.

PatrickBatemann · 19/04/2021 16:47

You sound like an absolute bloody nightmare

Yep. Your neighbours sound quite polite actually, because i'm certain loads of other people will have told you to do one by this point I know I would have

Bluntness100 · 19/04/2021 16:47

@IbrahimaRedTwo

They own the land, they can do what they like

No, they can't. Don't talk about what you don't understand.

Um they can do the things they are doing, like removing their own hedge or laying Astro turf and they can disturb the common frog.
RedcurrantPuff · 19/04/2021 16:47

No one would be happy at seeing frogs destroyed but it doesn’t mean we would go busy bodying into our neighbours gardens to stop it. Phone the RSPCA if you’re that bothered. As PP said they move quickly anyway so maybe could have escaped regardless

PicsInRed · 19/04/2021 16:48

He's certainly the opposite of gentrification, but do you see him as a little arriviste and yourself as an elder stateswoman of the neighbourhood?

Totally ignoring him is the way forward here.

Bluntness100 · 19/04/2021 16:48

Precisely, you can't just go round massacring wildlife because youi want to develop a property and anyone engaged in property development knows that or damn well should know that.

They aren’t massacring wildlife, get a grip 😂

imalmostthere · 19/04/2021 16:48

@IbrahimaRedTwo

They own the land, they can do what they like

No, they can't. Don't talk about what you don't understand.

I understand perfectly that you cannot do anything at all you like when you own land, thanks - in this context, they absolutely can continue as they are doing nothing wrong.
emilyfrost · 19/04/2021 16:48

You are a difficult and interfering neighbour.

It was their hedge, their choice to tear it down.

It’s their garden, their choice what happens in it.

You need to step back, calm down and not involve yourself in other people’s business.

Original poster
hedgedrama · 19/04/2021 16:49

I am the nightmare neighbour because I've asked them not to kill a hundred frogs? I'm fine with that, if so.

I may not have explained but that digger has already turned over the whole garden and you can't even see the pond anymore, it is totally filled over. Yes, some frogs have been saved, but there is no doubt that some will have been killed already. They had already done multiple loads to the dumper truck. And they gave no shits, they would have carried on regardless - they knew the frogs were there. But if that makes me the nightmare neighbour, so be it.

OP posts:
Moondust001 · 19/04/2021 16:50

Sorry. Their proposed garden sounds horrible, and their approach wouldn't be mine - but the operative word here is "their". It is theirs, not yours. You clearly don't like them at any level, but they are allowed to be property developers (If that is what they are) and they are allowed to makeover the garden that they own however they like. And a shared boundary doesn't make it your hedge or a shared hedge.

This is happening whether you like it or not. So you may not like it, but you need to direct your energy better - you aren't stopping them doing what they want, so perhaps spend some time looking at what you could do to soften the effect on your side of the wall and enjoy what makeover you decide on?

Original poster
hedgedrama · 19/04/2021 16:52

This explains the law

Common frogs are protected and it is a criminal offense to kill them.

www.inbrief.co.uk/neighbour-disputes/garden-ponds/

OP posts:
PatrickBatemann · 19/04/2021 16:52

I am the nightmare neighbour because I've asked them not to kill a hundred frogs?

You know full well that's not the reason 🤣

DinkyDaisy · 19/04/2021 16:54

If the op hadn't intervened many more frogs would have been killed.
You have done your best. Well done.
It would have been distressing to witness.
I haven't read your previous thread. However, a fence where you can block them out would be good.
Good luck.

oakleaffy · 19/04/2021 16:55

Astroturf is so awful for nature and so horrid looking.
Poor frogs.

Original poster
hedgedrama · 19/04/2021 16:55

@PatrickBatemann

I am the nightmare neighbour because I've asked them not to kill a hundred frogs?

You know full well that's not the reason 🤣

What is the reason? I don't actually know - unless you mean interfering?

It is also illegal to pull down a hedge in breeding season too.

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 19/04/2021 16:55

Astro turf? I hate to stereotype but after they get through with that garden I'd wager London to a brick they're going to be very noisy in the garden, blasting music from the gym and I'd venture a hot tub as well.

BronwenFrideswide · 19/04/2021 16:56

What would you call the deliberate killing of all those frogs then Bluntness? They saw them, knew they were there, did nothing to remove them beforehand, sounds like a massacre of those frogs in their habitat to me.

DiddlyWiddly · 19/04/2021 16:56

OP, I haven’t read your other thread so I know nothing of the history.
But I would have stood in front of the digger too and rescued all the frogs.
I find it truly heartbreaking how selfish and stupid frankly people are when it comes to animals.
We need other creatures to survive.
We were doing some work last year and uncovered a bumblebee nest and abandoned work on that part of the garden.
It’s sad to think that a lot of people would have destroyed it regardless