There are two strangers sat in my garden eating their dinner

[Scrowy]

I've told them it's private property and not part of the footpath that passes next to it. Apparently they will be on their way soon.

I've now chickened out of saying anything else but I'm passive aggressively watering the hanging baskets about 5m away from them and they are very deliberately not making eye contact with me.

I suggest that for future possibilities you put up a notice saying "Private Garden, Not for public use."

What ‘don’t call the police’? These people are trespassing and therefore breaking the law, what would you do if it was your garden?

If it happens alot then it can't be clear that it's your property.

Just a small sign pointing this out stuck into the grass where people sit maybe?

If they still sit there then you have full rights to go batshit crazy!!

What they eatin? Anything nice?

Well, should I ever find myself in your area picnicking, and someone comes out and tells me I am on private property, I shall immediately ask if you are Scrowy. If the answer is yes, you are invited to lunch! Or I'll leave. Whichever suits.

The cart track is short and leads to a small paddock with angry looking freshly calves cows. It's very obviously not a footpath.

Don’t they need moving from that field up the track right now?

I used to live on a farm and we had similar issues once. We let the bullocks out the top field and stampeded them down the narrow (non public right of way) track to the bottom field. There were a group of walkers who had gone down the track…we’d told them not to and were ignored.

Seriously!! Give them a break….after the horrendous few years we have had does it really matter in the big world!!! Lucky you having a garden that incorporates a public footpath (presumably when you bought the property you knew this!)…so someone chooses to sit on a bench on the public footpath and eat their picnic and you are pissed they are facing your garden!! Haha!!! Good for them….(as long as they leave no footprint and take there rubbish) what are you actually moaning about? YABVU

Absolutely tell them to leave now in a pissed off voice. Any hesitation on their part, tell them they are trespassing and you will call the Police. Walking around watering plants in a huff just tells them it’s not really a problem. After this. Can’t you mark a border between the path and your garden with a small fence or shrubs (preferably prinkly ones). I understand that many people are uncomfortable with conflict, but leaving things as they are and watering your plants, rather than insisting they leave now makes you partially culpable here.

Yeah OP anyone can use your stuff! You meant! What’s your husband like can I have a turn on him?!

Just have a seat with them and have a friendly chat. If they’re looking at maps, then they’re new to the area. Be kind, they’ll be away soon.

Are you in England by any chance?

“You meany” that should read. Big meany.

Is there a fence, hedge or other marker to distinguish it from the footpath? If not then how would they know where your land starts? I think if it bothers you (they didn't seem to be causing harm ) it's up to you to put up a fence with a gate that says private property

If this was me and I’d made the mistake of eating in your garden I’d move straight away. It’s weird they didn’t just leave!! Cheeky fuckers!

Time to get the hosepipe out for some long distance pressure washing.

Picture

@motogogo

Is there a fence, hedge or other marker to distinguish it from the footpath? If not then how would they know where your land starts? I think if it bothers you (they didn't seem to be causing harm ) it's up to you to put up a fence with a gate that says private property

Perhaps you could read all the OP's posts before wasting your time and ours venturing an opinion when you obviously haven't.

Could you take a photo - it’s hard to imagine from the diagram

Just read the "elderly Korean lady" thread, as recommended. A delight!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2154580-There-is-a-tiny-elderly-Korean-lady-in-my-garden-and-I-want-to-go-out

@Flufftc

Seriously!! Give them a break….after the horrendous few years we have had does it really matter in the big world!!! Lucky you having a garden that incorporates a public footpath (presumably when you bought the property you knew this!)…so someone chooses to sit on a bench on the public footpath and eat their picnic and you are pissed they are facing your garden!! Haha!!! Good for them….(as long as they leave no footprint and take there rubbish) what are you actually moaning about? YABVU

They were In Her Garden.

As there’s a road or public pathway between your house and your garden I can totally see why they thought they could wait on the grass besides the path to grab a bite s as nd check the maps. As this happens all the time it’s evident that it is not clear to non locals that it’s your garden/land.
You need to fence it in and sign it, or it will keep happening.

@Flufftc

Seriously!! Give them a break….after the horrendous few years we have had does it really matter in the big world!!! Lucky you having a garden that incorporates a public footpath (presumably when you bought the property you knew this!)…so someone chooses to sit on a bench on the public footpath and eat their picnic and you are pissed they are facing your garden!! Haha!!! Good for them….(as long as they leave no footprint and take there rubbish) what are you actually moaning about? YABVU

Are you talking to the op? If so, they weren't on the public footpath. They had climbed over the OPs wall into her garden and were sitting on her grass. In her garden. Not on a bench on a public footpath facing her garden.

Wow what cfs op, I'd be so embarrassed if someone told me I was eating a picnic on their land, I certainly wouldn't wait around to move.

This reminds of a poster on here who once caught an elderly lady in her garden helping herself to all her gooseberries 😂 The old lady was quite put out when challenged.

Excuse me you are trespassing on private property and if you don't leave right now I'm calling the police. That's all you have to do. Flaming cheek.

@Panaesthesia

The more ridiculously "polite" people try to be, the more people will continue to behave in inappropriate ways.

I half expect to start seeing threads about people rocking up, parking on your driveway, inviting themselves into your living room and asking what's for dinner, with some wet-blanket poster "not wanting to be rude."

You know drug gangs do this, "cuckoo" a person's home? They invite themselves in to stay 'for a night', which turns into two, then three, then all their mates move in and then they become violent and threaten the homeowner. Usually they target vulnerable people, but they could probably just try it anywhere where a "perfectly polite" little poppet hasn't got the heart to say no.

You can't picnic in someone's garden in a suburban town, arses parked behind the picket fence, next to the front door, and they can't do it on yours either. Move them on and learn not to be so drippy.

You ok hun?

Put a fence around your garden - problem solved