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.

@Bebethany

What or who is Scrowy?

Now I have seen the diagram I want to come and picnic there too... Where is it, I have visions of it being lovely and in the Peak District

Any chance I can camp? 😉

Please tell us what you are going to do next time this happens.

Great diagram I also want to come and have a picnic, it sounds Idyllic.

Yes it's massively cheeky op, like you said sat on the your land telling you when they would be going! No apology, or gosh we are so tired please let me know sit a moment I'm so sorry!
Who wants nasty plastic office style signs every whare?

I went into a beautiful house once and saw a nasty, no smoking sign, totally dragged down the whole of the house.

@Scrowy

I cannot believe this thread is still going.

They left around midday YESTERDAY

This happens perhaps, 6 times a year, not worth signs or expensive fencing.

Usually if I see people I very politely go and say 'ever so sorry this is actually private property, but if you go back out through the gate there's a lovely spot with great views just over there etc etc' and they apologise, say thanks, chat about the weather and how many miles they have done that day and then leave.

I was just pondering the mindset of this particular couple who, having been told they were sat in my (admittedly scrowy ) garden looked me in the eye and told me they wouldn't be long.

We don't own it by the way, we are tenant farmers. Not that it should matter.

Well I think it's rather sweet and you sound OK OP

@Laiste

How is this still trending/going on?

OP started it at 12ish lunch time and the people concerned were gone before half past.

We had sign/hose/sprinker/fence/hedge suggestions right at the start. 31 hours later the same ones are still coming

No one seems to read threads these days and they just grind on like zombie things with the same thing being posted over and over and over again.

Free country and everything but it's weird.

Chill out! Stop lecturing other posters! The issue remains relevant. It will keep happening as things stand.

You need a demarcation line somewhere between your garden and the public bit unless you’re happy to kid on the public bit is part of your land too, in which case, like farmers, you just put up a sigh asking people to respect your private garden.

@CannibalQueen

You need a demarcation line somewhere between your garden and the public bit unless you’re happy to kid on the public bit is part of your land too, in which case, like farmers, you just put up a sigh asking people to respect your private garden.

THERE IS A FUCKING WALL BETWEEN HER GARDEN AND THE FOOTPATH

RTFT

@CannibalQueen

You need a demarcation line somewhere between your garden and the public bit unless you’re happy to kid on the public bit is part of your land too, in which case, like farmers, you just put up a sigh asking people to respect your private garden.

I am a farmer

But if you really think about it owning land is a made-up thing, a bit like marriage, as in marriage was made up thing. You can't own land, it's been there forever, and will be there forever, long after you have gone. The British love all this BS.

Tell them to go.

@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

You are clearly an idiot or plainly can't read. The trespassers were IN OP's garden, NOT facing it. Or would you like complete strangers coming on your property and having a picnic?

@cherish123

Tell them to go.

Staggeringly good idea. Can’t believe nobody else thought of that

I've done this as I used to think houses/gardens that footpaths cut through were also open to the public. That's until a British friend explained it to me..... suddenly all the weird looks unused to get made sense. Its not always obvious to people who are not familiar with the countryside. As pp have said, put a clear sign up.

Put a sign at the boundary which says this is private land. Any trespassers must leave immediately on request and pay a donation to Cancer Research. Keep the donation box handy and next time you see a trespasser shake it at them until they pay up and move on.

Won't stop the irritation factor of people turning up on your land, but at least you can offset by raising some money for charity!

This would drive me mad. Electric fence and cattle prod time!!

@Marriedatfirstyear

I've done this as I used to think houses/gardens that footpaths cut through were also open to the public. That's until a British friend explained it to me..... suddenly all the weird looks unused to get made sense. Its not always obvious to people who are not familiar with the countryside. As pp have said, put a clear sign up.

Oh! Can you send me your address please as I'd like to come and have tea in your garden tomorrow. I guess you have a pavement outside your house? How am I supposed to know that your garden belongs to you?

The OP's garden is on the other side of a wall and a gate from the footpath.

Perhaps you should start helping yourself to their lunch. Tell them that you assume that if they are bringing a picnic into your garden then it's for all of you!

@Daffi

But if you really think about it owning land is a made-up thing, a bit like marriage, as in marriage was made up thing. You can't own land, it's been there forever, and will be there forever, long after you have gone. The British love all this BS.

Are you bloody nuts! Owning land is not a made up thing! WTF would happen to society if the whole of the UK (and around the world) was a complete free for all?

Not sure what being British has got to do with it. Land is owned all over the world.

Seeing as you have such a “free” perspective, am assuming you wouldn’t mind one of your neighbours building, say, a patio in your garden and installing a gate in your fence line so they can use their new patio?

You're 5 metres away with a hose. Odds are definitely stacked in your favour l!

You need to put a sign up,
private property
Pay and display,
£100 for half hour.

Calm down.

@Clymene

Marriedatfirstyear

I've done this as I used to think houses/gardens that footpaths cut through were also open to the public. That's until a British friend explained it to me..... suddenly all the weird looks unused to get made sense. Its not always obvious to people who are not familiar with the countryside. As pp have said, put a clear sign up.

Oh! Can you send me your address please as I'd like to come and have tea in your garden tomorrow. I guess you have a pavement outside your house? How am I supposed to know that your garden belongs to you?

The OP's garden is on the other side of a wall and a gate from the footpath.

Calm down.