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Original poster

We're trapped in the house!

321 replies

Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:06

A hedge has fallen in front of the gate and we cannot get out of the front garden. And Amazon cannot get in to deliver the chain saw we ordered a couple of days ago when we noticed the hedge was starting to look a bit out of control and the branches were too thick for the hedge trimmer.

I'm thinking if we use the hedge trimmer on the smaller branches and try a normal saw on the thicker branches we might be able to get it small enough to climb over/through but we cannot start until it is light and it doesn't get light until after DD leaves for school.

I can't tell the school the truth can I? They won't believe DD cannot get to school because she can't get out of the front garden, will they?

OP posts:
YearoftheDrama · 15/01/2023 22:17

That is quite a hedge @Frequency. Is there a way you could get over the back fence into the neighbours and out their front door? Maybe a pair of step ladders or even a sturdy table?

Otherwise you might find an emergency tree surgeon. A tree by us was taken down at 10pm once so it's definitely possible.

keepareaclean · 15/01/2023 22:17

Can't your neighbours help? Like she goes over the garden fence and through their house?

Original poster
Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:18

The gap is the space between the rose bushes. At the top of the fence, the rose branches are there but I couldn't get that in the photo without showing the whole street.

Although, we could use the hedge trimmer on the rose bushes. That might be a plan.

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 15/01/2023 22:18

It's probably a bit late now but you could get Amazon to deliver the hedge cutter to one of your neighbours that your back garden backs onto. They could pass it over the back garden fences to you - assuming you don't have massive hedges there too.

Good luck. It's an unexpected difficulty that's for sure!

WoolyMammoth55 · 15/01/2023 22:18

Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:14

The gate is behind the red circle.

OP that pic looks like sleeping beauty's castle but it's hard to understand what fell suddenly to make exit impossible...?

A tree or a hedge?

Either way if your DD can't get to school I'd use illness as an excuse because this, if true, sounds highly implausible/hazardous and will raise questions.

Leadbypencils · 15/01/2023 22:18

Is there a wall/fence between you and neigbour at the front that you could throw her over followed by you in a delicate pirouette.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 15/01/2023 22:19

Can't you put some big boots and gloves on and just start stomping a path through and pulling branches aside. You don't need a good job to be done, you just need to get to the gate.

YearoftheDrama · 15/01/2023 22:19

A message on Next Door/local Facebook or similar might uncover a Good Samaritan with a chainsaw and some lighting.

Original poster
Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:22

It's like a bushy, tree type thing. It grows up and outwards but when it gets too top-heavy or we have heavy wind/rain the top kind of collapses downwards and it all spreads out. That's what's happened. It was falling yesterday but you could duck under it. We had more wind last night and it's all fallen now and is completely blocking the path and gate.

I've emailed Amazon and asked them to chuck the parcel over the rose bushes into the garden.

OP posts:
PutThatDownNow · 15/01/2023 22:23

Is there a way into a neighbour's back garden eg lifting a fence panel? Then go out via their front garden?

Leadbypencils · 15/01/2023 22:24

Again, what is between you and neighbour's FRONT garden? Is that a way out....

Original poster
Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:27

There are raspberry bushes at the fence between me and the neighbour which are also thorny 🤣

We could also cut them with the hedge trimmer though, although the neighbour despises me so it's probably better to cut the rose bushes far enough down to climb over the fence at the front.

OP posts:
SheilaWilcox · 15/01/2023 22:39

Stick a note on the local facebook group. Someone will come and help.

Christmascracker0 · 15/01/2023 22:40

I’d put it on your local FB group! There must be someone out there handy with a chainsaw. People on local FB groups love things like this.

Kitcaterpillar · 15/01/2023 22:45

call the fire brigade

FFS. You haven't suggested it OP so I assume you wouldn't but seeing as it was mentioned - please don't ever call the fire brigade because you have a fairytale hedge based situation.

Summerfun54321 · 15/01/2023 22:47

Why can’t DD be late to school once you’ve worked out how to get out in the morning?

Leadbypencils · 15/01/2023 22:47

Post up an "after" pic. The Great Escape.

Original poster
Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:48

Amazon is delivering our chainsaw tomorrow. It was meant to come today but they couldn't get in. I didn't notice the bush had dropped more until Just Eat called to say the driver couldn't get in. It was fine this morning when I walked the dogs.

I checked the Amazon order after I realized the bush was now completely blocking access and saw they had tried to deliver it at 5 pm but couldn't and I needed to leave further instructions for them to attempt redelivery.

OP posts:
queenofthebongo · 15/01/2023 22:48

Errr why is no-one mentioning the ghastly ghostly gremlin in the foreground of your picture? It's horrifying!!! 👻 I may be being sensitive as Ive been listening to uncanny....bloody hell ken....

CrocodilesCry · 15/01/2023 22:49

Can you not get over the fence in the left of the photo at all? Even with a small step or short stepladder? It doesn't look completely impassable in the photo?

Gazelda · 15/01/2023 22:51

queenofthebongo · 15/01/2023 22:48

Errr why is no-one mentioning the ghastly ghostly gremlin in the foreground of your picture? It's horrifying!!! 👻 I may be being sensitive as Ive been listening to uncanny....bloody hell ken....

I noticed it and thought it was a giant popcorn. No?

JaneJeffer · 15/01/2023 22:52

Burn it down!

Original poster
Frequency · 15/01/2023 22:52

DD will go to school once we've hacked our way through but she will be late and I'll need to call the school and explain why she was late.

I won't be calling the fire brigade unless the house catches fire. I will ask on Facebook if we can't hack our way through in the morning with the hedge trimmer and hacksaw.

It's the very top branches that we've never been able to reach to trim which have fallen so I'm hoping they're small/thin enough for the hedge trimmer. We ordered the chain saw for some lower, thicker branches which were jutting out into the path and were too thick for the hedge trimmer.

OP posts:
determinedtomakethiswork · 15/01/2023 22:54

This is just like a children's storybook!

Bpdqueen · 15/01/2023 22:54

Wow i didn't believe you until i saw the picture. (Sorry but thats actually quite funny 🤣🤣) Just let her have the day off she can help you cutting the Bush. Email the school with the picture