To ask my neighbour for their plants?

[RatherBeIndoors]

The neighbour that backs onto my garden, that is. The house has recently been inherited and immediately the new owners submitted plans to knock down the bungalow and put up flats. Agh. Several rounds of agitated neighbours and drawings later, planning was granted for about 20% of the original plan, which while not ideal, is what it is. Then the plot with permission was put up for sale, and has been bought by a developer.

The garden is mature, and has some gorgeous plants in it. (It's currently a low fence separating us - I have not been spying) I can only assume they will be annihilated once building work starts. Would I be unreasonable to pop a note through the door asking for permission to save some of the plants, if the neighbour chose which ones and I dug them up myself? Or is that too weird?

If the site has been sold, you really need to deal with the developer.

If you ask politely, what's the harm? The worst they can say is " no you cheeky fucker"

Not sure how to contact the developer, but I take your point. I will try and ask for the right person to contact, perhaps through the agent. I am not being desperately cheap, but the plants are so beautiful and it seems a shame to have them dug over - not really my business of course, but glad others think it is OK to ask and see.

Has the plot actually been sold or is it still subject to terms and conditions?

If the current owners are still there, speak to them as I doubt they are listed on the intimacy

Itinerary not intimacy. That brings a whole new meaning to contacting the owners :)

You could wait until work starts and ask the workmen if you can rescue some of the plants.

I did that when the council decided to gravel over a beautifully kept garden. In fact the workmen dug the plants up for me and carried them to my garden.

I agree with nuffink, you'll have far more luck with builders imo. Developer may say no because they don't want to bother with giving you access, and it may sound like an odd request? I have a feeling builders will be much more practical, plus it will save them skip space.

I've rescued plants from building sites many times. It's certainly not considered weird where I live. People often salvage abandoned shrubs and flowers. My latest acquisition is a beautiful burgundy ficus someone was throwing out.

If the builders are on site or have posted a contact number on the fence billboard, have a chat to them. Best to front up with your tools and pots and utterly disarming smile, and be ready to work immediately. Their main concern will probably be insurance -- ie, they don't want you to be injured on the site, or they might be liable. If they let you in, complete your work quickly. Better still, they might dig them up for you and hand them over.