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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbourly disputes over blackberry bush?

57 replies

Lilianna123 · 25/08/2016 19:12

Next door have a large blackberry bush, the roots of the bush are in their garden but the bush is overhanging and growing through our fence.

Me and the kids picked some of the blackberries (ones hanging over our side) and made a blackberry pie. Presuming the neighbour had seen us picking them, she has now left a note through our letterbox claiming these blackberries 'belong' to her.

Surely if she was that bothered by them, she'd have taken measures to ensure the bush only grew over her side. This has resulted in nasty looks being thrown across the driveways and small snide comments being made to us.

Who's in the wrong here?

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 25/08/2016 19:13

You are, but she's a total jockey.

LazyAssMumToday · 25/08/2016 19:13

Go and talk to her and clear the air. You have to live next door to her no point in sour grapes blackberries

Trifleorbust · 25/08/2016 19:15

LazyAss: I'm not certain I could bring myself to knock on someone's door to discuss how we stole the fruit of her common garden weed 😂 But you are right, and more mature than me.

TheWitTank · 25/08/2016 19:16

I would cut it all back and chuck all the branches over to her side. Miserable cow.

Cookingongas · 25/08/2016 19:17

If it's on your side you can lawfully hack at it and damage her bush. I would assume then, that just picking at it is allowed too. Bloody nutter she is mind!

OurBlanche · 25/08/2016 19:17

Pick more, make her a pie, include a note "Oh do grow up, dear!"

Bastardshittits · 25/08/2016 19:17

What a twat of a neighbour! I'd ask her to come and trim the bush Grin and repair the fence where it's creeping through!

YelloDraw · 25/08/2016 19:18

Next year you can do as per the 'rules' and cut off any over hanging branches and throw them back over her side. Just make sure you do it before the fruit is ripe ;/)

PikachuSayBoo · 25/08/2016 19:18

Cut the branches/twigs back to the boundary line, jump up and down on them and toss them over the fence.

PikachuSayBoo · 25/08/2016 19:19

Oh and of course if her bush has damaged your fence I guess she is liable for any repairs or new panels. Point that out.

Original poster
Lilianna123 · 25/08/2016 19:19

I quite enjoy the blackberries growing here but your right perhaps I'll grow my own next year Grin may even bake her a pie or two

OP posts:
mrsfuzzy · 25/08/2016 19:22

the berries belong to her even if the bush hangs over the fence but if it bothered her that much she could trim back. if the roots are on your side you might want to remove them if they are causing damage.
as for the snidy comments i'd ignore the silly bitch, bet the pie was good though.Smile

DeadGood · 25/08/2016 19:24

Wow. Your neighbour is cheeky as hell!

Enidblyton1 · 25/08/2016 19:24

Oh dear some people are so ridiculous! She has allowed her brambles to grow through your fence...you could politely ask her to prune it back...

pigsDOfly · 25/08/2016 19:24

Legally OP you can cut back the bush so it doesn't hang over your garden but anything you cut off must be offered to your neighbour as, legally, it belongs to her.

Agree with pp who said wait until the fruit has finished for the year, hack it back and dump it all in her garden. Miserable cow (her, not you).

dementedpixie · 25/08/2016 19:25

It is technically theft if you use blackberries from her bush (sounds rude!). You could have asked if you could use them first or offered her a pie made from them.

mrsfuzzy · 25/08/2016 19:25

if you damage the bush she might cite criminal damage but then you'd counter claim if the bush has damaged your fence, smile and wave boys, smile and wave.

dementedpixie · 25/08/2016 19:26

You have to offer the branches back but dumping them in her garden can be considered as fly tipping. (I looked this up after another thread)

ExitPursuedByABear · 25/08/2016 19:26

Are blackberries ready?!?

blueturtle6 · 25/08/2016 19:30

As others have said they are legally hers, but she's a knob for the note, its not like she can get at the berries is it? I did the same as they were overhanging, but my neigh bout on that side is lovely, and said I can take as many as like. Will bake them muffins soon.

winewolfhowls · 25/08/2016 19:31

I would never have suspected that picking overhanging fruit was not allowed. it's very mean spirited of her to mind.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 25/08/2016 19:32

If you cut back all the branches & roots on your side, what will that do to the bush itself?

Torn between neighbour revenge, her cutting on her nose to spite her face... And caring about the plant itself!

acasualobserver · 25/08/2016 19:34

Plant your own - I have a very nice thornless one that gives a lot of fruit. Keep hers cut back to the boundary.

BengalCatMum · 25/08/2016 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PovertyPain · 25/08/2016 19:50

Grow lots of different types of berries and make lovely jams, for lots of your neighbours except her, of course I'm petty.

My arsehole neighbours verbally abused me, less than three months after my dear husband died, because I hadn't cut the hedge. That was 14 months ago. I haven't cut the hedge since. Told you I was petty.