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Original poster

To tell next doors kids to sod off?!

54 replies

Mischa123 · 19/06/2017 14:22

We have some neighbours that have always been harmless enough, haven't really had much to do with them really, the woman has in the last little while got into a new relationship. He has 3 kids. They seem lovely children and my youngest child gets on with them very well. The problem is they constantly stand and watch over our garden fence!!!! They have a raised section that means they can look over our 6 ft fence without a problem or they drag over a toy etc to stand on. It drives our dog mad so she is constantly barking at them, and they tell her to stopHmm, I can't stand it. I want to be able to walk around in my garden without them constantly popping up and watching. We have French doors in the back of the house and so they can see into the house so I can't walk around with my boobs out incase they are watching! I even saw the bloke a couple of weeks ago watching me as I hoovered, my DP thinks they are harmless and I shouldn't bother about it but they drive me mad!!!

OP posts:
Rumtopf · 19/06/2017 15:21

We had similar a couple of years ago. The kids would stand on the BBQ and lean over the fence taunting my dog and throwing stones at him. It had ramped up from talking to me, shouting out whatever I was doing (is hanging laundry that thrilling?!), chucking toys over so they could come and knock for them, whistling at the dog and calling his name. The day they threw stones at him, I happened to be washing up and looking out the window, I ROARED. Seriously bellowed at them. Then flew round there to have stern words with their parents.
The following day we erected trellis and planted ivy.

IrianOfW · 19/06/2017 15:23

Oh poor you!!! This week I have been noticing that our very laidback neighbour has started to get a little irritated with the children from the house on his other side constantly coming into his garden to play with his kids. Up till now it's been OK but with the good weather they always seem to be there, I have heard him quite often recently being 'firm' with them. Don't blame him - their dad had built a set of steps so they can jump over the fence between the gardens!

Past that with mine but I can remember it well - when having playmates on tap for your kids becomes more of a curse than a blessing and i ended up very politely losing my rag with the sixth set of kids to come over and knock when I was trying to get my kids to finish homework, got to bed early, or eat a proper meal sitting down!

Rachel0Greep · 19/06/2017 15:27

It would creep me out that the guy is staring at you. Ugh!

For the kids, I would try the polite and firm, 'off you go' type approach.
Lived next door for a while, to kids who found my every move fascinating...

If 'off you go' doesn't work, try some of the ideas upthread.

MsMims · 19/06/2017 15:33

Bamboo. Evergreen and not covered by high hedge laws as it's classed as a grass.

justkeepswimmingg · 19/06/2017 15:33

Are your neighbour and her new partner usually in the garden with them? If so I'd make a big point of saying 'down you get kids, I'd like to have some privacy in my garden'. Hopefully they'd get the hint and tell them to come away. If not then you'll have to be direct and tell them that you don't want the kids peering over the fence into your garden.
If the neighbour and new partner leave them to it in the garden, then each and every time they climb up tell them to get down. Hopefully they'll get the message.

I'd be really annoyed if I had someone looking in my window whilst I'm hoovering, and you shouldn't have to close curtains etc when he should have basic manners.
Maybe you should just pop over there, and tell them that you feel your privacy is being invaded Sad.

littlemissneela · 19/06/2017 15:38

Annoying, and a bit weird with the partner looking at you as well. A few carefully placed trees to stop them being able to see into your kitchen, and or some prickly holly bushes where the kids look over might help.

PersianCatLady · 19/06/2017 15:43

chucking toys over so they could come and knock for them
Not as bad as my neighbours.

When they have a broken football or toy, they throw it into my garden and call the police.

They tell the police that the football or toy was not broken when it was "accidentally" thrown into my garden and that they want me and my Dad arrested for theft and criminal damage.

Although it gets sorted out in the end, it is a complete fucking waste of a day when it happens.

PersianCatLady · 19/06/2017 15:45

I ended up very politely losing my rag with the sixth set of kids to come over and knock when I was trying to get my kids to finish homework, got to bed early, or eat a proper meal sitting down!
I think that some parents encourage their kids to do this because it means that they don't have to pay their kids any attention.

I have noticed that some kids only ever go to other kids houses, they never have kids go round to their house.

Maman79 · 19/06/2017 15:52

Maybe try this Fence Trellis Extension uk.pinterest.com/pin/642396334317411490/

Funnyfarmer · 19/06/2017 15:54

My naighbours kids kept popping his head over my fence yesterday. He was climbing on the water butt that I've already asked neighbour to move because he climbed over the fence the other week and came in to my house!
I just told him to get down he did.
Then he went upstairs and tried to climb out of his bedroom window.
On the other side the kids used to always sit at the window upstairs and talk to us from the window. They used to do my head in. I can't really ask them to shut up or move from there own widow.
The best I could do is " get down from there you might fall" they would just reply "we wont"
They never didSad
They don't live there anymore though

LucieLucie · 19/06/2017 15:58

This would drive me mental!
You need this Wink....Supersoaker!!

To tell next doors kids to sod off?!
chocatoo · 19/06/2017 15:58

I would deliberately wander round inside the house naked! I think the clothes line is a really good idea.

Original poster
Mischa123 · 19/06/2017 16:14

I have tried telling them the dog is barking because she is upset they are standing there and I have done lots of passive aggressive mumbling loudly about not having any privacy. The problem is that my little one doesn't mind chatting to them but it pisses me off! Yesterday I wanted to mess about in the paddling pool but I couldn't because the neighbours would have seen my pants. Our other problem is that that fence is the neighbours responsibility so I don't think I would be allowed to put trellis up. I am going to start telling them to get down or walking around naked, that will put them off!

OP posts:
kaitlinktm · 19/06/2017 16:55

Would it be worth buying a piece of trellis and trying - even if they then asked you to take it down? It would open a dialogue about why you feel you need it, and they might not take it down.

If not, you could use the washing line idea because that would be in your garden - in fact I am sure there are things you could put on your side of that fence. Have a look at this:

www.amazon.co.uk/Artificial-Conifer-Screening-Fencing-Papillon/dp/B0076YL0MK/ref=sr_1_14?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1497887553&sr=1-14&tag=mumsnetforum-21

TheWitTank · 19/06/2017 17:03

My mum had this and would VERY firmly say 'away you go now, it is very rude to stare at people' and give her very best death stare until they went away. If they were tormenting my dog I would have no problem at all in shouting! I think the retractable line is a great idea. Keep an old sheey handy for chucking over daily if you don't have washing to hang. If they continue to annoy the dog say loudly STOP THAT PLEASE and talk to the parents.

Whosthemummynow · 19/06/2017 17:04

We don't use our garden often because it's crap, but everytime the kids play outside the kids next door just stares and shouts hello and begs to come over... FUCK OFFFFFF

yesterday I just ignored him, he must have shouted hello at me about 50 times

PersianCatLady · 19/06/2017 17:54

yesterday I just ignored him, he must have shouted hello at me about 50 times
I think that a lot of kids that do this are doing it because they are bored and their own parents show no interest in them whatsoever.

flumpybear · 19/06/2017 18:00

We have an annoying kid who is in my DDs year st School (year 3) who keeps standing on this box type thing to look over in our garden, and our garden literallynshares about 1metre of fencing out of about 100 metres of
Fencing so it's deliberate - yesterday he was shouting st my five year old son 'get your swimming trunks on I don't want I see your bum ' I work in the same building as his slightly aloof mum so have so far rejected telling him to piss off into his own garden lol

This would annoy me a lot though as this little person can only see my bedroom and daytime there's only ever boring activities
Going on there Hmm

Justmuddlingalong · 19/06/2017 18:00

I suggest window boxes attached at the top of the fence, beautifully planted up with stinging nettles and holly.

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 19/06/2017 18:09

Supersoaker or a carefully aimed absent-minded hosedown. "Oh dear I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. You shouldn't really be standing there, I've told you before, I might get you wih the hose again"

waitforitfdear · 19/06/2017 18:12

The clothes line idea is a good one

waitforitfdear · 19/06/2017 18:14

Op don't put trellis on their fence put it just infront on your side on fence posts or such like

Original poster
Mischa123 · 19/06/2017 19:36

I really want to be able to put a photo on to show that the washing line genius idea isn't possible but I don't want to put myself. I may have to invest in a super soaker.

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 19/06/2017 19:40

"Kids, teens dog is barking as she feels threatened by you looking into our garden, so if you get down from the fence she'll stop barking"

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