Kids playing in my garden ...I told them to get out,being unreasonable?

[Ananob344]

I live in a corner house
I have a front garden and a drive that fits a car then a small path which leads to the back garden which is quite large.
Yesterday it snowed a lot here.
I got home to 4 kids in my front garden building a snowman.
I thought ok they are doing no harm and I haven't lived here long so don't be rude.
About 25 mins later I'm in the kitchen making tea ..they start playing in my back garden..throwing snowballs.
At this point I'm annoyed so I go out and say that I'm closing my hate for the night and can they play somewhere else.
They say why?
I then say "just about to lock up for the night"
They look annoyed
This morning I'm putting my wheely bin out and 2 of the mums make a snarky comment
"Kids can't even play outside these days without getting wrong"
Eh
It's my gardens..why should they be playing in it.
Aibu ?

I think that you should have told the mums that you simply asked them to leave your back garden as you wanted to lock up.

It's odd that the kids would have said anything at all isn't it?

While I am no legal expert, I suspect that allowing children to play in your garden would leave you at risk of a claim in the event of your guests having an accident - say falling over in the snow and fracturing a leg bone. I have extra insurance on my property to defend against legal claims from people on my land, as it is used for a work-from-home business with several visitors per day. I think the fact that you did not tell the children to leave immediately upon discovery could be used against you in such a claim as things can get twisted in court cases.

So, don't feel bad about defending your private property.

They are happy with their children playing in your back garden? and they don’t know who you are? that’s rather concerning

Why not politely explain to the other mums that the children were playing in your private garden and that's why you asked them to leave.

You don't need to say anymore than that, but make sure your gate is always locked from now on

This is probably incredibly snobby of me but are the mums in question particularly lower working class/chavvy?

Yes, SoupForBrains it is incredibly snobby of you.

OP, as a PP has said, the kids probably didn't tell their parents that they were throwing snowballs in your back garden. I'd politely put the parents straight if you see them in the next couple of days.

I don't know why people are surprised. Only the parents are allowed to discipline these little darlings, not perfect strangers/ neighbours.

OP YABVU. You should have found out their addresses, trudged round the neighbourhood in the snow to find the parents of the little darlings to sort it out. Don't ever say anything to a child who you didn't birth to they may spontaneously combust

I'm betting they didn't tell their mums they went through a gate into your private garden, but just said they got told off for throwing snowballs. If any mums say anything else, politely tell them this.

I had a snowman built on my parking space. That was a CFN
Mr Snowman got run over sadly

Oh that's less sinister then. I'd go with explaining.