AIBU to block this off? ( diagram included)

[yorkshireyummymummy]

I’m being driven demented by people walking across my block paving driveway. They peer into my window, often very brazenly staring. Their dogs sometimes cock their leg on the pot plants infront of my window. Recently a neighbour stood on my drive about four feet from my window with three other school mums for 40 mins chatting! I almost went and asked them if they wanted tea or use of the loo! If there is a wedding at the church then wedding guests stand on my drive, infront of my window peering in , smoking and sometimes putting their fags out in my pot plants in front of my window.

I want to put something along the edge of the driveway ( marked with xxx) but hubby isn’t keen as he thinks we will annoy people! I am as yet unsure as to what we could put up as it’s block paved so no planting of anything. All I can think of is trough like pots with something that grows to about 1m high and is a bit bushy. Cars often reverse up the path to church though and depending on the ability of the driver they often end up perched on my drive, so I do run the risk of plants and pots being damaged.

My point is that if it wasn’t block paved and it was grass with plants nobody would walk across it. Just because it’s block paved doesn’t make it less my property though!

What should I do? Just Seethe silently and live with it so as not to upset the offendors? Or put a demarcation line of - something- there?
Does anybody have any ideas of what I could put there?

As I have written this somebody else has just stopped in front of my window, looked in at me and scratched his arse. I rest my case!

I LOVE @GardenGeeks idea. I think planting would be lovely

Make a complaint to the church every time your garden is used by guests at their events.

I know it's not their fault, but if they have to start reminding people who use the church to be considerate then that might help you eventually.

I'd also be concerned about them using planters as ashtrays, or using them as some kind of seating. Same if you had big rocks or a low wall.

I'd have a fence if I were in your situation. Could you ask the church to contribute to it? They probably won't want to, but asking them even if you don't really want them to do so might make the point that visitors to the church are causing a problem for you.

I might also consider CCTV if you can, as both a deterrent to people standing in your garden and as proof that this is a problem. If you can't put it on the outside wall you could possible have a camera standing inside on a windowsill that will pick up the people on your land.

I like to see this white chain and post fencing, I find it very attractive and although it’s useless for keeping animals in (or out). Wouldn’t it work well enough for your perimeter?
Yanbu, i would have shoo’d folk off from my front long before.

Do you know exactly where the boundary is between your land and the path to the church?
It's possible there's no vehicular access to the church in any case and the path is pedestrian therefore quite narrow.
Make sure you check your deeds so you can get your planters or fence in the right place.

Put up what you like, within the limits of the house deeds!

Nobody else has any business being annoyed , your DH is being ridiculous.

You want something like this

www.gardenstreet.co.uk/greenhouses-grow-your-own-c5/plant-garden-decor-c69/pots-planters-c75/rowlinson-rectangular-planter-lattice-p55/s58?gclid=CjwKCAiAk4XUBRB5EiwAHBLUMXtJTXAeXAqB3WTJ8-OyP_jc03OqXPUnoJBN3HIMBQj6ACh4SC6T7BoCBs8QAvD_BwE

Your DH is a bit odd. I’ve never heard of someone worrying about annoying strangers who are trespassing on your land and invading your privacy.

Put a fence in, why would your DH worry about offending people who are trespassing? They wouldn't hesitate in the same position.

If you get plants people will still put the cigarettes out in them and dogs will still pee on them, probably people too as it might give them cover.

I would go with a fence, high enough that it is is inconvenient to climb over or sit on. Or with pointy bits on top.

Thank you EVERYBODY who has commented.
We are going to spend this evening going over our options.

This would fuck me right off!

I like the chain and posts but wouldn't cheeky fuckers people just step over it?

obscuredbyfog
Yes, we know exactly where the boundary is.

curtainshopping
My hubby isn’t odd. He has lived in villages all of his life and knows how funny people can be when ‘ new ‘ people move in and change things.

I have just measured it and it’s about 20 meters long. So going to be v expensive if I put planters all along it considering they seem to be about £100 per meter. So now looking for deeds for the house so we can check for covenants to see if we are allowed a fence at the front.

From the diagram, and since it's quite open, it may be that people assume it's part of the public highway, even though the paving is different. I'd think (hopefully) that a couple of pots/planters that clearly delineate the property boundaries would help.

It doesn't need to fully enclose the paving, just indicate the boundary (although then there's clearly a risk of people thinking it's a small park!)

DH has been reading over my shoulder. His suggestions are machine gun posts and mines or a rabbit dog on a chain so it can just reach your boundary......

I think the white posts and chains look nice and are probably more legal than DHs suggestions.....

Black metal railings...ornate. Not much of the block paving would need to be dug up, and they are unobtrusive, you might even be able to paint colours, depending on pattern, or even have a different metallic colour railing. Metal much longer lasting than small plastic version

Sensible me says have a chat to the church to gently remind people not to obstruct others property.

Vengeful me says buy some sprinklers and have them set for peak loitering times. Even better if you could get some with a remote control. Best of luck OP ;)

The only effective way is land mines.

Word will get around pretty quickly, but you will need to have some warning signs so that you are not deemed to be negligent.

I dislike most people so I'd put up a fence with barbed wire at the top or a spiky top of some sort. A fence that isn't comfortable to lean against either and a sign on it that says "FOAD".

I dont get why your DH is othered about annoying people by separating your land from the public highway!

Just ask them not to stand on your paving as its rude!

Chat to vicar won’t help. Vicar will be sympathetic but at least a quarter of the regular congregation won’t listen for some reason or another, and the special-occasion folk (people who just come for a wedding, baptism or funeral) are so 100% focussed on their Big Day that they won’t even hear him telling them not to walk on your land.
Get a fence.