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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU kids in my tree

41 replies

Kitchenbound · 10/03/2018 05:14

I have a tree in my front yard near the street that the neighbourhood kids climb and play in constantly. While I love that they're active and playing outside this tree is over concrete and I have asked them to stay out of it as I don't want them to get hurt (already had a few near misses). Things have now escalated as they still climb the tree but are breaking branches off and dropping them on my car. AIBU to speak to parents about it?

OP posts:
Cavender · 10/03/2018 05:18

Of course YNBU! I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have done that after the first occasion to be honest.

Original poster
Kitchenbound · 10/03/2018 05:27

I have spoken to the kids themselves when they started climbing it. And i told them i didn't want them up there for their own safety. I don't want to rock the boat in my neighbourhood by sending letters to the parents (at least 10 families are involved in this) but im going to be beyond unhappy if my car gets damaged

OP posts:
Aridane · 10/03/2018 05:33

Put sign up !

ivehadtonamechangeforthis · 10/03/2018 05:53

YANBU

I would speak to their parents.

There's two issues here....

Firstly, the tree is on your property, it's not on 'common ground' and you have asked them not to climb it so they shouldn't. As a result of them climbing the tree they are now damaging it and starting to damage your property (your car).

Secondly, what will happen if one of them falls out of the tree on to the concrete and is injured? You will probably find the parents of that child will be furious with you for 'allowing' them to climb your tree when it's over concrete.

If you can't face speaking to each of the parents then I would pop a note through their letterboxes and highlight the following - You have asked their children repeatedly to stop climbing your tree as it is in your garden which obviously is private property not communal ground and you are very concerned that should they fall out of the tree they will land on concrete which could result in a serious injury.

charlestonchaplin · 10/03/2018 05:55

How will you feel if one of them falls and sustains a serious head injury? Get your arse in gear, speak to their parents, stressing how unsafe it is. In fact, I'd send them all a letter by recorded delivery, so they can't deny being warned. It may seem OTT, but people have managed to sue landowners where they sustained serious injury by doing something they were warned against (diving into a water body of some sort) because it wasn't stressed how dangerous it was. Apparently the landowner, who I believe in that case was the council, should have said, 'This water is much shallower than it looks and diving in may cause serious injury.'

charlestonchaplin · 10/03/2018 05:56

Cross post with namechange.

FlouncyDoves · 10/03/2018 05:59

‘Get your arse in gear’?! The OP is under no obligation to stop them, nor bears any responsibility should one of them get injured.

The only reason the OP should stop them is because their property is being damaged.

Wind your neck in Chaplin.

FlouncyDoves · 10/03/2018 06:01

Huge difference between a council’s responsibility (public land) and a private individual’s. These kids are trespassing. The OP could prosecute them for that and any damage done to her tree, car or concrete.

charlestonchaplin · 10/03/2018 06:07

It was meant as jovial encouragement to the OP. I'm not usually one for using smiley faces and such but maybe if I did I would have conveyed my tone better. On a serious note, most people would feel bad if a child injured themselves in such a situation, and that would be compounded if any of the neighbours hold her even partially responsible.

Climbing trees is a dangerous activity but it doesn't stop the kids doing it and it doesn't stop their parents looking for someone to blame if it all goes wrong. I was trying to help OP protect herself, even in the unlikely event of a litigious parent, as occupier's liability does exist.

charlestonchaplin · 10/03/2018 06:10

Flouncy Occupiers have been held to owe even trespassers a duty of care in some situations.

noenergy · 10/03/2018 06:26

In this day and age with all this claiming business and no win no fee crap, I would try n put a stop to it ASAP as if someone gets injured they won't think twice about making out that u r liable.

Talk to the parents or close your gate so they can't get in.

Original poster
Kitchenbound · 10/03/2018 06:32

Sorry to clarify - while this tree is my property its near the road and borders my property and council property. There is no fence/ gate etc. And yes i will feel awful if a child gets hurt hence telling them to stay out of it. Guess it's time to start writing to the street!

OP posts:
SimplySwimming · 10/03/2018 06:36

Your warnings so far sound wishy washy to me tbh...when being asked to stop doing something for your own safety the kids are probably taking it as safety advice, which is nice but not necessary to obey.

Shout. Never mind the 'for your sake' crap, next time you see a kid in the tree go straight out, shout 'Oi, DOWN! Now!' and then tell them they are not to come into your garden again or you'll call the police. Do it every time. And put up a sign saying 'No climbing/private garden'.

UnsuspectedItem · 10/03/2018 06:37

Could you attach a sign to the tree?
At least this way if something does happen you can prove that you did not give permission.

Also, is it possible to trim the tree so it can't be climbed? (Without it becoming ugly) - removing the lower branches so that its impossible to get the first foothold?

UnsuspectedItem · 10/03/2018 06:41

You could also install a "tree baffle" if you were so inclined, though it may not be pretty (I'm guessing you could make it pretty with a climbing vine or something though).

AIBU kids in my tree
MIngerDynasty · 10/03/2018 07:01

YANBU, esepcially as it's a health issue. How od are the children? If they're young enough to still fall for that sort of thing I'd put up a sign saying you call the police for trespassing, stay off the tree.

PLFDiDi · 10/03/2018 07:09

Sounds like a good excuse to get to know the neighbors better, I'd have a chat with the parents as they don't seem like bad kids. Is there anywhere else to put the car, a few meters would keep it out of harms way. Also speak to the council about trimming the lower branches, they will be busy this time of year but might do it later

Longdistance · 10/03/2018 07:13

Print off a load of letters informing them, that not only their little darlings are trespassing on your property, but now they’re breaking branches off the tree which are landing on your car.

If that doesn’t work, shout at them like a banshee.

EduCated · 10/03/2018 07:27

Agree that asking them not to for their own safety, whilst kind, is usually ineffective. Agree with a sharp ‘Oi, DOWN!’

FluffyWuffy100 · 10/03/2018 08:18

Go and speak to all the parents re their children trespassing and damaging your car.

Shout at the little shits whenever you see them in the tree.

Can you fix anti climb spike tracks on the lower branches they are using to get up?

Fugitivefrombrusstice · 10/03/2018 08:19

Pelt them with apples.

DevilsDoorbell · 10/03/2018 08:28

Please don’t send letters out. It will antagonise your neighbours as things can be taken the wrong way, mich better to speak to them.

Also, every time you see a child in your tree, tell them to get down, tell them that your garden is. It a playground. Let them know you’re serious.

MargotLovedTom1 · 10/03/2018 08:30

PFL the tree is on the OP's property. The council's not going to come and do that - she'll have to pay for a tree surgeon.

DalekDalekDalek · 10/03/2018 13:48

I would talk to the neighbours rather than write to them. You would probably only need to speak to a couple of sets of parents before work gets around.

Velvetbee · 10/03/2018 14:04

Shout ‘Get out of my fucking tree’, every single time. Look deranged, they’ll be too scared to come back.