Child has has broken my fence!!

[Snappymcsnappy]

I am absolutely furious!

Fed up with people young and old trampling the flowers at the very front of my garden, I used what little money I have to buy a cheap plastic fence to stop it.

Me and DH thrilled with how lovely it looks, I stand at my kitchen today to see a boy about the same age as my eldest forcefully kicking my fence

I am pretty sure I have seen this child and his friends and their mums before, stomping on my plants, running into people's gardens and generally being a nuisance.

Second I opened the door to confront the little shit child he runs down the street to mummy, on realising that I've followed him and am going to confront him much cuddling up to mummy, hiding behind her.

Mum was very apologetic, I set about trying to fix my fence.
Cannot. It's bent beyond repair.

Then she starts telling me how it couldn't have been her child because he never lies to her and was walking with her, must have been her friends child...

No apology from other mother of course assuming this is true.
In fact, when I explained that it was a cheap fence that won't take kicking and I don't want my property damaged she looked to be stifling a laugh.
No chastising naughty child of course either.
Don't want to damage their spirit and all that shit I imagine.

I am so annoyed, but really really upset as well.

The garden used to be hedge, nettle and bramble.
Me and DH worked hard for years to get it pretty with very very limited money.

I don't have the money to be constantly replacing broken fence, even if it is super cheap.
Any little bit of spare cash I have I spend on trying to make my garden pretty.

When did people get so fucking disrespectful?!

Never, as a child would I have damaged someone's things because I knew it was wrong and that I would get a bollocking.
Ditto for my children, I would have firstly died of embarrassment had they done something like that, then offered to pay for a new portion and come down VERY hard on my children.

Not sure where to go from here.
They pass my house everyday and I suspect it will happen again.
I can't afford a more sturdy fence, nor can I afford to keep replacing a few panels regularly.
I could put in a insanely prickly blood drawing hedge but money again and I hate hedges and it's already shady so nothing will grow!

Just tell her that you won't be showing her the footage, you will be showing the police if it happens again.

If the kid was in school uniform and you can find out which school it is, write to the headteacher about their students' behaviour. I did that when some boys were regularly behaving really badly on my commuter train and it stopped. Clearly the headteacher had read the riot act to the school.

I'd go with a prickly hedge. That should stop the problem.

Writing to the school seems a bit extreme, it sounds like a very young child from the OP's description. The hose or sprinkler would be the tack that's least likely to lead to a full-scale war. Or rocks instead of a fence.

Writing the school is an idea; some schools are keen that their school has a good reputation. Also worth telling the mum you intend sending the CCTV footage into school. And you might get some joy if you report it to the community police officer. They're very keen on clamping down on antisocial behaviour round our parts. (Probably too keen actually).

But long term, I must say I've pretty much written off our front garden. it is neat and tidy and we have nice pots right next to the front door, but I can't spare the energy to be policing the local kids.

I'd download a bit of footage and take it into the school and see if they identify him. Whilst there are loads of lovely kids about, there are a fair few that could do with being told "no" every once in a while.

Shoot the bastards. With a water pistol of course.

Send the footage to the school. The parents obviously don't give a shit, better have someone else instil some discipline in their kids.

Is he old enough to read? Can you write a electric fence/danger of death wet paint sign? Might discourage long enough for the novelty to wear off?

I was going to say paint it with anti burglar paint but that may get you into trouble.

Berberis is very spikey and not too expensive - they won’t mess with that twice.

Non drying paint (it's grease mixed with paint or a dye). He wrecks your fence, the fence wrecks his uniform!

I still remember my mother going to the neighbours and getting their son to come and fix the front lawn where he’d ridden his bike over it and churned it up into mud. He was out there with the rake and the grass seeds making it right. Shame our society is not a “it takes a village” anymore.

"To discharge the duty of care owed to trespassers, householders must put up a warning sign if they are using anti-vandal paint."

If you don't mind a sign, I think it's legal to use.

www.protectingyourself.co.uk/using-anti-vandal-paint-other-methods.html

👆 Ace idea

Ring your PCSO. We had a nightmare in the street a few years back with three children from one family who ran wild and trashed wherever they went. Trying to talk to the family led nowhere, they just watched indulgently and insisted their kids were only playing. When we contacted our local PCSO for advice he was very clear this was not acceptable and he turned up on the family's doorstep and told them so. There wasn't another incident between that visit and the family (thankfully) moving away a year or so later.

Carpet roses grow quickly and can be pruned to form a beautiful and very cheap hedge. They are about £6 each and spread well and get to 1m tall. They have thousands of very small spikes.

Obviously I planted mine for the aesthetics and not for their spikes

If you don't mind a sign, I think it's legal to use.

Just make it a very small sign in a fancy font that he probably wont be able to read. Then when his mum complains just say it must have been another very similar fence as yours wouldn't do that and anyway you were watching it.

Can people stop with the "OMG, kids now are so awful and disrespectful". Kids kicked fences 20, 50, 100, 200 years ago as well!

The police won’t do anything about a child below legal age kicking a fence...

It’s unfortunate but I don’t think there’s very much you can do short of policing your garden yourself. Maybe sit in the garden around school time.

Ironman yes they did, but they then had to face the consequences and parents didn't blindly defend them.

Some did, some didn't,,,exactly the same as now.

Iron, I disagree, parents who didn't appropriately discipline were in a minority. We also had loads that over disciplined too though and my gut feel is that that isn't so prevalent.

I think people should be allowed to give kids a clip round the ear for wanton vandalism. {ducks and runs for cover}

Thank you for the advice everyone.

I think I will look into the Berberis, maybe relocate some of my gooseberries which are quite vicious.
As the area in question is under a tree I think I'll have to move the flowers as it'll be too shady for them with a prickly hedge aswell.

I won't go to the police or do anything that might potentially escalate, I am not a confrontational person.
Angry as I was/am my voice was shaking a bit talking her!