Closing my gate?

[Sadlilthrowaway]

My neighbours put up a massive fence at the front of their property, a huge eyesore that is so high their kids cannot open the gate to get into their front yard.

Their kids have started jumping over the fence between our properties, meaning they are coming down my driveway, and walking into my garden bed to hop the fence. I have been letting it go as I rarely see the parents to talk to them about it, but it has killed one of my plants, and I'm concerned what will happen if the kids hurt themselves or the fence collapses. I also have a very protective dog who does not take kindly to people approaching the house.

I just witnessed the parents tell their kid to jump our fence because the parents couldn't open the gate to drive their car in, so not only are these kids (aged 5 to 10) trespassing, they are doing so at the instruction of their parents!! My kids have told them to stop using our driveway to gop the fence, but to no avail.

Is it unreasonable to start closing our gate so they can't keep coming down our driveway? Aside from this issue and a few issues with their wild parties, it has generally been a civil relationship.

Why would it be unreasonable to close your gate? I'd speak to the parents and keep the gate closed.

cacti, thorny roses and barbed wire for a start 😠

Do what it takes to stop them.

Diagram? I would plant some holly there!!

Is it unreasonable to start closing our gate so they can't keep coming down our driveway? Aside from this issue and a few issues with their wild parties, it has generally been a civil relationship

How would that be remotely unreasonable? They’re taking the piss. I’d be out there with Fido in tow telling them to fuck right off.

Close your gate and tell the parents to sort out their own gate. Are you sure it's legal to put up a huge gate/fence. I thought you could only put short ones in the front of a house.

Why would it be unreasonable to close your own gate?! Do it now and update us on their reaction

Anti climb paint on the fence and close and lock your gate, once they get trapped they’ll stop.

Why haven't you done it already?

what Butchy said. Neighbours' DC trespassing in my garden gives me the rage. I don't have a dog, but they only ever do it once if they get the thick end of my tongue.

Do whatever it takes to keep people from using your garden as a public right of way.
Shut the gate.
Tell the neighbours' children not to come over into your garden.
Tell the neighbours not to let their children climb into your garden.

Closing your gate? Do you mean locking it? As surely if it's just closing it they can just open it and hop over?

Close your gate!! Yanbu at all!

If you don't close your gate OP, I'll come round and do it for you! 😆

It's annoying me so must be bad for you!

I’d have closed it after the first instance.

Close the gate!

But they will just open the gate surely?

YANBU. I'd close the gate/ make it unappealing to hop the fence.

Shut the gate and dog proof it - let dog out stick sign on gate "Dog Loose" should sort it

just speak to them and ask them not to send their kids onto your property.

Why are you even asking if it's ok to close your own flipping gate?!

On a more helpful note, what about some trellis up your fence, so even if they do get in, they can't climb over because that will break (and hopefully they aren't that feral)

I think the permitted height without permission for fences is 6' so if it's over that, they may not be allowed/be made to take it down.

There may also be planning regs about fencing off fronts - a house near me wanted to fence their whole front garden in and were not granted permission as the estate has been designed to be "open plan" and it would contravene that.

I think 6 ft is the limit for back gardens, it is lower for front gardens.

See attached

Wow - tell the parents to stop the kids using your garden as if it's theirs! Lock your gate.
Can't believe you are even asking AIBU.

Never mind closing the gate. Lock it!