...to steal some holly from two doors down?

[Merryoldgoat]

I know I am but I want to anyway.

They have a massive holly bush that protrudes onto the pavement and it’s all glossy and perfect for my Christmas birdcage arrangements.

I’d ask them but they don’t speak much English and I don’t think they’d understand me.

It's a bit weird more than anything. Just attempt to make some sort of contact with them to ask.
You can trim neighbours plants if they protrude over to your garden but even when that happens I let my neighbours know.

Just ask them. If their English is really that limited (but undoubtedly better than your fluency in their language) use sign language. Its not difficult to communicate to with most people.

If you dont ask you will definitely be caught.

Can you get me a bit as well

Go and ask! You might make some nice friends! Take your secateurs and a picture of the holly, and if they say yes, take them a nice box of biscuits as a thank you.

Go over and make friends and be nice ffs. My neighbour speaks very little English and we still manage to swap plants, seeds, excess crops etc. A smile and a bit of sign language goes a long way. I give all my neighbours bits from the garden, but I’d be really ducked off if someone crept along and started snipping away!

Just ask take your secutares and point to the holly. We have loads I'd be annoyed if someone just took it but asking I'd be fine

It’s a nice way to get to know them.
If you can use MN you can use google translate, surely?

If it protrudes onto the pavement, the council can ask them to chop it back, and if they fail to do so can chop it back and bill them,, so, IMO YANBU it's an obstruction.

Next door neighnours holly bush grows into my farden and out into the street. I'd be thrilled if someone took it away. Probably best to ask first though

*garden

Pity you don't live near me. I have a holly bush in my garden that you'd be more than welcome to have a bit from

Pruning a stranger's bush whilst wearing a balaclava is wrong on so many levels op...

Now is the perfect time to get to know your neighbours; ask them, don’t pinch it.

Bugger you all for reinforcing the right thing which I knew anyway.

I’ll go ask them tomorrow (not wearing a balaclava).

We have s holly tree at the end of our drive and I’m cross if people nick it.

@Santaisonthesherry

Wait for them to leave the house. Bring some biscuits to their door, with a note to say you hope they don’t mind but you’ve taken 3 sprigs of holly. Take holly. Job done.

Your post takes me back to my childhood. Mum used to send me with the seceteurs in the dark to nick the holly sprigs from a house up the road. I hated doing it, but she used to say that her kids were so embarrassing they could blummin’ well save her some embarrassment at Christmas!!!

Holly is quite slow growing, please don't go around willy-nilly chopping bits off other people's plants. It will take a while for the plant to recover if you make a gash/unwanted job of it. I'd be furious and heartbroken if someone was disrespectful enough to damage one of my plants like that.

Wait for them to leave the house. Bring some biscuits to their door, with a note to say you hope they don’t mind but you’ve taken 3 sprigs of holly. Take holly. Job done.

Charming.

I pinched some from a cemetery once. My sister was my accomplice. I had the securters and she had the car.... I didn't have a balaclava tho.

Did you do it?

Holly is NOT slow growing
Chop a few bits off and it will return to exactly the same size in the next growing season.

No. I’m going to pop over and ask them. You all made me feel guilty