To not see a solution other than not using my garden?

[Cebr]

Or moving (which for various reasons I can't do).

My neighbours, family A (one side - other side are elderly and largely housebound) are arseholes of the highest order, as are their kids. They are pally with other neighbours, family B, between them they have 9 kids who are all pretty poorly behaved.

On a daily basis they ride bikes and scooters in my front driveway which is bad enough but the real issue is in the back garden.
As kids (often with Bs kids as they are in and out of each others gardens and houses constantly) deliberately throw balls, toys and indeed their rubbish into my garden.
They play ball up against my fence constantly (they broke the previous fence)
Let themselves into my garden - the gate is locked but they have climbed the fence before now
When I'm out in the garden they name-call me and my children. Or bang the fence constantly.
They sit on top of the fence and look into my house.

I hardly ever go in the garden now. What was a lovely space (it's a good size about 80ft x 40ft) is now completely overgrown.

I had a gardener round today and they all started banging on the fence. Then standing on it shouting for their ball etc. The guy said 'is it always like this?' and I said sadly yes. Wouldn't blame him for not taking the job!

I have in the past told the children to stop. This resulted in Dad B telling me he would sort me out if I ever spoke to his kids again. Mum and Dad A said kids were just being kids and they were doing no harm.

I contacted the police about the threat from B. They said as nothing had happened they wouldn't get involved. I explained about the kids but as they are all under 13 the advice was I should try not to antagonise the situation ie stay indoors. So that's what I've been doing.

I was hoping one or both families would move as they live in 2 bed houses but this doesn't look like happening anytime soon. I can't move. I would like to use the garden though but their behaviour makes it unbearable.

Is there anything else I can do to make it more tolerable? Or to stop me feeling sick every time I open the door hearing their screaming and banging, and seeing my fence shaking?

Well...I’m not sure if it’s been suggested but I would start going outside and trying to enjoy your garden. BUT start keeping a record, even including using your phone to video it if possible for examples and evidence of the children’s noise levels and actions and try to record everything. Every piece of rubbish and every toy in your garden. Every time they call you or your family members names. Bang the fence etc. Once you have 2 weeks worth logged I would speak to your local council about your neighbours anti social behaviour and provide them with the evidence you have logged and explain that you don’t expect it to be silent but that the level or it is ridiculous and ruining your right to enjoy your garden. Nothing will get done overnight but from personal experience I can tell you that if the noise and littering really is constant then eventually they will be moved.

Sounds horrendous. Keep a log. Tell the children off for their rudeness and ask them not to climb in. Is there some kind (sade) anti-climbing solution? Could you contact the council?

Students might love a house where they could party with impunity. Although - maybe students aren't like they used to be.

But they might be less inclined to use the garden? That might work, OP. I would also value peace over spaciousness. Tbh I'd considering moving areas if it came to it, I just couldn't live with that next to me.

We took photos of them climbing the fence. They never did it again after we said we'd tell the police and show the photos. I take it talking to the parents isn't an option. You can put in a safeguarding concern if they are climbing your fence.

Move!

Paint the fence with that anti burgler paint and then they cant sit on it.

Barbed wire fence or spikes of some description to stop the kids sitting on your fence and a large dog to scare the bejesus out of them ought to do it!

I think Anti Climb paint would be a great idea, a friend of my sons came over and ran away from me in the park. Little so and so climbed up a gate to a sports area. He came down absolutely smothered in the stuff. It was like a grease. I did get it off his jacket by scrubbing the shiny material with a brush and washing up liquid (his Mum was nice) but goodness me!

That's absolutely awful op. I think the Leylandii is such a good idea. Fast growing, dense and they certainly couldn't sit on top of it. A perfect barrier. You must be so miserable in this situation and I hope it's sorted out very soon...!!!

Get the machine that makes high frequency noises that only teenagers can here. We have them in our town to stop teenagers from hovering in large groups.

Get cameras installed everywhere outside.... Upload and shame them.

You could plant hedges along the fence.... May take along time to grow but maybe worth it in the long wrong... Harder to access your garden.

Play them at their own game. Go out and turn your music up loud.... Something they would hate like classical or opera. 😂

Why can't you move tho? In a situation like this.. I'd move overall.

I do seem to remember reading somewhere that you're not meant to put up anti climb paint on a boundary fence because if it damages clothes etc you can be liable? not sure how true that actually is but the last thing I want from these idiots is a bill for new clothes!

I can't tell the kids off or even speak to them, that was made pretty clear when Dad B said he'd sort me out if I did it again. So I'm not risking that, or reprisals - owning my house and having a nice car exposes me to risk.

Moving now is difficult and I'm not sure the compromise would be worth it, given that if I hang on for 3 more years we can make a more 'worthwhile' and long term move. I'll think about it, and keep looking, although there's nothing available near us right now anyway.

I think trellis, and maybe something on top of it (some sort of soft spike or something) would be good and stop the climbing/ looking over. I'm also getting quotes for the front to make it more secure - and to stop them sitting on my front wall (this happened in the past once or twice but I wouldn't put it past them).

Today has been overcast and a bit rainy = peace and quiet. It's been lovely :)

I’m so sorry, @Cebr - could you mount a camera and show the proof to the council and/or the police?

The only trouble with doing things like this is that it affects other (better behaved) neighbours.

Sounds horrendous.

KEEP a diary.
Film them
Photos
Speak to citizens advicw and see if there are legal avenues to pursue

What does your neighbour mean by he "Will sort you out" ? . Pity that wasnt recorded somewhere. It's so stressful having bad neighbours, I've been there. The worse weren't next door, it was 3 doors down. We moved away thank goodness. Where we live now is not the best location but we have nice neighbours either side and across the road, hopefully it will stay that way. It makes such a difference.

I think just have to go with suggestions offered about higher fence, cameras etc. The noise deterrent one sounds good, need to remember that for the future!

Ear plugs and head phones over them to look like you are listening to music. Smile sweetly ajd wave at the lids and just keep using the garden daily for a couple of weeks. Kids get bored. If you are able to just ignore them they may find a different person to antagonize.

I would also call social services and say you are worried about the children as you hear yelling, screaming and swearing at all hours. At the very least it would make their lives less pleasant for a while.

Pigeon spikes on the top of your fence and one of those kid repellant sonic noises (until they bugger off and then switch it off when you are out there) if i were you I'd want to water cannon the little sh#ts!

Not sure if its been suggested but paint the top foot of your side with anti climb paint.

Plant some Rosa rugosa (dog roses) very dense and scratchy up against fence. They won’t climb over into that. I recommend it against burglars as well. Pretty into the bargain.

Other similar thorny shrubs would do.

You need to report them to the private landlord/council/housing association, whoever rents it to them! You might get grief but you report that too, it is the only way, if they are silly enough to abuse or threaten you record it all! Nothing will change until you start reporting it.

We’ve recently installed anti-climb spike on our fence, mainly to stop the cats from the house up the road coming in and shitting in the garden (she’s got NINE, FFS. NINE CATS IN A TWO BED TERRACE ON A MAIN ROAD!!!) and they’re pretty good. You only touch them once, I can tell you

No words.

Just move. It's easier.

Play Mozart and Bach loudly in your garden. That might drive the yobs away. Classical music has proven effective against anti-social behaviour. Put your headphones on and listen to whatever you like.

They sound exactly like a family that used to live next door to us. Single woman with her kid who wasn't too bad but her sister was always round there with her spawn of Satan. Putting the swing near the fence so they smashed into it every time they swung. Climbing over and stealing toys from our garden, shouting abuse at my kids etc. Mum had a variety of blokes round regularly, getting pissed threatening to stab each other then playing Scooter all night (and I mean ALL night, it might get turned off at 6am). To be fair, I had to go round about the kids and she was apologetic, but couldn't seem to control primary age children. We were so relieved when they moved. I don't know what the answer is but you have my sympathy!