To want to discourage masses of visitors...

[isitalloveryet]

I live in a village - local school PTA arranging a outside event around the village where I live but encourages people to find things around the village. This would be fine if it was in the parks etc but it involves people's gardens so walking all around the houses and I have no way to opt my house out.

So, AIBU to be pissed off the over 2000 people from outside the area are going to be walking past my house and numerous others to find stuff during a pandemic?

It sounds mad for them to insist on trespassing. Are you sure that's what they mean?

Have you got a local PCSO who could offer "advice" on the plans?

That’s mad. I’m a trustee of a charity which makes nearly all its income from a similar type of event and we’ve cancelled it because in the current climate no one wants the hoards to descend! It’s awful news for us but safety and community harmony come first and hopefully next year will be better. I’d be extremely unhappy about this.

Surely if you tell them you dont want people you dont know in your garden then that's the end of it. How can they do this without your permission? I wouldn't like it even prepandemic.

They would need a license for that many people and the councils are just not issuing them at the moment.

Our school is doing a scarecrow hunt, you pay to enter, get materials to make a scarecrow in your front garden. Your approx address gets marked on a map and others can buy a copy of the trail map to walk round and see them. Very organised!
If you mean you'll have strangers wandering around your back garden that's absolutely madness!

So, AIBU to be pissed off the over 2000 people from outside the area are going to be walking past my house and numerous others to find stuff during a pandemic?

YABU - they are walking past your house not on your property & presumably not all at once? How do you know it will be 2000 people? If it was a mass gathering inside or they will be touching the same things I could understand your concern but generally people walking a circuit outside isn't a problem.

Are they actually planning on hiding things in your front garden and encouraging people to hunt around for them? Even aside from a pandemic that sounds barmy. If it's just people walking around the village in the open air I think that's fine and I'd be surprised if the local PTA event managed to attract 1000s of visitors!

Surely you can put up no entry signs at the entrance to your garden?

More generally how will 2,000 people manage for parking, loos etc. Why don’t you email your local police and councillor and query the safety of this event?

The term “ walking all around the houses” is a bit confusing. Do you mean just walking past your house? If this is an event where individual families will come and conduct a treasure hunt or similar around the village etc then I don’t see the problem. If it entails larger groups of more than six or groups mingling for some reason then that’s obviously a no. But people just going by your house doesn’t seem to be much of a problem.

This sounds like madness 😂 how is it possible that you can't opt out? I would definitely be phoning the school and asking what on Earth they are thinking.

Where has the number 2000 come from?

Has this been announced since the new measures? Outside or not I think their plans may be scuppered!
And of course by law (and common sense) you'd be able to opt out. Private land. Unless you live in a gated residence area where it's tacitally agreed for everyone.

Well I don't think people walking past your house will increase you risk of catching covid. I can't imagine it'll be in such numbers as you can't get out either

However if be annoyed at the inevitable littering, and potentially parking issues etc

If they are walking past only then no idea what the problem is?

If coming into your garden then rope it off, stick a sign up or just tell people not to go onto your garden like any village event covid or not

I think talking to the local PCSO is a sensible idea. Perhaps also the school.

Rottweilers or staffies outside your house on the day would keep people away, but they are not for rent and in any case a dog should be for love not aggression.

If you don't like it, just stay IN your house. You have absolutely zero risk of catching the virus if you're in your house and they're outside, even if millions of people turn up and cough outside your house for half an hour.

Of course, it's madness during COVID. I would notify the council and non-emergency police.

But regardless of that, you have every right to exclude your house from trespass. If the PTA wants to involve your garden, they MUST ask for permission. But if it's just the public road, then they don't.

Are they walking past your house or trespassing on your land? What will your personal involvement be? I think this is crucial.

2000 people all from outside the village? I'm curious as to what this amazing event is that's going to draw such a huge crowd who, presumably, have no relationship with the school organising it.

We have 10,000 a year come come to our event which takes place over 3 days. It’s not that shocking.

We have 10,000 a year come come to our event which takes place over 3 days. It’s not that shocking.

Yes but what event is it? I very much doubt it's a treasure hunt in a village.

You sound a bit melodramatic about this. I’d be amazed if this event brings 2000 extra people into the village. Also I doubt there would be people going into gardens looking for things. Whatever is on the treasure hunt will be visible from the pavement. So at the most you’re going to have people walk past your house looking for things.
If you have concerns whether something around your house is included in the hunt have you spoken to the PTA?

2,000 people?! really?

I used to live near a village that had a 3 day event that got a lot of people but there was little events all over the village not just one event specifically connected to one place

There was heaps of stalls and an art exhibitions etc.

Put a "Covid- Keep Out" sign on your garden gate.

Sounds a bit mad.