Neighbourhood kids have made a right mess on communal grass.

[CB1128]

Firstly I’d like to say that I really have no issue with children play outside. I live in an area with lots of children around and it’s great for them to have fresh air. Unfortunately my two have sen so they are unable to play out alone.

So there’s a large bit of grass outside mine and my neighbours houses. We have our gardens then the path then the bit of grass.. In front of the grass is a road and junction so me and neighbour are the closest to this grass. The grass is just here as a feature I guess, it belongs to no one apart from the council I guess? It gets cut by a private firm though. Neighbourhood Kids play on it, which is fine usually. It’s quite fun as there’s a massive tree they play under. Tbh I don’t let mine out there much as dogs have been known to mess on it and my two just bolt off.

Anyway, some of the kids have dragged over old pallets, blankets etc to make a den. Again, great fun. I did the same as a kid. No issue.

However, due to lots of kids playing and jumping on it over the weekend the pallets have broken, there’s blankets all over the place and litter all around where they’ve been playing, drinks bottles etc. There’s bits of wood loose etc.

Aibu to think the parents should come and clean it up? I would clean it up but having two with significant needs it makes it harder to get out there as my kids would be bolting off down the road and dp leaves the house when dark and often doesn’t come home until it’s dark.

It’s a mess. The grass doesn’t belong to anyone but it looks awful. It’s strewn all I’ve the grass, I don’t know what belongs to who! If it still resembled a den I wouldn’t mind, but it’s just destroyed.

Do I just leave it and hope the parents spot it? Or maybe post something on the community page? But I don’t like to be a moaning neighbour. Some of the parents let their kids run wild around here so probably couldn’t care less about the mess 😭

Dp has a couple days off this week so maybe I’ll get out there myself to do it.

To add there’s a plastic garden toy out there that is all cracked and looks like it’s ready for the tip! Looks like a right eyesore right outside my house and it’s nothing to do with me!

You are not being unreasonable. It's lovely that they've been able to play there but if there's a mess they or their parents should tidy it up, especially litter.

Do you know the families? Could suggest organise a big team clean up?

I know my neighbours but not that well. The problem is there’s so many children I don’t know where it’s all come from. Some children play around here from around the corner etc. I don’t see any notice to who’s outside! I’m glad they’ve had fun but now it’s destroyed it needs picking up. I’d be out there but dc don’t make it easy and I wouldn’t know where to put it all. I could just tidy it up a bit I guess.

I wouldn't sneak on the children or post on the community page. I think you could wind up taking a lot of bother for that. Phone the Council/Housing Association or if it's next to a private estate the Management Company. The Council should be able to tell you who is responsible for the ground and pays for the maintenance. It sounds as if there needs to be a rubbish bin put in.

@ItsDinah there’s no children out there, hasn’t been all day. It’s a management company I believe! All the houses are owned or private rented, it’s not council or housing association! I think we do actually pay a fee to them (dp sorts it) so I’ll try and track a number down for them, thank you!

It’s a semi rural village here and no bins whatsoever but most people are fab and take it home. We don’t generally have a litter problem. It’s great the kids have made a den during this time but the mess not so good! There’s blankets, jumpers and all sorts out there too.

Report it is as flytipping to the council and they will come and clear it up