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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parents standing on my front lawn

360 replies

Twizbe · 28/04/2021 15:43

Trying to decide if I say something to the Head so thought I'd ask here first.

I live next to a 2 form entry junior school. Our house is the last of 3 down a single track private dead end road. The end of the road is a gate for the school. Our property boundaries the school.

When we moved in this gate was just emergency access / gardener access for the school. No kids used this entrance.

After covid the school use this gate for year 6. Since the schools went back after Xmas we have 60 kids using this gate morning and evening.

A few times now I've seen parents stood on our lawn or in sunny weather sat on it.

Today I came home and this bloke was stood almost at our front door playing with the leaves on a young tree in the lawn (it's about waist height)

He just gave me a dirty look at I turned my car into my drive.

AIBU to ask the school to remind parents that this is private property and not a place to sit / stand.

OP posts:
MondeoFan · 28/04/2021 16:36

I feel for you, I live a couple of doors away from a school and children run over my front garden and not only that parents park across my drive regardless of whether there's a car on the drive or not. This has resulted in arguments over the years.
Parents literally yelling at me that they'll park where they like.
Def do something about it

FlyingBurrito · 28/04/2021 16:36

Tbf I wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable and didn't want to make a scene

How can anyone not know that it's totally fine to ask people not to stand on your private garden Shock

What's the thinking behind that?

CleverCatty · 28/04/2021 16:37

@Londonmummy66

You can buy movement sensitive fox repellants which squirt a jet of water at knee height if something sets them off. One on each corner of the lawn should do it.

They don't repel foxes btw

interesting.

definitely sprinklers, pointy fence, have you considered a small or larger barky/yappy dog?

and finally spiky plants right where they park their posteriors.

bad enough for me that I'm a few minutes away from a school and sometimes people lob rubbish in the front garden, like cardboard coffee cups, chocolate bar wrappers, crisp packets etc

RunHobbitRun · 28/04/2021 16:38

The bloke probably gave you a stinking look because he can't drive and park down your road but you can. I'd put money on him driving and parking now he's seen you do it!

Speak to the school and challenge anyone on your lawn. If they don't listen then the hose comes out...I've checked you can't get in trouble for making someone wet on your land Grin

Candycane57 · 28/04/2021 16:39

Definitely speak to the school first. You can get some cheap edging fence that spikes into the ground that may deter them. It's a shit situation but for less than a tenner could do the job.
I lived next to a private primary school and had twatty parents park on my drive and sit on my front wall so I know your pain!

SonicStars · 28/04/2021 16:40

You're not unreasonable at all. Let the school know so they can send a message home.

I've been surprised at parents not telling their kids off for going into people's gardens or walking on walls but this really is something else. They must not realise it's a garden to be sitting on your lawn surely.

But I'm sure the school will be able to address it and if a note home doesn't work then maybe a member of staff on that gate saying goodbye to families and keeping an eye might be the next step. I wouldn't want to confront people myself as they know where I live and are passing twice daily so could make my life hell. The school reminding them to respect neighbours would be preferable.

Whammyyammy · 28/04/2021 16:40

Garden sprinkler on a timer, set to come on at school pick up/drop off time. They'll soon getbthe hint....

Confusedandshaken · 28/04/2021 16:41

I'd definitely fence it off and also install motion activated sprinklers. There will be a new influx of parents every year and the school has more than enough to do without having to keep reminding people not to stand in neighbours gardens.

lanthanum · 28/04/2021 16:43

Definitely speak to the school - they can do a general request very easily. If that doesn't work, then you might have to speak to people yourself or try the sprinkler (or a sign saying you've just used moss killer).

It might be worth checking out what the rules are on the school's access along your private road. If it's only supposed to be for emergency access, then you could point out that "because of the covid situation, we have been understanding about the regular use of the emergency access". They might be anxious to keep you on side.

FuzzyPuffling · 28/04/2021 16:44

Land mines.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/04/2021 16:44

I agree with fencing it off. Of course the cheeky fucker shouldn't have given you a dirty look, how rude, and I can see why you wouldn't have wanted to confront him particularly, but yeah - you need to take control of this situation.

No harm in mentioning it to the school as a reminder that it's private property down there! Some people might think your home is attached to the school - maybe where the school caretaker lives - but that's still no excuse!

Nice spiky plants = juniper bushes, pyracanthus, cotoneaster, berberis - a decent hedge of those and a picket fence should help see off the CFs!

Original poster
Twizbe · 28/04/2021 16:45

My husband is mr no confrontation. I mentioned it last summer and he said to not make a fuss and it wasn't hurting us.

My kitchen and living room are at the back of the house so I only see it if I happen to be outside at the time.

The other day I came home (on foot) with my kids who are 2 and 4 just as they were letting out. I opened my car to get their scooters out / put the pram away and I got some dirty looks then as well.

OP posts:
Carryonlikeaporkchop · 28/04/2021 16:46

@FlyingBurrito

Tbf I wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable and didn't want to make a scene

How can anyone not know that it's totally fine to ask people not to stand on your private garden Shock

What's the thinking behind that?

Exactly what @FlyingBurrito says.

Why don't you know that complete strangers shouldn't be on your private property?

Would it be OK if they let themselves in and made a cup of tea too?
Maybe you could let them drive your car?

WTF is wrong with people?

SamBeckettsLastLeap · 28/04/2021 16:46

@FuzzyPuffling

Land mines.
Like your thinking.

I was going to suggest dog or human shit.

Serendipity79 · 28/04/2021 16:46

I'd approach the school but I'd also consider a pointy fence (definitely not a wall or they'll sit on it/walk on it).

Have to say as well tho, some parents just wont listen so be prepared for that even if the school send out texts/letters. We have a similar set up to you for our school where its a small road with a few houses and the school is at the bottom with a wider area which people always use as a turning space. Parents are asked not to drive down, there are signs up which I think the council put in, yet there are the same handful of parents who refuse to listen, drive down, pick up their cherubs, and then do a 3 point turn right between the two gates where parents are going in and out of the one way system.

A few of us more militant mums have now deliberately started walking in the middle of the road to make it as inconvenient as possible for them to get in and out purely because we're angry that they're risking the kids safety and annoying the folk who live on the close purely for their convenience of not having to walk a few hundred yards …….

nancywhitehead · 28/04/2021 16:47

*Tbf I wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable and didn't want to make a scene.

Now I know I'm not being unreasonable I will ask anyone I see standing there to move*

You didn't know if you were being unreasonable asking people not to come onto your private property? Confused

No, of course you're not being unreasonable. It's your garden!

CaptainAwkward · 28/04/2021 16:48

Moat and rabid guard wolves.

Of course YANBU, why on earth did you think you were?
I’d have no problem asking nobheads ‘Can I help you? Why are you in my garden?’

Ring up the school and tell the arseholes to get off your land woman!

CharityDingle · 28/04/2021 16:48

@thenightsky

Rush around flicking them with a tea towel whilst shouting 'off-off' in your best fishwife tone.
Grin
ArnottsUnderpass · 28/04/2021 16:49

The good news is post Covid they'll stop using that entrance again. They've had to spread out the kids and parents but (hopefully) won't be forever

EileenGC · 28/04/2021 16:49

Fences, sprinklers, plants and dogs cost money. The OP could simply ask these parents, nicely, if they could get off her property. Then contact the school. Maybe after that she can think about spending money on unnecessary stuff.

Original poster
Twizbe · 28/04/2021 16:49

Every year the school tells new parents that they must not drive down the road or park on it. In the 12+ years we've lived here I've only had one bloke park over the top of the road and block it ... but then up until 4 years ago I was never here during school hours so 🤷🏼‍♀️

My kids won't be going to this school which in some ways is a shame as it would be such an easy school run lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Twizbe · 28/04/2021 16:52

Just to be clear, the landscaping is in our plans anyway. The front garden was last done in the 70s way too much crazy paving for our liking lol

OP posts:
purpleleotard · 28/04/2021 16:53

You state that you live on a private road.
So does the public have right of access down the road?
You could always have a gate fitted at the top of the road restricting any visitors.

fabulousathome · 28/04/2021 16:53

I'd do railings with spiky plants coming through.

Cheeky people!

Devlesko · 28/04/2021 16:53

Put up a sign "Private Property" "Beware of the DOG"

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