School kids walking on my front garden wall

[Randomo]

Why do parents think its okay to have their kids walk on my front garden wall (2 foot high)....

Whats worse are the kids that sit on the 'pillar' at the entrance to my drive. (A 3 foot high brick pillar with a flat top).

When I was a kid I was taught not to walk or sit on others property. I dont blame the kids so much as the parents. Its drives me nuts. I used to call them out on it, but given up now....too many different/new parents each year.

Or am I the one with a problem?

I don't mind at all when it's the little ones walking along it, I'm happy they're enjoying one of the fun things of being a kid!!

I'm not so keen on the teenagers 'hanging out' on it. (There are plenty of parks in the neighbourhood one big one within tennis ball throwing distance). They don't seem to mind wet bums either, unfortunately.

No I wouldn’t let mine do it to some bodies wall, wouldn’t even cross my mind that it’s ok to do that. It’stheir property.

There was one wall I’d let mine walk on, it belonged to the school.

Aw, I’ve got an almost 5 year old who I walk to nursery with. We do have frequent conversations about people’s property but it’s hard for her to always get right why some are ok, like the wall around Tesco, and some are a no. Every so often she is ahead of me and spies a little wall and it’s like watching a magnet draw her in! As I say we do speak a lot about the walls not to go on!

Can you not electrify it?

I can understand you being annoyed a bit, but the inner child in me would love to be able to walk on walls, did you not do things like this as a child?

YANBU

Regardless of what others think it’s your property, they should stay away from it.
Also if an accident happens, cheeky fuckers might try to sue you. I would put something on the wall to make it impossible for them to get on it.

I dont let my dc walk on garden walls as I think it is very rude. They are allowed to walk on walls in public spaces like parks, but I make sure they keep off of all private property including walls, gardens and driveways as that is basic respect surely.

I disagree with everyone. I think this shows a total lack of respect and you should phone them school.

Have you ever asked them not to?

I find it really strange when people whether it’s children or adults touch someone else’s property in this way.

I looked out the window the other day and a not so dainty lady was sitting on my single brick depth (width?) wall! It’s already not in great condition too!

I'm with you OP. It's fun for kids and mine love to do this but I don't let them walk on other people's property! Public spaces are fair game though. And a wall that is only 1 brick thick won't take much for it to collapse. Aside from any potential lawsuits I would be bloody furious at having to pay for a replacement!
Plant some pyracantha, its devilishly spiky and quite pretty.

Our cottage opens onto the village path with three steps down and rails. Children going to and from school love to grab the rails and swing through or up and over. It’s never once bothered me. I imagine if it did I’d spend a lot of needless time being grumpy.

Two doors down is a bit of communal grass with a low wall that comes up to the side gate of another cottage. A lady has recently started renting it and spends an awful lot of of her time screaming at kids to get off the wall as her gate rattles from the vibration of them jumping off. She is getting worse and it’s clearly doing her no good.

I’ve never considered the legal position before but as private property rather than a church (mentioned upthread(, I’d imagine that as long as I could demonstrate my steps and railings were in good order for their intended use (ie walking up and down and holding onto), I’d be absolutely fine.

What a shame your parents didn't teach you to take joy from other people's, particularly children's, happiness.

So many CFs on this thread. It’s the OPs property not a free for all. Want your child to climb on something go to a playground.

No way would I have been allowed to disrespect someone else’s property when I was a child. Kids being kids isn’t an excuse

Ah the joys of a low wall.

I don't let my son so it on domestic properties no because people may not like it. But even I get tempted.

I can't believe how many people are saying that it's OK 😱 my kids love to walk on walls as much as anyone, I would never let them walk on someone's garden wall.

Pyracantha shrubs are your friend here.
Exceptionally thorny and provide bounteous food for wildlife.

@81Byerley

I'm retired and live a long way from my family. I love watching the children walking past my house on their way to and from school. No wall, but if I had one, I'd be happy to let them walk on it. I hope somewhere in two places there are Grandmas who enjoy watching my Grandchildren as they pass, doing the things children like to do, like walking along low walls.

This post made me smile. For every person who doesn't like it there might be four more that feel like this. There's not enough joy in the world, don't take low walls away from children as well.

Roses. Don't worry about the children falling into them. If the roses are doing their job and are well-placed, the children won't even try to get on the wall.

Let the angels find some other wall to walk on!

Smear the wall with jam!

It doesn’t bother me, if it was teenagers or adults then yes but little kids? Sorry but you’re being grinch like.

Stick a pointy cap on the pillar, no law against it, makes it impossible to sit on. Railings cemented into the bricks on the wall or spikes bush, dunno why you’re worried about kids falling into the bush, they shouldn’t be on the wall in the first place, should they?

It is really rude and it does do harm. Brick garden walls don't last forever, especially if they get climbed on regularly. Perhaps those who think it's fine will be volunteering to pay for the repairs?

However, you're on a hiding to nothing if you try to stop it. As you've seen here.

My parents deliberately didn't fix the lose bricks caused by children climbing on their wall, so that it was wobbly and unsafe. No doubt some parents would like to make it the homeowners fault if a child falls off such a wall, but they were fed up of having it rebuilt.

Use that paint on the pillar that is always sticky and leaves marks if anyone sits on it.

@1Morewineplease

Maybe email the school and explain that your wall has been damaged due to the little darlings constantly walking on it, then the school might mention it in their next newsletter.

Fun or enticing though your wall might be, it's not on to have it walked on, particularly as you've already had to repair it.

damaged by walking on it ? are you for real? what are they, giants in hobnail boots?