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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours workmen in our garden. CF or not?

32 replies

Vindscreenviper · 23/07/2021 21:54

We've been out since 10am & when we got home (6ish) I noticed a rake propped up against the wall in back garden, I thought dh had left it there & forgot about it.
Sitting out after dinner I realized that some of our ndn's small trees & shrubs that were dangling over the fence had been cut back a lot. Looking closer I saw that most of my shrubs & flowers below had been trampled down & there was a lot of clippings mixed in with the carnage.
I checked our CCTV & it turns out that two workmen were in our garden while we were out cutting ndn's trees from our side too.
We get on well with ndn & I'm surprised they didn't check with us first. Obviously it's not their fault that the blokes stamped all over my lovely alliums etc but AIBU to be a pissed off about it?

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 23/07/2021 21:56

YANBU, they shouldn’t be in your garden without permission.

Original poster
Vindscreenviper · 23/07/2021 22:01

Even a short WhatsApp msg to check it was ok would have felt considerate.
DH says that there was a wood pigeon nest in the biggest tree & that's gone now.
I mean they were noisy fuckers but that's a bit shit isn't it?

OP posts:
MaMelon · 23/07/2021 22:06

Are you really having to ask?!

Yes - this is cheeky fuckery of the highest order. I presume they will be restoring your garden and plants to the way they were and assuming all costs to do so?

Cherrysoup · 23/07/2021 22:07

It’s illegal to chop back hedges/trees if there are nesting birds (til October, I think) You can report that and I’d be talking to your neighbour re criminal damage to your garden/plants. Wankers.

Original poster
Vindscreenviper · 23/07/2021 22:10

I think that they probably think they've done us a favour. DH is a bit miffed but thinks we're up a nice newish rake so ...

OP posts:
expat101 · 23/07/2021 22:20

I would mention it to your neighbour and ask that they come back to tidy up your side and reinstate your plantings.

Mouthfulofquiz · 23/07/2021 22:26

I would absolutely expect the neighbours to be replacing like for like what was damaged. So rude. Are you going to speak to them
About it?

justasking111 · 23/07/2021 22:27

@expat101

I would mention it to your neighbour and ask that they come back to tidy up your side and reinstate your plantings.
This
PrettyBlunt · 23/07/2021 22:28

Of course CF!

My DM old neighbours were having an extension built and needed one panel of the fence down for whatever reason and my mum come back from work and caught them using the garden tap to fill up their buckets!!! She turned the water off.

Zilla1 · 23/07/2021 22:28

First of all an apology I think. Then repairs.

AddressLabel · 23/07/2021 22:59

Your neighbours might not have known that the workmen went into your garden. They can be quite cheeky and just do it as it makes it easier for them, and they mostly get away with it. I’ve caught a workman in my garden before now, bloody ladder marks in my grass.

Undertheoldlindentree · 24/07/2021 03:44

It would be nice if they'd asked first, but I do think it's allowed legally.....for essential maintenance of buildings/guttering or cutting back overgrown trees and hedges.

SycamoreGap · 24/07/2021 07:17

@Undertheoldlindentree

It would be nice if they'd asked first, but I do think it's allowed legally.....for essential maintenance of buildings/guttering or cutting back overgrown trees and hedges.
It really isn’t.
IamnotSethRogan · 24/07/2021 07:23

Maybe send a quick message?

"Hi ndn. We got home and noticed our shrubs had all been trampled so had a quick look on the ctv and could see your work men in our garden, which we didn't know about "

They might have thought the workmen knocked at your door or something?

headintheproverbial · 24/07/2021 08:31

Is it possible the neighbours didn't even know the workmen were in your garden??

HoboSexualOnslow · 24/07/2021 08:38

I've spent loads of time and money on my garden and I'd be upset and angry if this happened to me. They need to sort it out and replace what was damaged. Those poor pigeons, they are clearly not a reputable business if they're willing to cut down trees when it's illegal

bellabasset · 24/07/2021 08:41

Perhaps the ndn''s were out and unaware that the gardeners had gone your side? Although if they were gardeners they wouldn't have damaged your plants. Ask for their details, take photos of the mess and put a post on fb advising people not to use these people unless you were happy upsetting your ndn Grin

Sciurus83 · 24/07/2021 08:43

Its not just shit to remove an active nest it's illegal! AND the alliums, this is so incredibly not ok!

Sciurus83 · 24/07/2021 08:45

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/ Summary of Wildlife and Countryside Act re nests

Sciurus83 · 24/07/2021 08:47

Any business who removes trees should know this, cowboys

DifficultBloodyWoman · 24/07/2021 08:48

How do you feel about your neighbours and how pissed off are you?

Assume the neighbour didn’t know.

‘Neighbour, when we got home we noticed parts of our garden had been destroyed(!) so we checked the CCTV. Your workmen came over here and have damaged/destroyed our plants. Please can you arrange a time with them to come and make good the damage? Alternatively, it is going to cost £££ to repair and replace. They have also removed bird nests which is illegal/a criminal offence until October which I haven’t reported. Yet. (check if this is the case instead, I don’t know and am just picking up on what a pp said). Would you like me to send the cctv images as evidence?’

Neighbour will probably cough up themselves and never use those gardeners again. Or they may complain directly to the company. Or they might tell you to fuck off.

You might get some satisfaction or you might start World War III.

househousehousefox · 24/07/2021 09:21

Not neighbours fault. Ring them and ask for the company name and report them for destroying the nest. Also ring them and ask them for the money for the damages and clean up or you will name and shame online.
ALSO!!!! Bloody show the video on local Facebook pages. What horrid people.
(don't think its the neighbours fault. they probably didn't even know they came into your garden)

Original poster
Vindscreenviper · 24/07/2021 12:49

I've had another look at the CCTV & ndn did come round & knocked on our door about 30 mins before workmen arrived & was standing at our garden gate when they came in & started work so definitely knew what they were doing. As I said I think he thinks he's done us a favour as it was quite bushy (but I didn't mind that & appreciated the privacy it gave us)
We're off on holiday next week so don't want to rock the boat as we look out for each others houses/take in post etc. All our neighbours have been friendly & supportive during lockdown so I would feel a bit shit rocking the boat over this.
Now if it had been her at No5...Grin
Still feel sorry for the poor pigeon family

OP posts:
househousehousefox · 24/07/2021 22:05

now if it had been her at no 5
that gave me a giggle

I agree with you not worth messing up neighbour relations. Just maybe get a good lock on your gate in future.

Nanny0gg · 24/07/2021 22:08

I will never understand threads like this