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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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67 replies

User20611 · 27/02/2022 09:54

I don’t no what else to do, I live in a cul de sac and have approx 10+ children in our street, They range from 3-16years.

Weather seems a lot better and the nights
Are getting lighter, out comes the children playing, (it doesn’t bother me
The slightest that children are out playing as mine some times goes out to join them to)

But every child that plays out seems to think my front garden is a playing area for the street!

My living room window is at the front of my house… I get approx 6 maybe more children think it’s acceptable to walking, riding bikes, scooters, playing dolls, football any game really on my front garden. I have children standing right up against my living room window shouting, screaming, bouncing balls the lot 🤦🏼‍♀️.

I have gone out to ask them nicely to not play out on our front garden and if they can go to play on there own garden instead but they still don’t listen, soon as I shut the door they are back on and have forgotten what I’ve just said.

Ive gone on to bashing on the living room at least 4-5 times a day, the same as my husband, they just look at me with a shocked face to think they are doing nothing wrong!

My husband is starting to get really fed up as it’s been going on for so long and no matter what we say and do they totally ignore us and can see him shouting very soon.
We have given them the polite talking to and the bash on the window to remind them but nothing stops it.

My husband works long hours and when he’s finished from work and walking to the door he’s having to climb over scooters bikes and balls even food rubbish all dumped along outside our front door! We never have peace or to be able to relax in our living room.

We would like to put hedging along our garden but feel this will be damaged from bikes and scooter and footballs being always dumped on our garden.

I have tried speak with the parents as we all get along well in our street, but seems to fall on deaf ears.

Does anyone else have any advice on what we can do, moving is not a option!

OP posts:
RewildingAmbridge · 27/02/2022 09:55

You need to put up a fence and gate

Justkeeppedaling · 27/02/2022 10:10

Put an electric fence up.

Your can put up a fence, plant a hedge behind it and remove the fence once the hedge is established. But hedges need a lot more maintenance than fences!

It doesn't need to be a high fence. Just something to demarcate your garden from the pavement/road.

TillyTopper · 27/02/2022 10:10

Put up a strong fence and gate and keep it shut. That's really the only way if your garden is open I think. If all else fails a Mosquito alarm? Seems extreme though!

CrackerGal · 27/02/2022 10:11

Yes you need to put up a fence ASAP this is the only way to keep them out.

unchienandalucia · 27/02/2022 10:15

You need to visually and physically mark your border. Most people do this with a hedge or fence.

guessmyusername · 27/02/2022 11:39

You have my sympathies. This used to happen to us. One day I opened my front door and started to step out when a neighbour (adult) cycled just in front of me and across mine and another neighbours front garden. we decided to put a fence up. That didn't stop the kids though they used the gate as goal posts and the hedge opposite as the other goals. The ball frequently hit our car. We asked the kids politely to play in front of their own house but they said they were not allowed in case they hit their car!!! We spoke to the parents and it stopped for a while but then started up again. It only stopped when the kids got older. We now don't have many little kids in the street. No easy answer

Chamomileteaplease · 27/02/2022 11:43

Agree that you need a barrier of sorts.

Do they use other neighbours' front gardens as well?

It would be sweet and very 1960s, 70s if it wasn't so annoying Grin.

DiddyHeck · 27/02/2022 11:44

Is putting up a fence and gate too obvious a suggestion?

NobodysGonnaKnow · 27/02/2022 11:45

I think you’re going to have to spend some money unfortunately.

TruJay · 27/02/2022 11:46

“We asked the kids politely to play in front of their own house but they said they were not allowed in case they hit their car!!!”

This is exactly what I was just going to say your issue is, they’ve been told to stay away from their own houses/cars. The parents you’ve spoken to don’t care that it bothers you because they’re happy it isn’t bothering them. They don’t want the noise or mess from their own kids.

Get a fence up and honestly tell them to sod off, they’re not stupid, just cheeky, you know when you’re not allowed to do something especially when you’ve been told not to do it. To ignore that request is simply being a cheeky little git.

Aderyn21 · 27/02/2022 11:46

Fence definitely, but if I had to step over other peoples bikes etc to get into my own house I'd throw the lot in the road.

PonyPatter44 · 27/02/2022 11:46

Put up a fence...or one of those pop-up sprinklers.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/02/2022 11:48

Fence and a tall gate with a bolt in your side.

ZenNudist · 27/02/2022 11:49

Cancel the cheque

Sorry, put up a fence!!

Natty13 · 27/02/2022 11:51

Hose.

BigupPemberleyMassive · 27/02/2022 11:52

Good fences make good neighbours

Xmassprout · 27/02/2022 11:52

Sprinklers

cutebutstabby · 27/02/2022 11:53

4 foot fence and spiky plants....

TurquoiseDragon · 27/02/2022 11:54

Water gun. Every time.

Raindancer411 · 27/02/2022 11:55

Out a temporary chicken wire fence to protect the hedges whilst growing, or put a proper fence and gate up. I would be mortified if it was one of mine that did that!!

FairFuming · 27/02/2022 11:55

Definitely a fence. Why are parents allowing this?

Fuckitsstillraining · 27/02/2022 12:00

Fence/wall and gate needed asap. In the meantime every time you find a bike, scooter, ball etc in your garden you take it, either put it in your back garden where the owner can't get it without asking or if that's not possible put it out on the road where it could be damaged, keep doing this. And keep telling the kids to play elsewhere. I've been through similar, my house was on the corner of an estate so lots of road frontage making my gates ideal goal posts, my car, windows, flowers and door were constantly being battered, I was a single mother and expected to take this because the neighbouring Dads didn't want it outside their houses, after asking nicely I got pissed off and just kept the balls, threw the bikes etc on the road/footpath (I couldn't drive in or out of my own driveway without moving something, the parents weren't happy but the kids stopped using my house as a play area (huge green area in front of houses, kids not allowed to play there because they'd get dirty). I was so glad to move out and back to the countryside, I'd never lived in an estate before and don't plan on ever doing it again.

MushroomCat · 27/02/2022 12:01

I would knock on the parents door every time they do it "excuse me xxxx is on our garden again, please can you come get them." And get your border plants up asap.

mumda · 27/02/2022 12:01

Get some big heavy unbreakable planters as garden items.
Put them in places likely to disrupt play.

MarmiteCoriander · 27/02/2022 12:04

If you dont want a fence, what about long, thin planters going around the border- ideally with something spiky growing out of them Grin