We own our front gardens let’s use them!

[Bostonten]

Why is everyone still snobby about the use of front gardens? With land being at a premium at the moment, why shouldn’t people use them as they wish without snobbery?

Mine is tiny. I'd like to put some veg in it but knowing where I live someone would probably vandalise them or pinch them.

No thanks. I prefer the privacy of my back garden. Much more relaxing.

Possibly some extreme version of Calvinism/religion that is still unconsciously present in society? e.g. you must'nt be seen to be enjoying yourself too much or relaxing. Its a shame, I'm sure that in villages in previous generations, people used to sit out on their front doorstep without even a garden and it was a social thing to do.

cf people who complain about holidaymakers coming to their area and god forbid, enjoying themselves.

I miss the 1970s when social mores were firmly established - front gardens were for the use of dc and neighbourhood children under the age of 14. Then they graduated to back lanes and alleyways trading in their footballs and hula hoops for 2ltr bottles of cider. Back gardens are for adults - by day for housewives to hang laundry and gossip over fences, and by evening for fathers to potter in sheds.

It’s just a matter of knowing your place.

@sashh

carefullycourageous

Please put something that hedgehogs can use to get out of a pond, they can swim but often can't get out of ponds so drown.

No fear we have that all covered! We intend to have a ramp at both sides.

My primary ambition is to have a hedgehog live under my hedge

@Ozgirl75

“Read the room”? That’s so insensitive to people who can’t read.

I was going to say that 🤣

My primary ambition is to have a hedgehog live under my hedge

For some reason this is the best thing I’ve read all week.

What’s it got to do with snobbery?

I’d have thought it’s to do with privacy and maybe traffic noise? If you have a back garden as well presumably you’re more likely to use that?

@LadyAnglerfish

My primary ambition is to have a hedgehog live under my hedge

For some reason this is the best thing I’ve read all week.

I’m going to second that.

When you get one @LadyAnglerfish will you please start a hedgehog under the hedge thread? Mumsnet really needs a Nature Corner.

I don't have any outdoor space but if I did, I would sit wherever I fancied whenever I fancied. The sort of people who are uptight about others enjoying their front gardens are not the sort of people whose opinions I value.

Oh I just realised it’s @carefullycourageous with the hedgehog ambitions. Deffo a thread please.

I would never want to

Also, I don't want to see my neighbours' pants drying on a washing line out front, and I sure as hell don't want them all seeing mine

Ffs not this again.

I have a front garden that is grass. I don't use it as the toddler can escape onto the main road, also often I don't want to chat with every person who passes by 😂

@Thoosa

What?

I thought the main issue with British front gardens was that too many had been paved?

Who is saying don’t use them?

It’s late. You’ll have to explain.

I voted YANBU but agree with this. Who has been told they can't use their front garden. The people in my row of houses all use their front gardens. It got us through lockdown chatting from a distance.

I'm very gradually making mine into a permaculture orchard. It's going to be a half-assed mess for a few years though because I don't have much budget for plants and my ADHD objects strongly to digging. But eventually it'll be a lovely spot for wildlife and for the neighbours to grab some fruit or herbs on their way past (we're very rural so that might be two or three people a day).

@Luredbyapomegranate @LadyAnglerfish

I think it will take a loooooong time as I have only just planted the hedge, the nighbours may think we are as it looks like we have planted dead twigs. The hawthorn is now getting leaves but the blackthorn does look decidedly dead... We may have to replace those (luckily it is 70% hawthorn and only a few roses/blackthorn so not much lost in terms of £). The roses are just showing first signs of life.

But if I see any signs of a hedgehog I will post it on the gardening board!

I have to add that it is off the road, there is no traffic road and very few passers by. Those considerations would probably stop me using it but not because someone (who?) has told me I shouldn't.

I agree with others, generally people use their back garden out of preference, not snobbery. Front gardens are often lacking in privacy, right next to thr drive and parked cars, and very often smaller.

I live in a back to back so the only garden I have is at the front. I use it a lot, grateful to have any form of outside space.

@echt Poms don't sit in their front gardens. It's considered naff. Maybe in the 1950s.

Shame as mine is lovely and sunny in the evening. It's open plan and tiny though.

Welcome to Mumsnet OP. Beautifully written post too. You could be a professional journalist with dope skilz like that. Are you going to reply or do you just want to gather opinions?

Anyway, my front garden is north facing and small. It's also on a major road and very public. It has a very practical porpoise. It is just for me to look at as I come and go, and for passers by. I would never dream of just being out there.

Luckily our front and back gardens are both not overlooked, although we tend not to sit in the front much. We have chickens and fruit trees and a small table and chairs but it's where we park the cars as well so it's just nicer to sit elsewhere.

Using one’s front garden is perfectly fine, abusing it is quite different. I do think some people have never experienced areas with front gardens that look like rubbish tips. Old and rusty white goods, car parts, or a decaying car, broken toys, and bits of furniture. Other parts of the decor might include the house number painted two foot tall in emulsion on the wall, fag ends and empty cans. And generally the residents and friends, who have little to do but shout at neighbours, play loud music and swear at their offspring.

Ask any social housing worker, or most of the the residents. Or even some MNetters who have to live in close proximity to neighbours like these. It only takes one house like that in a street to spoil it for everyone else. There used to be inspections to ensure some effort was being made to comply with tenancy conditions, but those, if they even happen, are rare now.