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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Forest School.....omg the noise!

144 replies

SenseCheckMe · 16/06/2023 17:09

We live next to primary school, never been a issue. But in recent years they have set up a Forest School which encourages nature learning and outdoor activities, all great stuff.

However, the Forest School is located (on the school field, in a small group of trees) directly behind our garden's rear fence.

The noise!!!! Classes seem to be held several times a day, and there's much shreiking and screaming going on.

Roughly 30 or so kids at a time, several groups a day, every school day, for 5-6 hours with few quiet breaks.

It's now impossible to enjoy garden when there's equivalent of a large children's party going on.

It's not just me that is effected, ironically it's the wildlife too. The birds are frequently scared off, and quite upsettingly, is the hedgehogs which (yearly visitors, hibinating close to trees) are rapidly dwindling each spring.

I did call the school twice, to advise of the hibernating hedgehogs and also concerns of noise. But, nothing has changed.

So....what should i do? I'm strongly considering selling.

OP posts:
windowof · 16/06/2023 19:45

JMSA · 16/06/2023 18:13

I work at a school in Scotland. Here anyway, it's only children with significant additional needs who can access Forest Schools. So they're really deserving of their place. If you're talking about a regular school with a wooded area attached, then I still think you're being unreasonable. Sorry! It is annoying, but the price you pay for living near a school I guess.

This simply isn't true,
I'm in East Renfrewshire in Scotland and all our primary schools have forest school sessions as part of their week. It's actually really similar to what the OP describes so I'm wondering if she's in East Ren too!
Forest school sessions are definitely not only for children with ASN though, which is a great thing of course.

OP I do feel for you although I doubt there's much you can actually do unfortunately.

Underminer · 16/06/2023 19:48

Only when an activity becomes so inconvenient to those living nearby as to be an unreasonable interference is that activity deemed to be a nuisance in law. You won’t get anywhere complaining as the school is using an area of its ground for the purpose of teaching children, and those hours are restricted to school hours, term time only. School won’t do anything, the council won’t do anything but I do sympathise.

MathsNervous · 16/06/2023 19:48

"I really detest these people who assume everyone works and that everyone works during Monday-Friday office hours."

Yep, but you will get nowhere on MN with this. Everyone on MN only works 9 til 5 Monday to Friday, did you not know this?!😂

OP, moving would be your best bet if you don't want to pop on headphones in your garden.

A lot of children do not get regular outdoor activities when outside of school for various reasons so this is good that forest schools are around. We need to encourage this, not cause obstacles to children learning outdoor skills.

Hardbackwriter · 16/06/2023 19:50

SenseCheckMe · 16/06/2023 19:35

@Hardbackwriter a grateful thankyou! You've really given me a whole new perspective on this issue that I wasn't anticipating from posting on here.

You could well be quite right, that they aren't shrieking all the time, and an objective bystander would have a differing view.

So I'm going to try to approach this a bit differently.

That is a really open-minded response that you seldom see on MN (including, if I'm honest, from me). Thank you for being open to my perspective.

I do think that ultimately this may not be the right place for you - I know that's hard if you like everything else about the house. Some noise is just much more tolerable to some people than others; I used to live somewhere with traffic noise that I could live with but that visitors were astonished I could stand. On the other hand, I once lived in a house where I just couldn't stand that I could hear doors closing (at the time I probably would have said slamming), people walking up and down the stairs, lights being switched on and off. I don't think it would have bothered everyone, but it really did me. If this is a kind of noise that presses all your buttons then it's going to keep bothering you.

IncomingTraffic · 16/06/2023 19:54

The hibernating hedgehogs? In June?

LakieLady · 16/06/2023 19:58

CherryCokeFanatic · 16/06/2023 18:57

Exactly the reason I’d never live backing onto (or indeed in the roads immediately surrounding) a school

Same here.

There's a primary school a quarter of a mile from my house. Hearing children's voices from this distance, when they're outside at break is really rather pleasant, but I wouldn't want to live any nearer.

Caroparo52 · 16/06/2023 19:59

Sell. Useless to argue unless they get a proper environmentally trained teacher who respects nature and its vibrations

troublenowyeh · 16/06/2023 20:00

The School will be closed for summer soon so you'll get a decent break from it. As much as I can understand it's annoying its a a really important activity for the kids (especially if you're in a city and many don't have gardens) and I don't think there's much you can do about it.

CamelCaseLetter · 16/06/2023 20:02

I'll swap your children noise for my crackhead neighbour noise. Last week they ripped all the kitchen tiles off the wall, took them out the back and smashed them.

CamelCaseLetter · 16/06/2023 20:03

At 3am.

MavisMcMinty · 16/06/2023 20:05

We had neighbours who bought a house on a public footpath then tried to get the footpath closed.

Your problem does seem a little like this, @SenseCheckMe .

ApplesInTheSunshine · 16/06/2023 20:09

YABU. You live next to a school.

And why would you think they would change it for a few hedgehogs who can just go live elsewhere? Confused

EmeraldFox · 16/06/2023 20:10

It's only 9 to 3 for just over half the days in the year, and only weekdays. Most neighbours would use their gardens in the evenings and on weekends. Those home in the day with small children would make their own noise.

TooJoy · 16/06/2023 20:30

If you move next to a disc you’re going to hear the traffic.

If you move next to a kennels you’re going to hear the barking.

If you move next to a school you’re going to hear the children.

It’s not like it’s all day, every day.
They’re home by 4:30 and no one’s there on the weekend or during the holidays.

Beatrixpottersdog · 16/06/2023 20:32

I'm conflicted.
It does sound like an unreasonable level of noise. Though of course a great experience for the children. Though it shouldn't be at the expense of damaging wildlife. However, in your shoes I would absolutely be upset and I'd be a liar to pretend otherwise. 30+ kids making that level of noise so frequently behind my fence is not something you expect when living close to a school. Damaging the wildlife would also spur me on and I'd probably start with 1 afternoon a week playing out loud some offensive rap music. Can't stop you from enjoying your music at a reasonable hour one afternoon or so a week. Hoping they are more considerate to other people and nature. Whilst musing over what to do next if that fails... no other suggestions. That's my first thought anyway.

MathsNervous · 16/06/2023 20:32

CamelCaseLetter · 16/06/2023 20:03

At 3am.

That's awful. It affects your sleep. We once had neighbours who would shag all through the night, for days. I couldn't get any sleep due to the noise. It was crap, had to contact noise pollution team. Finally resolved when they moved house.

I could tolerate children making a rammie at school during daylight hours. You have set hours of predictable noise and can work around that (after a decent night's sleep!!).

londonrach · 16/06/2023 20:36

Yabu and slightly strange.. school hours 9-3...of which they got registration, break s,lunch etc...house near school it's parking that's the issue normally and tbh you from 3pm-9am and school holidays and weekends ....not an issue

LauraPausini · 16/06/2023 20:38

It comes with the territory of living next to a school I would think. It would be a bit sad to complain and potentially deprive the children of valuable learning time outside,

Plenty of people criticise parents / schools /children for children not being outside in the fresh air and always on screens etc., but then people complain about the noise. There's no easy answer to that.

It's good for children to be outside, having fun and learning about nature.

Hotsummerlatenightstrolls · 16/06/2023 21:20

Beatrixpottersdog · 16/06/2023 20:32

I'm conflicted.
It does sound like an unreasonable level of noise. Though of course a great experience for the children. Though it shouldn't be at the expense of damaging wildlife. However, in your shoes I would absolutely be upset and I'd be a liar to pretend otherwise. 30+ kids making that level of noise so frequently behind my fence is not something you expect when living close to a school. Damaging the wildlife would also spur me on and I'd probably start with 1 afternoon a week playing out loud some offensive rap music. Can't stop you from enjoying your music at a reasonable hour one afternoon or so a week. Hoping they are more considerate to other people and nature. Whilst musing over what to do next if that fails... no other suggestions. That's my first thought anyway.

Is that what you would do and have you done that previously?

You are probably a reasonably intelligent woman with reasonable common sense. Would you live next door to a school and expect no noise for your comfort and enjoyment in your garden?

pictoosh · 17/06/2023 06:25

"30+ kids making that level of noise so frequently behind my fence is not something you expect when living close to a school."

I'm baffled by this.

booksandcats22 · 17/06/2023 06:34

Sugargliderwombat · 16/06/2023 17:35

. I run the forest school and there is no way I would be depriving children of the experience because a neighbour wasn't happy with school noise, its school grounds and they are free to use it. Unfortunately it is a school and they can use their grounds freely.

Just out of interest why is shrieking and screaming as the OP put it in their post part of the experience of a Forest school?

KimberleyClark · 17/06/2023 06:39

My late ILs house backed on to a primary school. The noise was unbelievable during play time and lunch time but they seemed to love it!

MRex · 17/06/2023 07:56

30+ kids making that level of noise so frequently behind my fence is not something you expect when living close to a school
Did you expect that children must be silent at school? That is a strange expectation, it would be abusive for a school to not allow noise at any time. As others have commented, "shrieking and screaming" is OP's perception and may not be accurate. Lots of children talking excitedly while doing a little project can get quite loud, without them being out of control.

BusyMum47 · 17/06/2023 09:22

towriteyoumustlive · 16/06/2023 17:40

Outdoor education is far better for kids than being indoors, so it should be encouraged.

I think that perhaps living next to a primary school is not for you, and if it bothers you that much you should move.

You're suggesting depriving kids of quality outdoor learning experiences just so you can sit in your garden in silence?

Put some noise cancelling earphones on perhaps, or sit out after 3pm when the kids have gone home.

This!⬆️ Spot on.

BusyMum47 · 17/06/2023 09:24

You haven't really got a leg to stand on & the council won't be in the least bit interested as the noise of children playing during daytime hours is most definitely not a nuisance! You have peace & quiet for all but the 6hrs per day that the school is open....the school you CHOSE to buy a house next to.