Obsessive neighbour losing the plot over leaves

[Sparkies2012]

Our neighbours are a relatively elderly couple and since they moved in have had a bee in their bonnet over leaves that blow onto their driveway. The gate to our driveway is opposite to their open driveway, separated by a narrow road. Our next door neighbour has a massive old tree in their garden that produces a lot of leaves, most of which fall into our driveway. We don’t really bother collecting the leaves, as it is an endless task at this time of the year, but the elderly couple is constantly on at us because the leaves blow across the road into their driveway and the odd one gets in their front door. Now we have told them we don’t produce the leaves, and they don’t bother us, so if they are bothered by the leaves either pick them up or take it up with our neighbour who owns the tree. But now they have even started collecting them in black bags and, under the cover of darkness, leaving them in front of our driveway gate, or throwing them over our fence. I’m tempted next time they do this to open the bag and dump it over their driveway again. AIBU by not picking up the leaves in our garden?

Ah man I would love this! Leaf mold makes brilliant compost and they have done all the work of bagging it ip for you. Give them to me and will be great for the allotment in a year or two!

I don’t get why she’s not doing this to the people who actually own the tree 😵‍💫 but goes without saying she shouldn’t be doing it to anyone. She should go and live on a bleak moor or a desert or something if she doesn’t want leaves in her garden.

Oooh I'd have that bag ripped open and spread all over my own garden. Love the autumn look. Couldn't care less if others dont like leaves on the ground. They would soon find that they are wasting their time.

I wonder why she doesn't put the bag on the tree owner's property? Why yours?

Gosh there's a bit of a mean girls vibe to this thread. Enough with the baying and goading.

Surely the adult and most sensible way to deal with this is to actually have a direct conversation and get the situation sorted in 10 minutes. Nobody is looking good in the current scenario.

There WAS a conversation, the neighbour then went to dumping leaves in a bag on OPs drive.

Theyre doing you a massive favour. Leaves are how the soil gets nutrients year on year and leaf mould costs money - spread the leaves on your flowerbeds and spray them with the hose to stop them blowing about as much (or dig them in) and watch your garden flourish and theirs become deplete of any kind of life!

How do people like this actually survive day to day life

What makes you think OP is interested in that?

Then they should have another one. Ask them why they are putting the leaves back onto OP's property. All three neighbours should be talking this through.

Things like this can escalate quickly and it's just not worth it.

🤣👏🙄

I would empty the bag on their lawn or drive, and then return the bag with "I believe this is your property" note.

Every day’s a schoolday and I’m off to dig some leaves into my flowerbed. Hope you get it resolved op!

*@WeekWeekWeek · 13/11/2023 20:57

“My security camera caught you dumping your rubbish on my driveway. Please don’t fly-tip again”.*

I was going to say similar…. Tell them that you will report them to the local council for Fly Tipping & do it. What absolute twonks is they are!

Find someone who composts to come and collect the bagged leaves.

Yes this, and also report to the council that they are fly tipping.

Do they have plastic grass as well?

Very good point. I put my bags of leaves behind the shed to rot down, after I've put water on them. Then dig them in during March/April.

Can you get a still from your security system of her stealthily leaving the bag outside your house at 7am? If so, I'd print it off and staple it to the bag.

Just out of interest @Mamma1982 how do you propose the op “helps” her neighbours?

Write a formal letter about it. Use scary words.

I panicked and thought bloody hell they’ll think I’m being ageist and fattiest about the past her prime attendant he sings about who can’t get down the aisle because her arse is the size etc etc!!

If the old couple are going to take issue with anyone, it should be the people who own the tree. Not another neighbour whose garden the leaves just happen to fall into.

It's not a favour if its unwanted. If I went and asked my neighbours for all their leaves to be bagged up and left on my drive at 7am, and they did so. That's a favour.
OP doesn't want this to happen, therefore its controlling and/or deeply odd behaviour.
And you are assuming OP wants to keep her garden well kept with leaf mulch, not everyone cares a lot about such things, especially when garden centres are abundant.

I don’t understand why she’s picking on you, they’re no more your leaves than they are hers. Madness. I really hope you do return with a note, I bloody would.