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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Obsessive neighbour losing the plot over leaves

578 replies

Sparkies2012 · 13/11/2023 20:40

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?

OP posts:
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13
SoUtterlyDoneIn · 13/11/2023 21:11

Elderly people with a bee in their bonnet and time on their hands. Probably start recording what happens and otherwise try to forget they exist.

I'd set up a camera to capture hard evidence of them dumping bin bags on your property, especially if they think they are "getting away with it" at night, because then you have that if there is any attempt to complain or be rude. Don't point it onto their property, only yours.

Tipping on someone else's property is antisocial behaviour. As long as your land is generally well-maintained, "allowing leaves to fall from a nearby tree" isn't.

Lifesd · 13/11/2023 21:12

They are cheeky bastards - dump it back every single time

Bumblepig · 13/11/2023 21:12

Make them a nice leaf collage
send them a glitter leaf package
empty the bags of leaves on their front.

jlpth · 13/11/2023 21:14

They sounds like weirdos with no life

Fairospop22 · 13/11/2023 21:14

Cheeky AF causing an obstruction and not allowing you to get on your drive without getting out of your car

KeepingTrying · 13/11/2023 21:15

That is properly weird. They should just clear the leaves in their own garden and compost them.

I like the security fly tipping plan.

TicTacNicNak · 13/11/2023 21:16

They're nuts.

I would definitely be firm with them and remind them it is not your tree shedding leaves. Point out that fly-tipping is a offence and if you catch them dumping leaves on to your property again you'll be reporting them to the council. Maybe suggest they purchase some solid gates for their own driveway to help stop nature doing it's evil stuff.

BastardtheCat · 13/11/2023 21:16

TheCadoganArms · 13/11/2023 20:46

Nuke their house from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

Dear God 🤣

Mountainhowl · 13/11/2023 21:17

Sounds like our old next door neighbour who hated the tree in our garden because leaves would blow into theirs, they once made an appointment and had someone show up at our door ready to cut it down! (We refused, we loved the tree)

I'd save up the bags for a few days then empty them all onto their doorstep at once if they didn't stop leaving them on your drive 😂

Sparkies2012 · 13/11/2023 21:17

Actually, bugger it, the nuke is the only sensible solution.

OP posts:
CatherinedeBourgh · 13/11/2023 21:18

As a gardener, I'd be delighted. Raking up leaves and putting them in plastic bags to leave for a year and make beautiful leaf mould is a drag, but worth it for the benefit to the plants.

I'd love it if someone did that for me.

MorningHood · 13/11/2023 21:18

They are LEAVEing a lot to be desired..

NaturalStudy · 13/11/2023 21:19

Start a bonfire with the leaves still in the black bag. They can then decide if they prefer loose leaves or acrid smoke.

MorningHood · 13/11/2023 21:19

It’s beyond be-leaf really..

Jewelspun · 13/11/2023 21:19

Advertise their address on Facebook marketplace etc

'LEAVES WANTED. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR UNWANTED LEAVES ON DRIVE.'

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 13/11/2023 21:20

Absolutely don't lean the bags against their front door, strategically slit, then knock and run away, causing a leaf avalanche to enter their hallway when they open the door. That would be very bad.

Dashel · 13/11/2023 21:20

I think all mad neighbours should be forced into living in one area and then they can bother each other with their concerns and observations

AtomicPumpkin · 13/11/2023 21:20

Sparkies2012 · 13/11/2023 21:07

We do have a security camera, might try giving them a scare with the fly-tipping route.

Can you set an audible alarm to go off when they come onto your drive?

SoUtterlyDoneIn · 13/11/2023 21:21

Jewelspun · 13/11/2023 21:19

Advertise their address on Facebook marketplace etc

'LEAVES WANTED. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR UNWANTED LEAVES ON DRIVE.'

Oh I like how you think.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 13/11/2023 21:23

AtomicPumpkin · 13/11/2023 21:20

Can you set an audible alarm to go off when they come onto your drive?

Grin

KLAXON KLAXON

MARY! PISS OFF WITH YOUR BLOODY LEAVES!

KLAXON KLAXON

AHeadForHeights · 13/11/2023 21:23

Use a leaf-shaped paper cutter to cut out millions of leaf shapes and throw it over their garden like confetti.

I really don't understand why people hate leaf litter so much - and the blossom petals in spring - that they go to extreme lengths to get rid of it. It rots away and fertilises the soil 🤨

Jewelspun · 13/11/2023 21:24

Take a bag of leaves in and dry them out.

On a dry day when their drive is not wet. Superglue the leaves to their drive.

dessertorchide · 13/11/2023 21:24

Interested as to what the advice would be if it was OP’s tree? Surely not onus on tree owner to rake up leaves so they don’t blow around?

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 13/11/2023 21:25

OP needs to put this on and then get in a bag on their drive and wait for them to try to move it before erupting upwards like an avenging angel

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