CF Stole my hedge

[12FreeRangeEggs]

We live in a naice part of London which thinks it’s the countryside but is actually just a green suburb. To the side and front of my property is our hedge. It’s a mix hedge; Holly, Ivy and other trees. Our Holly has been very good this autumn and we have lots of red berries. I make a door wreath for my front door each Christmas, and I usually forage from my own hedge to make my wreath. So far this year I haven’t gotten around to it but was hoping to make my wreath this weekend.

Well, I returned this afternoon and there was a lady stood on my driveway with a large blue IKEA bag in one hand and a pair of pruners in the other, helping herself to my holly.

I politely challenged her, but she didn’t seem to think that she was doing anything wrong helping herself to my Holly in my hedge. Infact when I protested that I was going to make my own wreath with my own Holly she told me she had a business making Christmas wreaths and usually only made 10 a season despite huge demand because she simply doesn’t have the time but was willing to make a professional wreath for me using my own Holly and charge me £85. I, less politely this time, declined her offer for a professional wreath and asked for my Holly back. She refused and accused me of being bitter and uncharitable.

Leave some comments on her posts about her stealing your holly and refusing to give it back. I'd also leave a Google review on her business. She's a thief.

The return of the holly is worse than the taking off it. Dumping it on your driveway in the middle of a storm. What a nasty person.

Based in York which I don't think anyone would claim was a suburb of London.

This thread is mad.
I can understand finding someone helping themselves to sprigs from your hedge for wreath-making rather bold...I can even understand confronting them about it. It's cheeky, fair enough.

Have to say if there will still sprigs for the wreath available it would end there for me.

All the suggestions of tracking down her business and publicly exposing her as a thief are way over the top. People are quick to create drama and be vindictive over very little aren't they?

Yes! This would just finish it off nicely!

It sounded to me as if the CF had taken all the berry-bearing branches and left nothing for the OP to use to make her own wreath. Otherwise, I agree, I would have been aghast at the CFery but not inclined to call the police about it!

Spray the Holly with spray paint, spray the wall with liquid manure or get a Ring doorbell

Glad you got it back op. I would have been absolutely livid if that had been my Holly!

Dear lord, I thought it was just me. Talk about a crazy over reaction! 😂

I guess I'm mad in that I don't appreciate my carefully cultivated private property being damaged and vandalized.

Just tipped all over the driveway?!

Please do this op!

The woman was definitely cheeky. It was bad enough to come onto your property to cut your holly bush, but to then continue with taking the cuttings when you had told her not to is ridiculous!

I also think she saw this thread and was worried about being outed so she made her poor husband come and return it!

Glad you got it back, enjoy making some wreaths and maybe advertise them on all local selling sites for £75 each 😉

I’m thinking the man was doing a bit of a “fuck you, here’s your Holly, have fun sweeping all this up!”

WTF?? First post nails it. I am acquainted, but in a friendly way due to mutual friend, with a lady near me who has eucalyptus, and I asked her if I could cut some for my wreath. I could never have taken any without asking.

She is properly trespassing, not that there's much the police would do about it. I'm really pissed off about @RubyRedBow's tree too. Naff people seem to be making quick bucks everywhere by stoking the Instagrammable life industry. Door wreaths, balloon arches, you name it.

I've just realised, never mind the theft, this was trespassing! (Anyone else remember the signs people used to have up in their gardens: "Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted"?)

Definitely on MN!

My garden is not "very little" I spend time and effort (yes and money!) on making my garden beautiful. I see it as a part of my home. I expect you'd call the police if someone broke into your home and vandalised part of it even though perhaps what they took was of little monetary value?

Are you suggesting that this incident warrants a call to the police?

Agree with this

I don’t think she has had a moment of realisation or been called out by her family, I think there have already been messages sent to her business page and she is pissed off at the OP for “ruining” her business

She is still a CF that would have continued if she hadn’t been caught so well done for challenging her in the first place (and well done to your daughter for finding her, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has messaged the CF I know I would have if you were my mum)

Totally agree!!

I don't suppose they grafted it back onto the tree though.

yes because its theft. More practically the trees and shrubs in my garden are insured so I'd need a crime number. I don't see making sure this person gets a consequence as vindictive or dramatic.....I put it more under the heading of "fuck around and find out" If I was someone who had booked on her wreath course, I'd be mortified and very angry to find that I had paid a thief for stolen property.

Someone please add some murder and turn this into a Christmas movie.

I think it’s very different if she were taking some just from the front hedge, while standing on the pavement (CF behaviour) but going round the side and standing on the drive is a whole next level.

I'm disappointed there was a conclusion. I expected at least one more thread. The OP goes to the wreath making, she and her family continue to wreak terrible vengeance on the holly thief, there's a handsome son who falls in love with her daughter etc etc.