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.

Anyone who uses the fantastic word "tomfoolery" needs a quote. Just love that word.

@12FreeRangeEggs so you can get them done for thieving AND flytipping now 😁! Cheeker beggers.

I'm going to question whether dumping some holly on a person's drive constitutes "fly tipping"?

@ANonEMouseYouSir i have no idea why that word popped into my head. I’ve not used it for at least 30 years. Seemed apt though 😬

😂

OP, are you sure she just hasn’t taken the best bits and returned what she doesn’t want?

Which is also illegal

Lordy me, the dull squad are busy today

<<takes a delighted bow>>

Looks like you’re going to have to make your own wreath. Would be a pity to waste it. Wonder if there are any nearby courses so that you can learn how?

I'd still contact the police (on 101) and let them know who did it and explain that although you've got your cuttings back you thought it better be recorded in case someone else has plants stolen.

I maybe live somewhere less crime ridden than London but we had an issue with milk bottles being stolen. Neighbours reported it to the police and when the perpetrator was caught it turned out he had committed several crimes previously and since the milk was the third he ended up in prison. So even though it may seem minor to the CF wreath baker others on here the police will act on it.

I'm sorry - she dug her heels in even further and refused to give you back your holly??

If I had noticed her cutting holly from a plant that was clearly in my garden, I would have taken out my mobile phone and started recording her and her antics. Then depending on how she dealt with the situation, it would have gone straight up to social media or straight to the local police!

She is stealing. I really hate when folk do this - as well as taking cuttings from all the trees/ bushes in parks and nature reserves. Generally rule for parks/ public open spaces is if it is on the floor you can forage but you can’t be taking your loppers and hacking off all the Holly and ivy otherwise there will be none left!
plus as she is operating a commercial business by selling the wreaths it is actually illegal to forage on nature reserves and then sell the products without permission from natural England and the landowner. OP if you do find her details - see if the common and woodland are designated as SSSI, ancient woodland or local nature reserve (Google magic maps and this will show you) and then dob her in to the landowner and natural England - they probably can’t do anything now as you don’t have photos of her taking the vegetation from the common/ woodland but they probably will scare her with a warning letter.
for your own bush maybe the only thing you can do is put up a sign stating no foraging and that there is a camera (even if there isn’t) - far from ideal though.

Dear lord. How can folks get so agitated about some sprigs of holly during the season of Goodwill?
Perhaps the Wassail Cup should be shared around once more, to help good cheer!

Its not about "a few sprigs of holly though"

Its about someone trespassing on anothers private property, cutting their bush to take away and then continuing to do so when the owner has asked them not to.

Would you seriously be ok with someone coming into your garden and cutting your flowers or plants or whatever to take away with them and continuing to do so when asked not to? You are a very tolerant person if you would be ok with that!

@AlpacaMittens we don't cover the rosemary bush and it's quite large now and survives every winter (10 years?) The ends of the stalks can get a little frost damage if it gets really cold.
I'm on the look out for local wreaths being sold that contain my rosemary 🧐

It's a holly bush. They're not digging up the prize zinnias or a crop of courgettes.
It's Christmas. Let folks have some sprigs. It grows back.
No need for all the craziness. 'tis all.

YES!!

Undercut her prices!

Get yourself some oasis and get sticking that holly in there like a good one! Make centrepieces or whatever but do not let the holly go to waste at this stage. Better if you can make some money out of what she cut from your plants. Even better if you can under cut her prices while doing that.

I am feeling a bit sad for the wreath making participants this weekend whose wreaths will be looking a bit bare and berry free, but at least ( though they don’t know it) they will have the moral satisfaction of not being unwitting collaborators in the Great Holly Heist.

great update @12FreeRangeEggs , the power of Mumsnet eh!

It’s still someone else’s property - had she had the manners to ask she might have been given some! It’s the entitled attitude (like you have!) that anyone can just do what they want and it doesn’t matter - and if anyone grumbles they gaslight back “aw chill out it’s Xmas” or “live and let live” (live and let live apparently means don’t complain when someone walks all over you nowadays).

Who is based in York?

Ps I don’t know where you live OP but just a warning to anyone foraging in the Epping Forest/ Wanstead Park area, The forest wardens have a particular set of powers and they will track you down and kill you teach you the error of your ways.