AIBU to feel uneasy that neighbours went into my garden?

[Magpiesinthegarden]

My next door neighbours have had rats in their garden and informed me to not put any rubbish bags out my garden and keep the garden clear. I purchased a wheelie bin for the black bags (only the usual amount) and all recycling was collected apart from 2 sealed bags of cardboard and a few garden bags with grass in. I’ve been unwell and haven’t managed to move them. I’ve just been into the garden and the bags were gone and were put into my wheelie bin (outside my house) and the garden bags were tied up.

AIBU to feel a bit weird that they’ve been in my garden?

You're partially right, it's not YOUR issue. You don't get to decide what is or isn't an issue for other people.

it wasn't 'something nice'. It was entering her property to do something they wanted done. They had No right to enter her property. NONE.

Probably because people care more about rat infestation rather than territorial purity

Should have cleared her trash then

Absolutely.
Or better still - electrify the fence!😄
They sound rather entitled.
No-one has the right to trespass on another's property.

They should've left a note.

Ah, I stand corrected as I hadn’t seen that. Not good when there are vermin about.

I know it is probably a nightmare to have rats in your proximity. However, it is not up to someone else to waltz into the Op’s back garden, irrespective of how they feel about it. They should still have asked, and waited to be given permission to access Op’s property, otherwise it is trespass. It is not like an open area, at the front. They reached behind to undo the latch.

Maybe another person thinks a neighbour’s birdfeeder is attracting vermin, or their cherry tree is attracting pigeons who then poo in their garden. You couldn’t just waltz over and pull up the feeder, or chop down the tree.

If I was Op I would probably get a lock on that gate, with a camera for security. If one good thing has come out of it, Op knows how easy it is for outsiders to break into her garden. I’d probably also make sure all possible food waste is safe in a bin so that it doesn’t attract vermin.

Good try (it wasn't). Nope, it's still trespass.

Territorial purity... give over 😂

I knew that. We all did.

Never heard that turn of phrase before. I’m not quite it works. The territory/ property is in the possession of the op. It does not belong to the neighbour, who I suspect would be exhibiting some ‘territorial purity’ (nah, still doesn’t work) with knobs on, and would probably go ballistic if someone else waltzed through to their back garden. I imagine it is only ‘territorial purity’ when it is someone else’s property.

It feels passive aggressive to me rather than kind! They're not doing it to help OP they're doing it because they're pissed she's left rubbish out most likely.

That's a lot of rubbish to have in bags. Considering you didn't previously have a bin for the main rubbish bags I'm wondering if your rubbish is more of a contributing factor to the rats than you think of is.

I've got a middle aged male neighbour making my life hell because he is "helping" despite me directly asking him not to and saying no when he is insisting on coming and blowing leaves in my yard. It's pissing me off because he is not listening to me. I don't want his interference. I like a cottage garden not a topiaried hedged thing. Apparently his way is better as he just does it when I'm not home (front, unfenced garden). I am stabby and way past the end of my tether.

Nope. She should have cleared her trash

Still irrelevant. But I’ll leave it there, because it’s boring for everyone else.

Should of cleared your trash bro

It’s possible they called a pest controller in to sort the rat problem like we did.

A pest controller would likely knock and try to access a neighbours garden looking for rat runs and where the drains run.

You should not be storing any rubbish next to a neighbours fence…..your bins or bagged grass or cardboard. Rats will eat through plastic. They ate through our freshwater pipes in the void below a Victorian refurbished property causing
terrible damage.

If you have a bird table you are certain to have rats. They are very partial to the pieces of shredded suet balls that fall from bird feeder. And they breed so quickly you really need to be proactive all the time.

OK, so it sounds like they did make a few attempts to contact you and ask you about it. They possibly thought you were away if you didn't answer. I wouldn't be entirely happy, but I wouldn't be upset either - they were trying to prevent a problem and you should have moved your rubbish yourself.

Calm down! They tidied it, you’re going on like they shit in it! They asked her to be careful with rubbish due to rats… she wasn’t! They helped! I don’t see the massive issue personally but clearly it upset you…

"Didn't bother"? She was ill FFS. I wouldn't get out of bed to answer the door either if I was ill.

They didn't have permission to unbolt her gate, enter her garden and mess about with things, end of. Just because you have no boundaries and don't give a toss about entering other peoples private property, doesn't mean that there aren't those of us who would have an issue with nosey, interfering, oversteppers.

What the problem with it. Also if there are rats around and my neighbour was leaving rubbish out I would feel pretty annoyed.

If your neighbours have a rat nest or seen them in their garden then youll have them too so best not to leave rubbish lying around. Not unreasonable of them to put it in the bin for you. Its being neighbourly. Say thanks next time you see them.

I have to say, as someone who would normally go ape if this happened to me.. having read your updates (you need to edit your original post because this is important info, that they tried to speak to you) - they have every right to prevent vermin. Rats spread disease.

Any chance they were worried you / another neighbour could have been the cause? Even if not, the fact you didn't put your bins out immediately after they told you about this, would have vexed me as your neighbour and I would have done the same.

Feeling a bit rough doesn't explain not being able to put a bin out. If you'd said you were on your death bed / couldn't move etc, okay. If I'm super blunt.. it sounds a bit like you were trying to spite them with plausible-sounding excuses and they worked around it. Do you not like your neighbours? Have they done something to you? Could be misinterpreting.

They are colour coded. Many areas don't have wheelie bins, they get bags (look up St Helens council). They are emptied weekly. They just close over, no way of sealing them. They'd make no difference to being out the back or front. It would only be ok to move them if the bin men were due. The rats will travel, if they've been moved.
It's a pity the neighbours can't lend a tortoiseshell cat, or a ratter dog. The most danger is people whose children drop food in the garden, animals fed outside etc, not bloody recycling bags. Don't take the blame for this.

Lol no. I’m not the type to do something to spite someone, I didn’t deliberately leave them there out of spite. I did get rid of most of the bags after they asked, I purchased a new wheelie bin but there was a few left over as I was struggling to get them out without letting DC into the garden as I didn’t know if it was safe as poison had been put down. Then I was ill and not going outside. No spite was involved, I should have put them all out when they asked, DC were trying to open the door which was difficult.

From what you say, it sounds like you and your neighbour run your households quite differently. Yours sounds quite carefree and maybe rather chaotic at times and theirs sounds much more organised and intolerant of the first signs of rats (as most people would/should be)

I don’t think you should feel uneasy about them coming into your garden after repeatedly knocking, in order to put your bin and other rubbish out. That was a very sensible decision which you should have undertaken yourself in good time. You simply can’t let rubbish accumulate.

However I would object to them putting poison down in my garden without my knowledge, especially with young children who want to open the door and get outside to play. I would need to know exactly where the poison is and I would ensure the children understand exactly, why they can’t go outside while the rat problem is ongoing.

I would do everything possible to support your neighbours in their vigilance OP.
Weils disease from rat urine is an extremely serious potential risk for your family.