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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Making a garden in a publci park then policing it....

36 replies

Bleenherbe · 19/10/2009 20:04

Have name changed for this because is so weird it probably hasn't happened everywhere. Some people have made a garden in our local green (where the children play after school). Ie they have planted a garden in a publci place. This woman then runs out and tells off children who walk on the sort of sleeper things around the garden (it is raised) on the basis that they might fall and damage plants. AIBU to think she has a colossal cheek?

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 19/10/2009 20:05

is it big, does it look nice?

No that it matters, just mystified. How can anyone just plant a garden in a public space?

Ladyatron · 19/10/2009 20:07

this sort of thing was on the telly. wanky middle class hippies planting borage on traffic roundabouts and the like.

Ladyatron · 19/10/2009 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ZZZenAgain · 19/10/2009 20:09

that link orders me to open an account

ZZZenAgain · 19/10/2009 20:10

so it's a kind of subversive green terrorism , is it?

Maybe you need to creep out at night bleenherbe and dismantle it, restore law and order etc. Do you know this woman?

Original poster
Bleenherbe · 19/10/2009 20:11

Very like what you describe ladyatron - acting like they are urban guerrillas then policing the bloody thing. Just putting kids to bed but interested in all thoughts!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bleenherbe · 19/10/2009 20:11

Don't know her but small neighbourhood... be back...

OP posts:
Ladyatron · 19/10/2009 20:11

sorry here

ZZZenAgain · 19/10/2009 20:12

where would you find the time to hang about (in this cold) in order to police it all day?

Ladyatron · 19/10/2009 20:14

it is a cool idea but i imagine the sort of person who plants carrots by a bus stop might have attention seeking isshoos

squeaver · 19/10/2009 20:14

Surely they're not allowed to do that (the planting bit I mean). Is it council property? Can you ask them about it?

5Foot5 · 19/10/2009 20:16

I general I think the guerilla gardening movement is a bit odd but OK by me if they are just trying to make their neighbourhood a bit nicer.

However, I think the idea is that you are anonymous about it and I certainly don't think she has any right to be proprietorial about it like you describe.

Ladyatron · 19/10/2009 20:19

quite 5foot. you need to be chillaxed about a couple of school kids landing on your marrows to carry off the whole guerrilla thing otherwise you end up looking like a nutter

ZZZenAgain · 19/10/2009 20:20

hmm planting fruit trees and vegetables in wasteland ok if they want to but planting something on the green the dc usually play on - is that necessary? How big is the garden on the green then - a corner of it, a biggish chunk? She has a bit of a cheek telling the dc not to play in case they fall on the plants.

Yes, this happens when you plant a garden where dc play, they might fall on the plants which is why it is not the brightest idea really.

Original poster
Bleenherbe · 19/10/2009 21:18

She lives just across the road from the green - the garden occupies a reasonably large space on a smallish green. I can see planting some carrots on a roundabout, I really can, but this is more like enclosing the commons. And she caused my 3 y/o to hide under a bush in fear...

OP posts:
donkeyderby · 19/10/2009 23:53

Surely it's illegal if it's common land? It is already in use - by the children - and she is curtailing their use of it, however, 'green' it may seem.

It's much more likely to be a lot greener to leave it as just grassland, as disturbing the local ecosystem by cultivating it and planting - often non-native plants - won't help. Often urban wasteland is very wildlife-rich land.

squeaver · 20/10/2009 07:55

Seriously, phone the council.

gingernutlover · 20/10/2009 08:29

i could understand her if the children were running on the plants and actually ruining them, thye aren't though are they?

Of you make a raised border with nice big wide sleepers round it, people will sit or stand or balance on the sleepers

she is being unreasonable

what kind of plants are in it? Gold plated rare roses?

Original poster
Bleenherbe · 20/10/2009 08:29

I feel like phoning the Council but my innate wussiness about causing trouble in neighbourhood is holding me back a bit...

OP posts:
Original poster
Bleenherbe · 20/10/2009 08:31

There are herbs and things. Even if chidren were actually satmping on planst whilst playing, I'm not sure she would have a legitimate point, any more than I would if I set up my living room furniture in the middle of teh road and then complained about being run over whilst having a cup of tea [reductio ad absurdam emoticon]

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 20/10/2009 08:45

erm yes, she would have a point actually

just because a private individual planted them does that mean its okay to destroy them?I know you are but you seem to think it would be perfectly acceptable if they were destroyed.

From what i seeshe has done what she thinks is a nice thing and she doesnt want people to ruin it for the rest of the community. Yes, she is being OTT but your post makes you sound like you are the complete opposite to be honest

Original poster
Bleenherbe · 20/10/2009 08:49

No, I don't think anyone should deliberately destroy the plants. they don't seem to be for the community - they are herbs and vegetables for her own use. What she is doing is stopping children going near them in a public space. My 3 y/o was walking around and looking at the plants and asking questions about them. She was sufficiently frightened by this woman's manner that she sat under a bush and wept. I had no problem with the garden, although it seemed an odd thing to do, before she behaved in thsi way...

OP posts:
Original poster
Bleenherbe · 20/10/2009 08:52

I should add that DD is a child who visits city farms and other public spaces where she is allowed to touch and smell plants and does not damage them. But she may now be put off doing so.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 20/10/2009 08:54

"they are herbs and vegetables for her own use"
so a free allotment!
plant something fast growing to spell out "PISS OFF" in it

gingernutlover · 20/10/2009 08:54

ah okay, i see your point now, was a bit distracted by your last post!

she sounds a bit OTT, and yes if you had mentioned it was her own veggie plot then yes that is a bit wierd. Maybe suggest she should get an allotment