Desperately need advice ? should kids be playing on allotments?

[elam]

Help, how do you deal with boys causing trouble?

We recently took on an allotment, which had been unused for ages. It appears that boys from local houses have a habit of playing on the allotments and running riot.

While we were working there, they kept running across our patch, right next to us, pushing stuff over, treading on what we were doing and when were extremely rude when politely asked to play elsewhere (there's lots of other open space around). We and our three year old daughter were very taken aback.

The youngest (probably 5-6 years) was the most destructive, his older brother (probably 8-9) kept out of the way a bit more. I also saw the youngest running after the car of another allotment holder, trying to hit it with sticks, but the other allotment holders I've spoken to are not aware of the issue. The council who manages the allotments can write to the parents, but only if we first find out where they live.

I've now found that some of the things we've planted have been pulled up. The boys look like your average kids (not 'bad boys' at first glance), and it'snot the roughest of neighbourhoods (but you never know!).

We really need to stop this before it escalates.

If these were your sons, what would you advise?

I'd probably speak to them and say that someone has been damaging things on the allotment; ask them if they could help keep an eye on things and let you know if they see anyone causing problems.

Maybe tell them that the people in charge of the allotments are also looking out for the vandals, and the vandals will get into a lot of trouble for causing damage.

Try and get them on side - big them up a bit, make out that you don't think it could possibly be them that is causing trouble.

5 or 6 is perhaps a bit young for the reverse psychology though.

Oh, and if these were my sons, they'd be providing free digging services to the allotment holders for several weeks to come.

Although at 5 years old, they were always playing within my sight.

If they were my sons, I'd want to know so I could stop it.

Like HC, I'd make them dig for you

Thanks for all the advice! We'll see what happens this weekend. Some free help with digging on the allotment certainly wouldn't go amiss

We've got an allotment and I would be furious if this happened! Our allotment committee are very proactive however and would take the initiative in stopping this.

If possible, I would approach the parents and explain what happened - I'm sure they'd be appalled. It is private property, not a park, so the boys were trespassing. I would also explain that allotments are not safe places for children to play unsupervised - they are full of sharp tools, toxic materials (slug pellets etc) and ponds etc.

Best of luck - a bit of digging or weeding is definitely in order!