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My neighbours dont want me to use my land to grow a garden
shirley tullett
Posts: 11
in Talkback
I have a passion for gardening and do not own my own home so bought myself a plot of scruffy woodland to grow my dream garden. I thought the people in the road would be delighted when I cleaned it up and planted beautiful shrubs and woodland bulbs on my plot. No! They insist in walking across my land and use it as a dog toilet and a place to dump their garden waste. I put up a fence and within days it was vandalised I am devastated. What can I do?
0
Posts
check your deed and make sure there's not "right of way" if not, go to the police, it's trespass and " actual criminal damage"
People don't like change. You'd be amazed how stubborn people are and indeed blind to the positives simply because "its always been that way".
Repair the fence, put up sign-age reminding them that it is private property, inform the local police community support officer (it is criminal damage after all and you wouldn't let them get away doing that to your house so why lay back and let them do it to your garden?) Be prepared to have to fight for it.
A lot of people fall foul of this when they extend their garden into an adjoining field without permission.
Your neighbours might be afraid you are going to develop the wood which they have had unfettered access to for many years.
There is not a right of way across the land and the deeds say that the entire plot should be fenced but the previous owner didn't do this so people got used to walking across it. I reported it to the police and they said it was criminal damage but unless I know who did it I cant do anything. They said just put the fence back to show it belongs to someone and is private but I cant afford to keep doing this. A man at the Council knows I want to tidy the area and plant things and he did not say I needed planning permission?
I feel for your plight Shirley, it must be heartbreaking to see all your hard work not only go unappreciated but also undo with such thoughtlessness, really upsetting for you I'm sure! I'm angry enough when snails undo my efforts! Shame you can't squish ramblers
I don't own my home either but it is my home all the same! My landlord was overjoyed when I took an interest in gardening! 
Good luck with your garden and taming the locals! Maybe if you feed them like the wildlife? Put out tea and scones or dog water bowels and a poo bin as a peace offering?
Stick at it Shirley
I think the problem in these cases are when the land is part of a registered agricultural holding. Change of Use is needed for it to be used as a garden.
In Shirley's case, does she know what the land is registered as? It should have been revealed by the Searches etc when she bought it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good luck - it sounds like jealous people who will give up in the end.
No one gets through a thick spiky hedge like blackthorn and it grows fairly fast, so I suggest that, it is also a good for wildlife and as a wind filter.
Thank you everyone for your advice and kind words. The two neighbours closest to me are the ones that have been quite rude to me and seem to have the hump that I bought the land and put a fence up at the front. I think perhaps I should just put my woods up for sale and look elsewhere to plant a garden?
Its a shame to give up Shirley, any chance of winning them round? If not then what about whre you live? Is there a garden? If so would the landlord be approachable? Alternatively, I'm not sure on allotment regulations, is this a possible route to try?