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What rights do I have or what can I do?

Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159
in Talkback

 

What rights do I have or what can I do?   My back garden backs onto a medium sized park, to the very top right of my garden there is an apple tree (the tree isn't in my garden its in the park) a lot of kids enjoy coming up to the tree, grabbing the apples (which sometimes means damaging/breaking the branches) and throwing apples at each other, on multiple occasions I've politely asked them to stop doing this as its annoying me and often distresses my dogs (their rescue dogs), today I've had enough, I've tolerated their foul laugage, damaging of the trees, peeing on my neighbors fencing, and their over all crappy behavior, so I explained they're starting to anger me and my neighbors so I'd like them to leave or move away from 'my' tree, half of them ignored me and the rest cursed at me, so I simply decided to aim my hose pipe over the fence and turn it on, (to which they all promptly left.) A lot of the vegetation around the border of my fence (on the parks side, has been trampled), the honey suckle growing up my fence has been damaged, I've had two occasions where apples have been thrown at my windows, the amount of foul language that comes out of their mouth is disgusting, they damage things in the park, my neighbors are fed up, they leave so much rubbish, constantly throw the swings around and I believe a different group of kids pee along my neighbors fencing.    These kids are 11 ish and a few are 7ish, I'm 18 years old and I'm on disability allowance, the best way I can cope with things (I have a very long history of self harm and attempting suicide) no combination medications are any use to me but wildlife  gardening seems to help me a lot (now to the extent I'm becoming a functional member of society)   Since this has been going on I've been going back to my old self, on Monday my carers will be complaining to the councle but other than this, what else can I do?  -I understand this is a gardening site not a legal site but it's a worth a try... Thank you    -Christopher. 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    Hi Christopher - I do feel for you - but for the time being do nothing.  Whatever you do or say to the children will be interpreted by them and their parents as agression and you could find that you're the one getting into trouble which would not be good.

    Let your carers take this up with the council in the first instance - a letter from your GP, MH support worker, any and all of the professionals involved in your care emphasising the harm this is doing to you will be helpful.

    The problem is that the more the children are told to leave you alone, the more they will identify you as someone it is fun to annoy and the more they will do it. 

    However, if you feel that it's getting too much to bear, you can contact the local police on the non emergency number 119 and explain your situation and that you are being targetted.  Hopefully a few PCSOs will visit the area for a while.  The problem is that this is likely only to be a short term solution.

    It may not be the answer you want to hear, but I think that the best solution will be for you to make an application to be rehoused on health grounds - with supporting letters from the professionals involved with you, this ought to be possible. 

    Wishing you the best of luck - not too long to go now until the end of the school holidays when you'll get a bit more peace and quiet.

    image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159

     

    I wouldn't use the word 'targeted', I know they throw apples over my neighbors fence and I know they throw them at the birds... I'm willing to wagger they were simply trying to get the birds that sometimes rest on my roof, that doesn't justify anything though... I know other people allow their dogs into the park (they're not allowed in)  so I hope that gives them a lot of motivation to get involved. 

    I know birds nest and hang around the the tree so I don't really like the ideaimage but I have heard them moaning about the stinging nettles so I'll try and rally for them not to be cut back.

    Tetley, I really like your enthusiasm image 

  • Pat EPat E Posts: 12,316

    Hi Christopher. I partly agree with all the comments, however, my favourite is the keep a low profile while asking your carers to help in some way.

    My sympathies to you. Our son has been suffering from depression for several years and he had a large family of African people move into his court. While that in itself should not be any different to anyone else, he thinks their parents don't try to keep the kids in control. They kick footballs around his front lawn and generally behave as though the whole neighbourhood is a park for them to play in.  My less than tolerant son told them that he would confiscate their ball If they didn't stop.  I've not heard him complain since then, but I assume they got the message.  I hope you can have a bit of peace soon. 

    Keep letting it all hang out on this site. We're a friendly, supportive lot. image

     

    S. E. NSW
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    And in the meantime, tell us a bit more about your garden ... image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pat EPat E Posts: 12,316

    good idea

    S. E. NSW
  • acvarlacvarl Posts: 9

    Hi I have read all the above and I agree children to day have no manners I am having a similar sort of behaviour with football's all over the front garden I have started to talk to them and explained about the plants and being careful and it seems to work for now I have Multiple sclerosis and I suffer with depression on and off I know what you mean about the garden I am the same when I am in my garden all my worries go and I just enjoy being outside I would like to hear more about your garden and what you have in it and are growing try to be strong I hope you can Catherine

  • Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159

     

    One thing I should say is "...they all promptly left..." was the truth but not the entire truth, as soon as I turned the hose on, most of them moved away and I didn't have trouble with them, I believe the youngest one stood his ground and started chucking apples over the fence and became more abusive, I didn't say anything but I turned the hose on again when he tried to brab another apple, all of the kids that had moved away had the common sense to start shouting at him and started telling him to "leave the tree alone" so I suppose my actions really made make it clear to them all... A few days before this all happened I spoke to the oldest one and explained why their behavior is getting to me and how the constant apple throwing is distressing my dogs and annoying my neighbors, even though he looks mature enough to understand I don't think he entirely got the message... 

        I am going to be very, very carful though because half of them looked like they understood why this happened but the other half looked like they wanted this to continue and I did feel the youngest one was trying to antagonize me to keep spraying him. I am going to put a small sign up stating that picking the apples does deter nesting birds and I'll add the legislation showing that their behavior (in my opinion) could be seen as anti social towards nesting animals.   My garden; I've decided to plant a small hazel sapling so hopefully it will grow and possibly surpass the height of the apple tree (it wouldn't compete against the apple tree though) so the birds have a new hang out, I've also decided to plant four holly bushes behind this tree to add more possible nesting sites and on top of this I've decided to plant another hazel tree (this one will have a greater deal of maintenance though) on the other side of the garden, also, I've now been encouraging bramble to come through to to keep cats at rest and I'll be add a Robbins nest box to this area of the garden, there is a lot of work left to do but I'm really making progress "brick by brick my citizens, brick by brick"   - I really appreciate all of your comments
  • acvarlacvarl Posts: 9

    Hi I am so glad it's working out. good luck with your garden 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Sadly Chris, this kind of behaviour is all too common. The fact that you're standing your ground is seen as a challenge to them. People of all ages don't like that, they don't like change, and the aggression may continue for a while, but keep strong and don't let them grind you down. Creating other nesting and feeding sites is a positive way to proceed. Unfortunately, the apple tree isn't your property, so you may have to 'let that go'. Throwing apples at your home is a different matter though. If you have a community policeman, I'd contact them about the anti social behaviour. Encourage the neighbours to do the same. If you all complain enough, they'll have to address it. There's a serious lack of proper parenting in many areas nowadays. Mine wouldn't have been able to sit down for a week if they'd behaved like that. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    One good think however, there won't be any birds nesting in the tree at the moment, although they may use it as a night roost.  And any apples left damaged on the ground will start to soften and decay, and the blackbirds and thrushes (and night-visiting hedgehogs) will love those. 

    Are there hedgehogs around your way Chris?  Do you know this website? http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ Its full of tips and hints on how to encourage them image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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