Neighbour complained because ball rolled on his grass

FtbEmz

Hi. Not sure if this is the right place to ask this. We bought a ground floor maisonette a few months ago. Everyone’s really friendly and welcoming except today. My daughter and I were kicking a ball back and forth in our front garden which is just a patch of grass. We’re not allowed to erect a fence as per the lease. The ball rolled from our grass patch over to our neighbours grass patch. Completely accidental as my daughters aim was off a few times. The man who lives next door to us (in the same block) shouted to my daughter quite sternly to be more careful - then he clocked me and changed his tone to light heartedly say to be careful. Now I understand if she did it on purpose and did it repeatedly but it was clearly accidental and the ball literally rolled onto his grass so slowly and gently. I do say to try to keep the ball on our ‘patch’ but sometimes it rolls over. My question is, what can I do as I can’t erect a fence but don’t want my daughter to not be able to play outside in fear of upsetting the neighbour if the ball goes on his grass. It’s made me feel anxious now about kicking the ball back and forth with her and my daughter now doesn’t want to play outside. She was quite upset by it and did cry. Can I put a low ‘net’ or ‘border style picket fence’ up so the ball bounces back into our grass do you think? 

FreeBear

Not pretty, but serviceable and will do the job as lock as the ball is kept low to the ground.

https://www.toolstation.com/roughneck-fencing-pins/p83770

https://www.toolstation.com/orange-safety-fencing/p52159

tacpot12

I don't think a low fence is going to help here. Balls have a habit of straying over fences as well. I would have a chat with the neighbour to see what sort of boundary he would be happy with, because I think you will need a boundary of some sort, and if you erect something he isn't happy with, then he is likely to report you. I think something like this might work: 7.72m Fleur-de-lys Lawn Edging - H17cm | Free UK Delivery (greenfingers.com)

I would suggest that you find the nearest patch of grass away from the house where you play ball games with her. I think she will be happy to play in the front garden if there is a clear boundary that she knows she is allowed to play within, but ball games are probably not going to be viable in the front garden.

FtbEmz

Thanks both. There is a path separating the two pieces of grass so they’re not directly joined. 

canaldumidi

Invite the neighbour to tea.

Improve relations to the point where he is more sympathetic to the realities of living next to a child who plays with a ball!

Slithery

canaldumidi said:

Invite the neighbour to tea.

Which one of those is you?

NameUnavailable

Sorry that you live next to such a grumpy old sod as that.

Marvel1

FtbEmz said:

The man who lives next door to us (in the same block) shouted to my daughter quite sternly to be more careful - then he clocked me and changed his tone to light heartedly say to be careful. 

He sounds like a typical coward.

canaldumidi

Slithery said:

canaldumidi said:

Invite the neighbour to tea.

Which one of those is you?

The good-looking one!

Greymug

Just tell him to do one

thegreenone

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