Are my neighbours tree ‘surgeons’ allowed to jump the fence into my garden?

1122abc

At the risk of annoying some forum members by bringing up an old thread, I thought I’d defend myself on two points and then lock the thread if I can. 

1. Many posters said I was being dramatic as they were obviously cutting the tree when I saw them. The men were *not* already tending to the tree when we faced each other. They were literally just standing there. They setup the ladder *after* we spoke through a crack in the door. Anyone who doesn’t get why I was alarmed has not grown up as a female in London. 

2. I have passed the neighbours many times and I’ve smiled but haven’t even had a brief eyebrow raise in return. Not the greatest invitation to go around knocking and begging for friendship. I find it strange that I should be expected to do so. Maybe many people live in cute little villages where you’re all friends. This is South London and a snooty part at that. 

The bottom line is, if you know that you have workmen coming over and they will be in your neighbour’s garden - have the common decently to tell them. 

TheJP

1122abc said:

At the risk of annoying some forum members by bringing up an old thread, I thought I’d defend myself on two points and then lock the thread if I can. 

1. Many posters said I was being dramatic as they were obviously cutting the tree when I saw them. The men were *not* already tending to the tree when we faced each other. They were literally just standing there. They setup the ladder *after* we spoke through a crack in the door. Anyone who doesn’t get why I was alarmed has not grown up as a female in London. 

2. I have passed the neighbours many times and I’ve smiled but haven’t even had a brief eyebrow raise in return. Not the greatest invitation to go around knocking and begging for friendship. I find it strange that I should be expected to do so. Maybe many people live in cute little villages where you’re all friends. This is South London and a snooty part at that. 

The bottom line is, if you know that you have workmen coming over and they will be in your neighbour’s garden - have the common decently to tell them. 

Its your post 'cry if you want to' figuratively.

1. So this is new information, you first said you didn't open the door now you say you did speak to them when they knocked on. I'm guessing the 'standing around' was them assessing the tree and your property/waiting to gain permission. I agree being a female in any major city is scary and i stand with you, I'm sorry that this experience has heightened any worries you already have.

2. People are different, a crack of a smile could mean 'I'm sorry I'm really awkward, please make the first move', as a female in a major city surely connecting with your neighbours is a must for that additional security. A simple knock on the door and hello can do wonders it doesn't matter if its south London. Isn't communities tighter in areas like that?

Lastly and its been said many times it is highly unlikely the neighbours knew the workers would need to go on to your property, my advice is life is short don't sweat the small things in life.

1122abc

TheJP said:

1122abc said:

At the risk of annoying some forum members by bringing up an old thread, I thought I’d defend myself on two points and then lock the thread if I can. 

1. Many posters said I was being dramatic as they were obviously cutting the tree when I saw them. The men were *not* already tending to the tree when we faced each other. They were literally just standing there. They setup the ladder *after* we spoke through a crack in the door. Anyone who doesn’t get why I was alarmed has not grown up as a female in London. 

2. I have passed the neighbours many times and I’ve smiled but haven’t even had a brief eyebrow raise in return. Not the greatest invitation to go around knocking and begging for friendship. I find it strange that I should be expected to do so. Maybe many people live in cute little villages where you’re all friends. This is South London and a snooty part at that. 

The bottom line is, if you know that you have workmen coming over and they will be in your neighbour’s garden - have the common decently to tell them. 

Its your post 'cry if you want to' figuratively.

1. So this is new information, you first said you didn't open the door now you say you did speak to them when they knocked on. No, I didn’t open the door when they knocked. I opened the back door to ask what they were doing in the garden. So no, it’s not new information. Please tell me what I’m gaining from lying on the Internet. I'm guessing the 'standing around' was them assessing the tree and your property/waiting to gain permission. No it wasn’t. Guess as you like but I don’t appreciate being made out to sound dramatic or timid.  I agree being a female in any major city is scary and i stand with you, I'm sorry that this experience has heightened any worries you already have. 

2. People are different, a crack of a smile could mean 'I'm sorry I'm really awkward, please make the first move', as a female in a major city surely connecting with your neighbours is a must for that additional security. A simple knock on the door and hello can do wonders it doesn't matter if its south London. Isn't communities tighter in areas like that?

Lastly and its been said many times it is highly unlikely the neighbours knew the workers would need to go on to your property, my advice is life is short don't sweat the small things in life. I’m honestly 100000% unbothered now. I just wanted to defend myself though. I literally posted this thread after it happened to gather thoughts, fell asleep and forgot about it. It’s not like I’m going to file a police report about this, it’s done.

Lol ok

My replies are in bold. Sorry if they sound curt, not intended, but I still very much feel that the situation was quite scary at the time. 

lookstraightahead

The good thing now is that you asked for the opinion of others, and you got it. So you can make your own mind up.

I lived in south London for years. I live in the countryside now. I found both to be really friendly. Maybe I'm just a different character, as we all are.

when I first moved out I woke up to someone gardening at the bottom of my garden. Turns out the old lady next door planted some veg there as my vendor had allowed that. He was just there, with his spade and his coffee. So I made him one instead of him having to bring his own. That lasted for 4 years til my neighbour died.

Doozergirl

I can understand why you feel you might want to defend yourself but I was born and bred in South London.  People in South London, like anywhere have their own minds and will react differently to the same situation, just like those anywhere else in the country.   That isn't why people think differently.  I have had tree surgeons in my garden too but didn't react in the same way.  

I've seen so many threads that descend into chaos when someone decides to tell people that they're different because of where they live when they're actually just different because of who they are. 

Lavendyr

1122abc said:

At the risk of annoying some forum members by bringing up an old thread, I thought I’d defend myself on two points and then lock the thread if I can. 

1. Many posters said I was being dramatic as they were obviously cutting the tree when I saw them. The men were *not* already tending to the tree when we faced each other. They were literally just standing there. They setup the ladder *after* we spoke through a crack in the door. Anyone who doesn’t get why I was alarmed has not grown up as a female in London. 

2. I have passed the neighbours many times and I’ve smiled but haven’t even had a brief eyebrow raise in return. Not the greatest invitation to go around knocking and begging for friendship. I find it strange that I should be expected to do so. Maybe many people live in cute little villages where you’re all friends. This is South London and a snooty part at that. 

The bottom line is, if you know that you have workmen coming over and they will be in your neighbour’s garden - have the common decently to tell them. 

For what it's worth, I think you are right. We have neighbours on four different borders and haven't met them all as we are on different streets. If we were going to have workpeople in on the trees or anything that affected them, we would talk to them first, even had we not met them, and we'd expect the same courtesy in return. If we didn't know the exact day, we'd ask to swap numbers and say we'll text you as soon as we know.

I'm frankly amazed at several of the replies here. Personally, I'd now have a chat with the neighbours, in a friendly way, and just say look, really appreciative that you are looking after the garden etc and what you've done is great - just would really help if you could give us a heads up next time as we were surprised by people jumping over our fence. Chances are that they wouldn't have known that you hadn't granted their tradespeople access and would be properly horrified that they'd gained access in what I think anyone would agree is an unprofessional manner.