Does anyone know what the legal position is regarding footballs straying into other people's gardens? Our plants are being destroyed by footballs straying in to our garden while neighbours children are playing games with their friends. The problem is that I have watched the ball being deliberately thrown over the hedge/fence so I know it isn't always an accident.

So, what to do? Much as I would like to introduce their stupid ball to the sharp end of my stanley knife, I don't think it would help. For a start, they'd only get another ball. When they arrive at the front door and ask if they can have their ball back, can I say no? It doesn't help that the father of one of these kids is the most annoying person on earth and accuses my cat of doing unmentionable things to his kids toys.

Any ideas?

I get that problem sometimes. Trouble is, instead of asking for it they just climb over. The pond is right next to the fence where they play and one of them fell into it once which was funny.

Anyway, how old are they? If they're young you can threaten them by saying that you will call the police if they keep on doing it. If they're a bit older and are annoying other people as well, you can get the council to do somethng. They can put up a sign saying no ball games and if they carry on playing football you can report them.

*decides to turn garden into a large pond*

Thanks Noodelz. They are between 7 and 12. I can't stop them playing ball games in their own garden, I just need to stop the offending ball destroying my nice flowers and plants.

Pretend not to be in, film them coming in and charge them with breaking and entering.

Oh I thought that they were playing in the streets. It's because my garden is surrounded by streets so I somehow assumed everyone else's was like mine.

You could add a little part to your fence which goes in so it protects your plants.

Six foot of netting on top of whatever fence is between them and you. Or Miracle-Grow on the hedge and stop trimming the top of it.

Build yourself a castellated emplacement and arm it with a selection of SuperSoakers™

Jeez, they're just kids playing. Give them a break. Me and my brother used to spend loads of time going next door asking for our ball back, and the couple who lived there were happy to let us go look for it. I can't see any reason why they'd throw it over deliberately - it'd be a waste of time. I suppose, legally, you probably have some right to complain officially, but why do it over something that is (almost always) an accident? If you're that annoyed, build a very high fence.

Doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've seen lil 5 year olds throw balls into my neighbours garden just to annoy them.

I live next door to one of the world's worst footballers (his inability must in part be due to the fact that he's a Ch*ls*a supporter); on one occasion the little-known football tree in my garden bore five fruits in a single evening! For the sake of good neighbourly relations I tend to throw them back over the fence, but haven't yet succeeded in my aim of getting a ball through the neighbours' open patio door!

Have you tried speaking to the lads' parents about it?

It's not really a matter of giving them a break, if their footballs are doing damage.

It's hardly as if it's a deliberate attempt to damage others' property. They're playing a game, having fun, a ball will occasionally go over. You can complain or not give their balls back (which as a knock-on may lead to them not being allowed to play outside with a ball), but that seems a bit cruel. You can build a big fence. You can move house. Or you can live and let live. I suppose it boils down to who gets most enjoyment: the kids with their ball, or you with your plants.

Just to be annoying. The child I saw throw it over is the most horrible annoying git I've ever come across, as is the rest of his family (I might have mentioned them here before ) If he was in his own garden, even David Beckham wouldn't be able to kick it into our garden.


Tell me about it!




I tend to throw the ball over to one of the gardens too. I have a notion that one of the parents is responsible for kicking the ball over when he's playing football with his kids. I don't think his kids are big ebough to kick the ball over the high hedge.

We used to play badminton in our back garden and were forever going over the back to fetch back the '######. Am glad they were friendly and didn't mind us crawling through their hedges.

My parents did get annoyed with the family over the back though. Their kids would climb over the fence to get their football back. A swift word in daddy's ear saw their pocket money stopped unless they came round and asked nicely. As it's a good five minute walk, their shooting accuracy rapidly improved

Get the ball and throw it back - but so it goes over thier garden and into the garden beyond that, only problem is that could turn into yet annother game...

I have a family with eight children living next door to me (I may have mentioned them before). The parents are quite nice people, but the children are really annoying. I do commiserate with you noodle, as they also send the ball over with great regularity and have been known to damage new plants.

Their parents, though, don't apparently allow them to come and ask for the ball, and rely on me to send it back. My punishment to them is to hold on to it for a day or two. I believe they only have two such balls, so sometimes they have none.

brings back childhood memories of crawling through the hedge to get the ball from next doors garden!