Fire

[serenity]

Last night some youths set fire to our hedge. It's a 7 ft conifer hedge which divides us from what is considered woodland (not that many trees for a wood ) )We were in the livingroom witht the curtains drawn and knew nothing of it till we herd the fire engines. The flames were aparently quite high and lots of smoke. Luckily the fire brigade got there before it spread very far and there are about 4 mature trees which are blackened skeletons of their former self. The trees run the full length of the house and garden so we were VERY lucky that someone saw them throw whatever it was as another 2 ft and the gate would have gone up and just behind there is the rabbit hutch and then the chuck coop. The gate is also attached to the garage which is attached to the house

Will need to chop these down but the trunks are very thick and don't see how we will get the roots out. Am fed up as it's just mindless destruction and could have potentially caused a catastrophe.

Not sure whether to go ahead with the front garden potager now. Maybe just making myself a target for theft and destruction.

[Pottypotter]

Oh no how awful for you, glad it didn't spread any further.

[Squash Muppet]

Hi Serenity

I'm so glad the fire didn't spread any further than it did. So sorry to hear about this - why can't living things just be left alone? Mindless yobbos.

Take care Serenity.

Squash Muppet x

[Dobby]

sorry to hear about the fire but also glad you and yours are ok do they have any ider as to who it was

[TPeers]

Oh, how sickening for you! You should go ahead with your plans, I know you might well suffer damage but if you change your plans then they have won a double victory!

[serenity]

The guy who saw them throw it said they were teenagers but they ran off straight away. In the summer the kids set fire's all the time but usually further up the hill. The fire brigade must have to come out twice a week when the grass is long and dry.

You're right tpeers will have to find veggies which don't look so tempting to pinch, kids probably wouldn't know rainbow chard was edible.

[Alice]

Shocking Serenity ! But I'm so glad it wasn't worse for you. You must be very upset about it. When you've calmed down, just clean up the mess and carry on with your own sweet plans. Never let the yobs dictate any aspect of your life, otherwise they have won.

[shirlthegirl43]

Sorry to hear about the destruction - we would never have dreamed of setting fire to anything when we were small.

Conifer roots are not very deep. Leave them for a while so the small roots die off then you should be able to dig them out. Is there a chance that the mature trees will recover or have they been too badly damaged? I would give them time and see what happens there.

[Flummery]

Sorry to hear of your experience Serenity. One consolation for your potager plans is the kids in general don't like veg! Do what you were going to do and live your own life.

Flum

[Paulottie]

I agree with flum, do't let the little sh*ts get to you, don't turn from your path.

I'd say don't cut the stumps too short and then it will be easier to tow/winch them out

[yoanbob]

so sorry serenity, dont give up, you could try inviting the stray teenages in to see your chooks, then maybe word will get out and they will exert peer presure, just a thought.
glad your all ok.

[Peter]

Serenity, chap up the road from me got rid of 18" diameter leylandii, every trace.

He worked on them with ladder , saw and loppers, leaving a six foot high stump.

Then his mate with a mini-digger came round, went through the gate ok, dug down about three feet all round, then fingered the top with the bucket spikes and rocked it. A spade, small hand axe and trowel allowed access to and cutting of any large roots until the digger could lay it over, pull it out the hole and voila.

[Headfry]

I am so sorry Serenity, just read your post. My heart goes out to you.

[tinyvine]

Hello serenity
Sorry again for all this rubbish happening to you. *************

Anyway, now thats out of my system. I think if it was me, I would not be happy to continue living in my house if I thought someone else was dictating what I got up to in my garden! You've every right to be furious I agree but don't 'let the bar stools grind you down'. Do your garden the way you want to (obviously now you have the need to be wary, so like you said be a bit more picky perhaps in what you plant but just make sure you do plant.)

How about Rhubarb, never liked the look of that much as a kid?

xx

[SarzWix]

Sorry to read about such a horrible thing happening Serenity, fire is a particular 'phobia' of mine, I know I'd be totally freaked out.
We had problems with idiots/conifer hedge last year - they thought it'd be great fun to climb on top of it from nearby wall, and launch themselves onto the top of my car, then on over the top of 3 others parked in the row... We all ended up with damage to roof and bonnet, and then to top it off, others ran off with 2 big trays of plants (hardening off for a plant sale at school) and threw them into gardens all down the street. By that point, my dog had started barking her head off and when we opened the door she chased em down the street... Funnily enough, the police in station at the end of road noticed that, and we got told off for not having her 'under control'... Not had any bother since, but I sit in the front room with the curtains open now, and the hedge has been re-shaped so i can see what's going on.