Kids on Allotments - am I a grumpy old woman?

[cottage garden]

Oooh...quite a tricky situation. Of course kids should be allowed on allotment sites but shouting, going on other peoples sites and vandalism is obviously not acceptable.

How about asking the supervisor to put a sign on the entrance gate that 'children are very welcome but need to be supervised and keep noise levels down'.

I always find that if you know the children, then you find their noise easier to deal with. Maybe the window breaking will give you a chance to get to speak to the children and get to know them a bit.

I wouldn't be surprised if the parents haven't already had a stern word to the children about the glass breaking and they are probably are a bit nervous about seeing you now.

[carlseawolf]

SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES
Kids should be allowed on to allotments and shown what we do as many children have not got a clue what an unprosessed veg looks like and these hopefully will be the next generation of plot holders.
No your not grumpy at the fact damage is been done to your propety , and these kids need to be kept on a leash and any damage you or other people suffer should be the responcability of the parents to punish and repair / replace said damage as it's there kids there responcability.
Good luck talking to the parents , because if that is what the kids are like then either the parents don't care or have given up trying to punish them and by the sound of it could be given up trying .
If you think i don't like kids then your wrong i've got 5 and i'm speaking from personal experiance when dealing with parents when kids are involved as all the thing that kept you in check as a child no longer work the police are almost power less with under 16's an they know it, social services are so over worked they havn't got time , and since ( tracy beaker ) has been on tv orphanages are now cool !
If commitee can not do anything and the parents will not listen then try do onto others as they do on to you first - and get everyone who has kids down there at once and tell them straight that if there kids go on one more plot then this lot will be going to town on there's.
Abit drastic but will get the point across , they only got 2 choices put kids on lease or leave.

[pigletwillie]

On our site nobody is allowed on another persons plot without their permission. In extreme cases eviction is sanctioned, however a quiet word often does the job.

Its one thing being noisey, its another causing damage to others property.

[clareg]

Hi,

Well, I've been at the allotment all day and no sign of our neighbours or their kids. Maybe they are feeling guilty! Never mind, we have replaced the glass and saved some of the tomatoes/aubergines. My dad did manage to cut his finger quite badly on a piece of glass so he is not best pleased!

Spoke to a member of the allotment committee, she has similar trouble at the other end of the allotments (its a big site, 127 plots), so the committee are going to write to everyone, reminding them about not going on other peoples plots and also to explain the dangers to children who are not supervised. I think this is a good way of saying "keep your kids on your own allotment"!

We had a nightmare day today though, everyone was up in arms and furious. The childrens football league is across the road and parents think its ok to park in front of our allotment gates instead of using the footballers car park (its closer to walk). So despite the sign, no one could get to the allotments by car. A not so polite note was left on their car. Believe me when 127 allotment owners (ok, maybe there weren't that many, but there could have been) are angry its a site to be seen!

Clareg

[rustylady]

What a difficult situation! This is the parents problem. No one thinks it acceptable if a puppy runs amok, it is accepted that the puppy must learn manners. The same holds good for children - including my own! - These children need guidelines and rules.

If I found my kids damaging other peoples gear or veg on their rare visits to the grandparents plot they would have hell to pay! Some form of restitution would be in order as decided by the 'victim', pocket money for the glass, a spell of weeding or watering. Something which is of use to the injured party and rubs home the problem they have caused. That is also might teach them something is a useful bonus!


Oh yeah - if they go on about the kids 'rights' to able to go where they choose - remind them that 'rights' have no legal definition! The correct terms are duties and privileges - for any privilege there is a duty - in this case a duty of care and respect for others.

Terry

Totally in agreement TPeers, however I would phrase it "yes you have rights, but you also have responsibilities". The two are interconnected, and you cannot have one without the other.

[Peter]

The park adjoins our site and both are long and thin.
Our top gate leads to mown grass and the main gate leads to a fenced play area with climbing frame etc.

Also our rules state that tenants are not to cause nuisance to each other.