Security Hedging

[WiZeR]

I have been tasked with doing some research into security hedging for my allotment site. We have a problem with youths breaking onto sheds during the night. They don't seem to stealing anything much. After talks with the council and an adjoining school, we have decided to look into hedging.

To please everyone it needs to meet the following requirements:

Fast growing
Easy to maintain (no one wants to take responsibility)
Not too tall (6-8ft)
Dense but not 'climbable'
Non-poisonous (primary age children will be near)

er I think that's it. Any ideas people? Cost is also a problem. They seem to expect an instant hedge!

[rustylady]

I take it no=one wants to fork out for a proper fence, then? As for hedging several things spring to mind, but none of them are fast growing, and if cost is a major factor you will probably find the little darlings just pull the small plants out before they get a chance to establish properly. What you need is something with thorns - I would suggest berberis or pyracantha. Both, when established are effective - I can vouch for the effectiveness of pyracantha thorns, specially when pruning the one I have in the back garden. They also produce berries which the birds love

[WiZeR]

The fence is owned by the school and they say its not in their budget to replace it. I can understand this, but it doesn't help us much.

I wonder if those pyracantha berries are poisonous to curious little kiddies.

[PAULW]

We have a Haw/quickthorn hedge around our lottie, here are the prices you are likely to pay
HEDGING PLANTS Blackthorn 60-80cm £11/25, £42/100. Quickthorn 40-60cm £10/25, £38/100, 60-80cm £12.50/25, £48/100.

It is getting to be the wrong time of year to be getting whips these are the easiest to plant dry rooted, all is needed it a slit made with a spade drop to whip in and firm with your boot, you may be able to get your whips cheaper from the council after a few years you can then pratice a bit of hedge laying to make the hedge stronger and stop it getting to tall and thin.

[Two_Sheds]

It's got to be bramble...nature's barbed wire.
As for breaking into sheds...you could leave the sheds open and hide valuable tools around your plot. The little blighters will get in your shed, but at least the damage is minimal.
What about a few fake bee hives scattered around? With signs up saying 'Beware Bees Swarming'?
Manholes/ (accidental holes, of course. don't want to break anyone's ankle on purpose like).

[nick the grief]

Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Pyracantha, Rosa rugosa all viscious spines and wildlife freindly Thats what we are hoping to plant in out hedge thats just been (being after 40odd years) layered.

I would have thought that it would be in the interest of the school to maintain their fences. See if you can get a grant off the council for the work as it is their problem that is causing yours - or try a solicitors letter saying that you will not be held responsble for any injuries caused by the children getting into the site through there badly maintained fence .... then stab one of the little buggers with your fork

[bramble]

It has to be Pyracantha. Can't see anyone getting over that once it has grown.

[SimonCole]

I would aim for 'out of sight, out of mind' and opt for an evergreen...
for me a quick-growing fir would be ideal.

[bubblewrap]

We had some problems with "kids". So our council replaced the chain link fence with security railings (over6ft high) with sharp points on top.It seems to have worked. The good thing about railings is they don't need trimming & hedges take time to grow. Railings in the end would be cheaper.

[WiZeR]

long story short(ish): The council are kindly replacing our boundary chain link fence with a very good 2m fence which seems like it will be virtual impenetrable. The fence that divides the school and the allotment site is the school's responsibility. It is a flimsy chain link fence but as far as they are concerned its fine and they do not have the budget to replace it. They have only had minor criminal activity and so don't see it as a high priority. In a meeting yesterday we managed to talk them into further talks on planting hedging as a cheaper deterant.

I'm a bit worried about the thorns on the pyracanthas and 'thorns. We'll have to look into it more. I think the primary school may have an issue with safety. Evergreen may be the solution but will it grow too high? Brambles are not ideal, they are a bit of a nightmare to keep maintained.

It seems keeping the shed unlocked is the best option as no one with an unlocked shed (including myself) have been effected. However with these constant break-in the whole spirit of the allotmenteers is down and it is becoming a real issue.

Why is this a concern to me? They recently voted me in as chairman!

[lucym]

I am surprised that the school is being so laid back about their fence - in recent years, most schools (especially primary schools) have become very anxious about intruders gaining access to children - my daughter's school is surrounded by high spiky railing fences, locked gates and big signs warning that intruders will be arrested and prosecuted, and it's not in a dodgy area or anything, it's a village school...it is brand new though. However, if I were a governor at that school and I knew that young people were wandering the school site and climbing out over fences, well it doesn't take much thought to imagine someone climbing in too... I wonder how the youths are getting into the school grounds in the first place?

Re: funding - I worked at a secondary school which had a buspark which was basically a death trap, we were just waiting for a child to walk out behind a reversing bus... The old head retired and a new head came in, very visionary, very "won't take no for an answer". He looked at the buspark and got onto the council...ran into some opposition. Turned round and said something like, "oh well, you'll be happy to take responsibility for the death of a child then? Because a child will die if you don't fund this!" Result: new buspark. it's a question of finding the right person to ask and the right reason for asking. Youths breaking into sheds: minor irritation (to the council). Mad axe murderer getting onto the school site...ah...yes, well, hmm... It has happened (very unlikely, but the point is, there's precedent you can play on.) The phrase to use is 'child protection issues'.

[nick the grief]

I Agree with LucyM Wizer. I'm afraid if you wait for them you'll wait for ever. I think you should plant your hedge on your property & if they aren't happy tell them it's their problem as their fence isn't fit for purpose and so you won't accept any responsibility for any injuries.

Copy your letters to the county council I'm sure that they will be interested.

[TPeers]

Hi Wizer,

Copy you local MP too, with comments on standard garden poisons which the little toads are in danger of drinking! They were safely locked up but.....

Personally I think the rats get what they deserve but presumably their mothers love them!

My (ex)plot had something like this and another problem, stemming from the hedge solution - mugging! Holders are on their honour to keep the gate locked to stop the horrors getting in, but unfortunetly if a holder leaves the engine of their car running while locking the gate on the way out, or is otherwise unlucky, some of the kids have taken to car jacking and veg theft!
You can't see of an autumn evening after doing the watering, whether there is anyone lurking by the (now) 7' hedge. It is advised that ladies and older holders do not go to water in the evening unaccompanied - which is a bit sad. Police are powerless.

[Digger-07]

What about a few fake bee hives scattered around? With signs up saying 'Beware Bees Swarming'?

I have kept bees for years and from experience if vandals are there then the challenge of pushing over a hive is one I have lived with. They don't fear stings as they devise ways of doing it without getting close.

My last attack resulted in 2 colonies being poisoned by having petrol poured into them. This meant the roofs had to be lifted.

Bees do not stop vandals.

[NOG]

The fence is owned by the school and they say its not in their budget to replace it. I can understand this, but it doesn't help us much.

I would suggest a letter to the Education Authority and the Board of Governors politly reminding them that it is their fence and it there to prevent unauthorised intruders from entering the School grounds from the allotments and pointing out how easy it would be for some one to abscond with the a child on to the allotments and then away.

And how as a responcible society you want to protect the children and how you are wiling to help.

I think you will be surprised how quickly they would want to help.