The plot next door seems to be turning into a creche....?!

[SarzWix]

The plot next door has been turning into a weed patch over the last few weeks, and the plot-holder has been sent out a letter asking hom to get it under control. We were quite glad, as the docks etc are just about to throw their seeds over our newly planted beds. So I've been a bit dismayed the last few days at what's going on in there....
2 days ago, there were 2 teenage lads in there, chopping down comfrey but leaving the docks... One of them is a bit 'simple' (I'm sorry if that's not PC, but it's true) and could talk the hind legs off several rows of donkeys, the other a cocky little !*&!... After half an hour they got bored, and brought out a radio which could have been heard in the next village. I packed up and went home. Yesterday, they were there again, this time with the mother of the cocky one (who is also the plot-holder's partner), and their 2 toddlers. I stayed long enough to put strings up for the last of my toms in greenhouse, and left as the radio came out again... I stopped by the secretary's plot and asked her to have a word about the radio, which she was about to do anyway.
So, today, I dropped the kids off at school and went straight to lottie, intending to really crack on. Within minutes of getting there, next door had; the waffling boy, the mother, the mother's friend (a childminder) and FIVE whingeing toddlers being given buckets and being told to find worms... Apparently this is going to be a regular thing, as the partner is working too many hours to keep the plot tidy...
Now, call me a miserable cow if you like, but I don't go to the allotment to listen to a crowd of whining toddlers! I've got 3 kids of my own, and if they're being painful down there, I take them home. I certainly don't fill it up with loads of other people's kids!
What am I going to do??!! Am I just being horribly intolerant (probably...)
Should I just buy a pot of Kalms?!

[heebiejeebie]

Nah - other people's kids are horrible!

[lozza_9]

i go to the allotment for some quiet time so I would be upset if someone got a radio out on my allotment site. I dont have kids ( expecting my first) but I like to see kids on the allotment but if they are making loads of noise then I would not be a happy bunny. Plan to take my child to the allotment but if its crying then I would take it home

Lozza

[Snadger]

I'll follow this thread with interest because I am in a similar situation!

Inwardly, I think kids should be encouraged to go with there parents to allotments and even be given a little plot of there own.

Buttttttt.......my neighbours bring 12 kids under 8 years old, have a weed infested allotment and the parents who have no interest in gardening just pull out a deck chair on the path if it's sunny and leave the kids to there own devices.

Result............weed infested adventure playground with holes dug all over the place. Their two saving graces is they aren't there very often, hence the weeds, and they don't have a radio, in fact I have the radio, to drown out the noise of the kids!

The way it stands I intend to live and let live!

[jaykay]

Could you plug yourself in to an MP3 and listen to your own relaxing music while you work when your neighbours are around? Lose yourself in your own world so to speak and ignore whatever your neighbours are doing?

At a guess the teenagers may soon lose interest, as might the other helpers!

Whatever, try to enjoy your plot in your own way.

[Seahorse]

I wonder if the parents of the whingeing toddlers (who are presumably paying the childminder to care for them) know they're being dragged out to look for worms? I'm all for kids being outdoors and active but not sure I'd want someone taking mine off to a place potentially full of sharp tools, chemicals, etc!

I have four children but even in our own garden I tell them to calm down a bit if I know our neighbours are out in theirs at the same time.

Claire

[SarzWix]

Inwardly, I think kids should be encouraged to go with there parents to allotments and even be given a little plot of there own.

I would agree with that, and that's what we hope to do with ours when we get on top of it, but it needs the application of common-sense as well - kids have a shorter attention span than adults, and toddlers even shorter. Also, respect for other people; i.e. if they're causing a nuisance, or had enough, take them home!
Unfortunately, I tend to say what I think most of the time, so going to have to find a way to cope with it before I end up being rude....

[SarzWix]

Could you plug yourself in to an MP3 and listen to your own relaxing music while you work when your neighbours are around? Lose yourself in your own world so to speak and ignore whatever your neighbours are doing?

That's a good idea, I don't usually use earphones - get bit phobic bout someone sneaking up behind , but I'll have the dog there so should be ok...

[jaykay]

SarzWix
I know what you mean about someone creeping up - but you've usually got a spade or other tool handy (even a bamboo cane could be nasty)!

[chrissie the chippy]

I take my 6 year old daughter to the allotment at the weekend and most days after school.

She is well behaved and enjoys being there. I keep her occupied and she knows that she isn't to be silly (dangerous for a start there!) but that people go there for some peace and quiet. So hopefully my daughter will be learning about growing her own veg, insects and the like and also respect for other people.

I know the lads might be a pain, but good on them for giving it a go not many teenage lads would. Obviously the respect for others needs a good seeing too though!


As for a woman bringing children in that she is being paid to look after Yet another thing I can add to my list of why I shall never use one (yes I know they're not all like that ).

I'm sure the novalty will wear off soon

[beefy]

A few days rain will probably see them off when they wont want to be outside .Then when they find something else to do you will probably have no more trouble with them.

[rustylady]

Get some earplugs or an MP3 player, and go into your own little world. As long as they don't stray onto your plot they're doing no harm.

[Flummery]

They say children are like farts - you can just about stand your own!

At least I don't have to put up with this as I only have my kitchen garden to grow stuff in. You try to be tolerant but it must stretch your inner resources to snapping point. Get those Kalms!

[chrissie the chippy]

[QUOTE=Flummery;111212]They say children are like farts - you can just about stand your own!
QUOTE]


will have to remember that one

[Peter]

I wonder if the parents of the whingeing toddlers (who are presumably paying the childminder to care for them) know they're being dragged out to look for worms? I'm all for kids being outdoors and active but not sure I'd want someone taking mine off to a place potentially full of sharp tools, chemicals, etc!

I have four children but even in our own garden I tell them to calm down a bit if I know our neighbours are out in theirs at the same time.

Claire

If the kids are not hers then the world is your oyster.

Is she a registered childminder?
Has she done a Health and Safety assessment of all the risks to toddlers at the allotment site?
A quiet phone call to the relevant council department, Social Services perhaps and your problem may just vanish.


Sometines, just sometimes today rule obsessed society will work in your favour.