Cyclists parking bikes on my lawn

I really can't get my head around the clauses that some developers build into their designs these days.

I know a few people who, having bought properties on fairly modern developments, have found themselves to not be permitted to fence - or define in some other way - the outer edge of their own small garden area ....................... Something like that would immediately put me right off from buying!

You have my greatest sympathy, #Thegrandmarniter.

Regarding the nuisance of dogs etc, how about a notice that warns of the use of chemical pesticides on your lawn and to please keep animals away from it for their own safety. I don't mean for you to use any such stuff - just a warning notice as a deterrent .

A 'pottering' cyclist here...just wanting to apologise for the dreadful behaviour of the cyclists you mention. They spoil the reputation of the vast majority of of us who don't wear head to toe lycra, jump red lights or run down pedestrians!

We have a gravelled front garden and I see people walking on it all the time. Annoying, so I know how you feel, it's a territorial thing!

We had the border between the edge of our land and pavement (which peters out towards the end of our garden) planted with dwarf conifers. They all died quite quickly and I soon saw why... Dogs love to wee on them and their owners just let them, even when obvious that doggie urine was killing the plants.

I think I am sympathising with you as I do know how you feel. I think painted rocks would be the way to go but presumably you can't move the trees that cyclists are using. Perhaps a bigger 'please don't damage these trees' might help?

You don’t say how large your garden is, or how near to the cycle path (I know that shouldn’t matter because it is YOUR garden). People can be so rude and inconsiderate.

I think the only answer is a small fence or shrubs.

effective

Agree with Katie59, DH found ground cover roses to be most affective when he had a problem with tourists tramping over an area that he was contracted to care for.

Never heard of a millennium greenway, but if you own the land, fence it !!

Who is responsible for the cycle path? Couldn't they be involved. They could at least put up signs.

Whitewavemark2

Set up a sprinkler and water your lawn as and when necessary.

Use the motion operated ones for repelling cats.

Delivery men and the postman used to walk across the grass instead of using the path, we had posts sunk and heavy duty chain hung between. Works as a reminder.
I do believe that when you live on an open plan estate, people other than residents, think lawns are common ground. I had tracks across mine with the heavy footfall.

Wonderful advice from everyone. I knew I could rely on you. Love the idea of a moat. Sadly my modest little bungalow would soon be drowned in it, but imagine the wildlife, small children with paper boats, frogs and toads, hunky guys wearing waders (!) maybe even a duckhouse.

I’ve been pricing up little posts and decorative chains, and Berberis hedging which I’ll keep short.

Nettles a row of nettles!!

I think I would do two things to indicate where my frontage starts. I would install a basic chain link fence and dig a narrow border just behind the fence. You can then plant to birder with some low hedge type bushes and in a year or so when they have grown, remove the fence thus creating a pretty lawned area.

My neighbours were unhappy when I removed a hedge between our properties at the front - it was brown and dying as we used to park our caravan up against it! They did not like people cutting across my lawn to deliver things to there front door as they walked right past the full length lounge windows. So we dug a very narrow flower bed which I planted with low laurel bushes which was enough of a deterrent to stop people and being evergreen, it looked colourful all year.

Berberis is the thing; when we moved into our new house all the front gardens were edged with this plant; it looks colourful, is low maintenance and as it has spiky thorns it is just the thing to catch cyclists' ankles if they should try to walk through it.

Witzend

How about a border of evergreen shrubs. Dwarf mahonia might be good - very hardy and will grow anywhere.

Berberris or Roses both are cheap enough if you buy bare root in autumn, would be nice to look at too.
Parker’s, the bulb people are a good source.

Well if fences aren’t allowed what about a moat you can say you’re encouraging wild life

How about a border of evergreen shrubs. Dwarf mahonia might be good - very hardy and will grow anywhere.

Great advice Ginster,and if they carry on doing it,thats called trespassing.

The line of rocks might be a suitable deterrent and pretty easy to put in place

If they tripped going across a chain link fence and lawn as a shortcut instead of using the path, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on ( especially a broken one, haha.) legally speaking, because it wouldn’t be ‘reasonable’.
Anyone can have an accident whilst working on your property, most of us have insurance for this already, but it’s all about ‘reasonable’ risk.If you, the householder left broken glass on the drive or a ladder at a dangerous angle etc then the
Fault would be yours.

Put stingers out!
Sorry, flippant, I don’t think they could sue as it’s private property, I’d put a border with shrubs, so it looks like a garden.

Oh blimey Cabbie, I never thought of that!

We have a similar frontage and I am pleased to say that the worst has been the paper boy leaving his bike on the lawn, or a leaflet delivery chap taking a short cut between house across our lawn. We are not allowed fences, though shrubs and borders are ok.
I am not sure about rocks or a chain fence. If somebody ( who shouldn’t be there, I know) were to trip and injure themselves they could try to take action against you.

A chain link fence, good advice Ginster? just enough of a deterrent.

Some spikey plants ? Pepper in the areas where the dogs go, and plenty of it.

People don't read notices, or if they do they think they apply to other people, not them. Does your front garden have to be undefined? You need something to mark the edge of your private property - a fence, which could be as low as 12 or 18 inches high, or a narrow border with plants in. Just leave a gap the width of a garden gate opposite your front door.

If they can drive straight up to your windows they will, if they can wheel their bikes over your lawn and up to your trees they will. Make it more difficult for them and they will park their cars and bikes somewhere else.

And complain to the council! Take the numbers of cars which park on your private property, with photographs of you can and dates and times, and pass them on.