The legalities of putting sharp and pointy things on the top of walls/gates

Scene: front/rear garden parallels road, property edged by wall 6' high at one end and 5' at the other due to slope. Football is played in road, hence next to front/rear garden, making both gardens unusable.

So, ball comes over garden for the millionth time. For the millionth time, kid grasps top of wall to pull himself over. Feels hand is in something disagreeable, removes hand and inspects it, wipes it on expensive designer football shirt. Complains to other kids.

Other kids then want to see for themselves, so pattern of events repeats.

Still disbelieveing, they try a different section of wall, etc etc, until they come to the garden gate (6' high). This won't have grease on it, so hand grasps top of gate....and pattern repeats.

Kids now in a dilemma - no ball, no way to get ball back, won't ask for it as I make them get their parents to collect it. Can't moan to parents as they'll get sanctioned in some form or other. All that's left to do is explain greasy clothing to mum.

When all is quiet, I kick ball back over wall.

Kids are of an age where smart designer gear is de rigeur, hence clothes-conscious. Won't play football in tatty clothes, and haven't got the brains to bring a sack or bin liner to put over wall.

For the cost of a tin of molyslip grease, about £3-4 IIRC, peace breaks out.

Amazingly, the local cats, that liked to sleep in the sun on top of the wall, are far smarter at not getting into a mess, by testing the new substance tentatively with a paw. Pike off to find somewhere else. Birds grateful. Football fizzles out as a pastime, which is nice as Sundays could see footy being played from 8am to 10pm, and one prayed for wet weekends.

HTH.

Probably already been said, but I do not want to trawl through all the postings. Why not just use 'dog cra4p' instead? It would look lovely when mixed with the white track-suits and Burberry check. That way you could say that it must have been done by somebody's pet and not your responsibility but you will jet wash it off as a gesture of good will. Of course make sure that the water pressure is not set too high on the jet wash as you never know where the s*1t will land. IYSWIM

They are only weeds if they're unwanted.

Call them blackberries and they're wanted. And youth of today won't know they're edible.

Excellent. Even I should be able to grow them then.

Owain

No, but if you got a piglet to fatten up you could have an electric fence and excellent bacon.

Owain

Two good tall growing shrubs that have lots of very nasty prickles, but look nice in the garden Berberis julianae and Pyracantha Orange Glow

"Tom Woods" wrote in >

This is worth a read

Well yes. Haven't you seen the complaints from the local heron population to the procurator fiscal?

Google for Himalayan Blackberry. You can't not grow them, classed as a noxious weed in the US.

Some while ago, on here, there was a discussion about placing one under a poorly wired external light, which IIRC, was about the right height to grab onto as the intruder fell..

Colin Bignell

Ah yes - sure that wasn't on the thread when I posted though.

legal protection.

Actually, the "razor" wire I have seen is more scary to look at than to navigate. the so called "razor" edges are square cut and not in the slightest bit shap. The tapered ends of the outer edge of the razors fold and bend with relative ease.

I think having a sign cautioning as to the use of "razor wire" and the visual effect of the stuff is more effective than the stuff it's self.

You can't do as you like, but if they are actually trespassing when they get injured, then you are not to blame, that is to say, you can put barbed wire, razor wire etc *on your property* and you are in the clear - if it's accessible from outside your property, IE overhanging, then you could get into lumber...most supermarkets and large retailers opt for this stuff, which is firmly bolted to the top of the wall, and the entire width of the wall is legally their property, ergo, anyone who is unauthorised is tresspassing before they come into contact with it.

|!Dave Fawthrop wrote: |! |!> I have seen new razor wire, round commercial premises, seriously dangerous. |! |!Actually, the "razor" wire I have seen is more scary to look at than to |!navigate. the so called "razor" edges are square cut and not in the |!slightest bit shap. The tapered ends of the outer edge of the razors |!fold and bend with relative ease. |! |!I think having a sign cautioning as to the use of "razor wire" and the |!visual effect of the stuff is more effective than the stuff it's self.

I must have a *close* look next time I pass some.

I'd still like to enjoy my garden without having to put up with the smell of s**te! There is actually a fair bit in the grass on the outside of the wall (popular route for dog walkers) and that doesnt seem to put them off. It has been putting me off as I have had to shift it all to get on with my building!

That is great! I will buy some cheap grease when i next go shopping :)

I would have been tempted to puncture any footballs that came over before throwing them back! you showed some control there!

I am much better at growing weeds or plants in the wrong place. In my front garden which is slabbed (badly before i bought the house), I have beds round the edge which I can only grow grass and skraggly weeds in, yet all the gaps between the slabs grow nice little flowers which i dont like to pull up because they look nice!

Can i grow bramble/blackberry in a pot (even a big one)? this might mean that i can control it more while training it up the wall and more justify its existence as a flower not a weed.

A while back, a local farmer put up a 4 foot high fence with spikes on the top alongside a public right of way that ran down the side of one of his fields to stop the local kids from trying to ride his horses. Of course, one night a horse tried to jump the fence and unspeakable horror ensued. Immediately after that, the spikes were all chopped off.

I'm think that the law regarding pointy things on the top of walls and fences is that they must be: (a) highly visible so that they are a deterrent and not a trap and (b) be high enough so that it's impossible to accidentally fall on them

- and I seem to recall six feet being quoted.

The legal advice I had then was that the grease was OK - but it doesn't mean it is still the case :-(

That's illegal, and the reason why I didn't do it.

as discussed elsewhere, isnt the top of your wall yours so you can wipe whatever you like on it. I legitimately crawl on the floor and grease all the UJ's on my landrovers every so often and have to clean the grease off my tools, hands, etc somewhere! ;)

Many things are illegal....

While building my new wall i have had to cut back a couple of bushes to get at it. I have kindly been left 3 pre-punctured footballs (along with lots of glass and tin to fill up my recycling box). I'm might swap the next real ball that comes in the garden for one of them!