A woman took to an online parenting forum to ask for help with a neighbour who throws "food scraps" over the fence into her garden.
She posted the full story on Mumsnet, revealing that she found tomatoes, bread, and bananas in her garden one day. She then saw an elderly neighbour "throwing the scraps" and stopped to question her.
The old woman told her that she was throwing the food in an attempt to feed the birds. It was at this point that the Mumsnet user asked for advice.
READ MORE — Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to all households ahead of horrendous' increase
She wrote: "I recently moved to a nice big house countryside. The plot is about 0.3 acres with the fences surrounded by very tall cypresses, so no direct contact between neighbours.
"As I was walking around the plot one day I saw that one part was full of food scraps. Tomatoes, bread, bananas etc. Opposite of that part there is a house.
"Then I saw a very old lady bending over my part of the fence (technically in my property) and I asked her what she was doing, she admitted that she lives in the house and that she is throwing the scraps to feed the birds. I explained to her that first she can’t throwing rubbish in my house and second and most important I have small breed dogs on strict diet and it will be very bad for their health if accidentally eat the scraps."
The user added: "I don’t believe she cares at all because we still finding scraps. She definitely doesn’t live there alone as it is a big house and a heard a baby crying as well. I have no idea how to handle this."
Before long, the post has received comments from other users sharing their views. Many were unimpressed with the elderly woman's actions, with one suggesting: "Chuck them back every time. Knock and speak to other adults in the house about it."
"Scoop it up and throw it back," a second agreed, while a third echoed: "Yep, throw it back over".
One user suggested a more diplomatic approach, writing: "Put a big high fence up (one that you can see through but can't actually pass anything through so thinking chicken wire, that kind of thing)."
Others advised the woman to not to throw the rubbish back over the fence and instead speak to somebody living with the old woman about the problem.
One shared: "My Dad has very bad dementia and he possibly would do things like this before he got too poorly to walk etc, some very odd behaviour is very common with people with dementia. I think a food hoarding/ obsession is also very common.
"My Dad used to think that people were breaking into his house to steal his food. Simply knock on their door and speak to the other adult that lives there. I bet they don't know what is happening."
READ MORE —
- Edinburgh property: Inside the 'spectacular' 6 bed home for sale for £1.7 million
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Hotels that are top rated and best value according to TripAdvisor
- Martin Lewis gives urgent energy advice ahead of bills soaring again in October
- Rules for leaving children home alone during summer holidays shared by expert
- Asda urgently recall popular food product due to 'possible health risk'
