The other afternoon, I could see a van stop at the side of the lane. Then a man got out, with spade, and big compost bags. He did not walk to the gate, but climbed the dry stone wall. Thought he was going to the pile of rotted horse manure, but no, he started digging into the pile of tree bark heaped up. The leccy firm cut some trees down, and asked if I wanted the bark, so left it for me.
Now, I am generous, and gardeners are welcome to manure, but even so, I would expect them to ask first, surely thats good manners, rather than helping themselves. I marched over the lane, through the gate, and got right behind the gentleman, who had already filled one large sack of bark, and was on the second. He jumped a mile when I said "Excuse me, what are you doing?" Rather sarcastically he said he was taking the bark. I replied that it was mine, he said it had been left by the leccy people ......yes, but they gave it to me, I said, and its in my field, so technically you are stealing. I then asked if it was ok then for me to go in his garden and help myself to a few of his veg plants, or some compost??? He was no apologetic in any way, and said would tip it back from the bag. Being generous, I told him to take the bag he had filled and leave - which he did, back over the wall.
I pointed out that had he asked, I would probably have let him have some of the bark, but seeing as he had helped himdself, then no. He said as he left that he did not know who the field belonged to. Hmm ....he had made no effort to go to the house alongside my field, and then would have told him.
I wonder how many other fields he had been in that afternoon!!!
