Are they ‘wilding’, or lazy?

[baxlin]

My next door neighbour is a bachelor, in his early 70s, who always lived there with his parents when they were alive, and who did everything for him. He had a gardener for a couple of years after they died, but not for a good few years since, and he’s done nothing to the house or garden since then eg part of his garage roof is missing, and bushes overhang the pavement.

Two doors down the other side, his wife died 3 years ago, and similarly he’s done nothing to his garden since then. Again, bushes overhang the pavement. He is a keen birdwatcher, so I suppose he could be actively wilding, but they looked after the garden when his wife was alive.

So, hence the question - as both of these gentlemen are able-bodied, has wilding maybe become an excuse for laziness?

Admission: Mrs B is the gardener in our family, so I would have to find a gardener for mine if I were widowed.

 

[martyz]

i think the best course of action to accurately answer your questions would be to ask the gentlemen concerned.

 

[W1ghty]

My next door neighbour is a bachelor, in his early 70s, who always lived there with his parents when they were alive, and who did everything for him. He had a gardener for a couple of years after they died, but not for a good few years since, and he’s done nothing to the house or garden since then eg part of his garage roof is missing, and bushes overhang the pavement.

Two doors down the other side, his wife died 3 years ago, and similarly he’s done nothing to his garden since then. Again, bushes overhang the pavement. He is a keen birdwatcher, so I suppose he could be actively wilding, but they looked after the garden when his wife was alive.

So, hence the question - as both of these gentlemen are able-bodied, has wilding maybe become an excuse for laziness?

Admission: Mrs B is the gardener in our family, so I would have to find a gardener for mine if I were widowed.

I’m guessing they are aware of the state of the garden and for a possible 100 reasons are unable or unwilling to do the garden .
I guess we will never know .

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Rewilding. We have quite a few like this in leafy, leafy, South West London.

Couples and widows in their late 70's and beyond who aren't bothered / don't have the energy / focus or can't afford for someone else to do the work. Even in multi-multi million pound houses.

More usually, it's the retired who have the tidiest gardens, but it's no guarantee.

 

[Darrell]

Rewilding/wilding. I had to google those.

 

[StMarks]

Fwiw I entirely agree with the above
You can't possibly know the situation or motivations of those two households based on the scant details you have supplied.
Nonetheless it seems entirely plausible that both old fellas have lost the motivation to keep on top of aspects that had little interest for them in the first instance. Chances are that the neglect barely registers with them, & they are quite possibly becoming overwhelmed.
If you believe it is "dragging down the tone of your neighbourhood" and you would like this improved, then perhaps,,,,,,,,?
You could be a "good neighbour", and take the time to visit these two gentlemen. Talk to them & listen to them. You'll get your answers without having to ask them, and you may be able to help them get their lives "back on track". Surely being a good neighbour is what really makes a good neighbourhood ??

 

[baxlin]

Thanks for the replies. We have tried with our next door neighbour, believe me, even paying our grandson to clear the weeds off his drive…

 

[ALFAitalia]

Rewilding.....the perfect excuse if you are a lazy f***!

 

[Londonscottish]

Thanks for the replies. We have tried with our next door neighbour, believe me, even paying our grandson to clear the weeds off his drive…

I've got a neighbour like that. 10 neat houses and one complete shitter. Not culturally attuned to the concept of keep things smart out the front and back.

At least he's recently started paying someone to keep on top of the worst of it. But his house and his gardens still look shit.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Weeds the main cause of pavement damage, Brighton & Hove council says

Brighton & Hove City Council says repairs to pavements are costing £50,000 a month.

www.bbc.com

Like these 'Green' Muppets. It's one thing not using a particular chemical and quite another letting your roads and footpaths become a danger.

 

[Londonscottish]

Weeds the main cause of pavement damage, Brighton & Hove council says

Brighton & Hove City Council says repairs to pavements are costing £50,000 a month.

www.bbc.com

Like these 'Green' Muppets. It's one thing not using a particular chemical and quite another letting your roads and footpaths become a danger.

Blinkered one-dimensional doctrinal nonsense.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Rewilding.....the perfect excuse if you are a lazy f***!

Or a cash-strapped Council.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

One quarter of English councils have plans to rewild. Does yours?.