Neds/Chavs

[WhippingBoy]

I'm a Park Ranger in Edinburgh (well the outskirts) and one of the perennial problems is mindless vandalism and general destruction of green spaces.

Is there a solution? Do we just have to put up with it? Will things ever improve? Or there a case for culling to manage population density?

Ant thoughts?

[C C]

We had major problems on one of our LNRs, teenagers "getting bored" as they do say, no excuse however. One day i caught the offenders, and invited them along to a bench making competiton, that was being held on the site. Of course they won , and the event gave them an insight in to the importance of our work on the area. Two of them are now volunteers and help to look after the area. Though! the area still gets vandalized from time to time , but not as much.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by C C

We had major problems on one of our LNRs, teenagers "getting bored" as they do say, no excuse however. One day i caught the offenders, and invited them along to a bench making competiton, that was being held on the site. Of course they won , and the event gave them an insight in to the importance of our work on the area. Two of them are now volunteers and help to look after the area. Though! the area still gets vandalized from time to time , but not as much.

keep your friends close keep your enemies closer...........

seriously though it's ace when you can provide the inspiration and make it stick.....

[James_Owen]

As woolly as it sounds, I'm definitely in the 'reach out to them' camp too.
At our LNR the Friends group is made-up mostly of senior citizens, retired couples, etc, and frankly they tend to be a little too fearful of the youths who hang out around the visitor centre. Yes, this is a rough area of Nottinghamshire and the park neighbours a council estate they might have based Shameless upon, but most kids aren't that bad. Let's face it, standing outside in the cold and the rain on a winter day probably isn't their first choice in leisure. They really do feel they have nothing else to do.

Anyway, as a solution to the perceived problem the Friends group and council chose one of those youth detterent alarms that supposedly only teenagers can hear. Personally I hate the thing, we shouldn't discourage young people from visiting any LNR.

The rangers on the other hand do invite them on working days, on my last visit they had the youths cleaning up the car park, and during fundraising events they will help us pack up the stalls at the end of the day. Okay, they do scribble on benches every so often, or mess around with the doors, but there is definite potential for inclusion with the running of the park.
Nonetheless, the prejudices of the aged Friends group persists, and there is a current stand-off between them, the council and the rangers about how to handle the youth problem.

So there are good ways and bad ways to deal with it, I think you just have to not necessarily see kids as the enemy.

[Kayleigh]

We have a large set aside field near us where people exercise their dogs. There are broken spirit bottles all over it. Beer cans and rubbish. In the summer the youngsters go there and it looks like they get drunk and have partys..They also set fireworks off there in November. The shops seem to sell to under age youngsters as the name of the shop was on the carrier bags that were strung all over the field.

[speckled wood]

For anyone who wishes to observe or photograph Chavs and Chavettes in the wild, my home town of Crewe is reputed (by the Sun "newspaper" no less) to be the UK;s Chav Capital. Chavs and Chavettes wcan be seen most nights displaying and pairing on the Delamere House Car Park adjacent to the town centre McDonalds. This is now one of the few places where the Vauxhall Nova can also be seen hunting its prey.

SW

[overgrownbramble]

Here in Vicky Pollard country, we have a persistant problem of bored kids not only breaking trees apart branch after branch and bark stripping, but also continuously setting fires to wildlife areas. The devastation caused is heartrending, and of course the fire engines can't get to the areas to put the fires out. Broken glass is and litter abounds. I son't see what can be done apart from exculde all people from nature areas, but no doubt the destroyers would still get in. Until we find out what pleasure people take in destroying public forests that will take decades to regrow, we're fighting a losing battle.

There is a purpose built skate park with ramps and all the rest, but I've yet to see any one use it! They much prefer to tear up the wildlife areas with their trailbikes (which is not legal in this area) - however, the parents and grandparents carry the bikes to the park in their vans and 4x4s!! SO it's not just the kids, the older ones really should know better. I don't think it's any good blaming teenagers when 50-60 year olds don't even have any respect, it's attitude not age.

[Garden Carpet]

Yes it is attitude, but age does have a bearing on it too. When my son was living at home he and his mates used to spend many evenings in his room.. or watching videos with me. I would far rather have a room full of young lads and all the noise and smells!!!! knowing where my son was and who he was with than have him out on the streets. I know my son wouldnt have been making trouble but kids are easily led.. it only takes one to start and the others will soon follow. I used to have them come round and have makeshift barbies .. they would all go off and get food.... oooh dear.. am reminiscing.... I have heard that is a symptom of old age. Unfortunately I had to stop these evenings till we moved.. as the lady in the flat upstairs objected to their laughter!!!! She was a retired teacher too!!!

The point is that more parents should make places available for their young to hang out... of course they want to be with their mates... part of being young.. and we can hardly blame them for being bored if all we teach them is to get out of the house and stop making a noise!! .. Sorry.. now I am ranting

Encouraging them to take part in activities on the reserve or park is the best way to get em ... off the streets.. and interested in nature... double whammy
jaki

[nightshade]

It is very basic no discipline at home,most children and young people
just do not know where they fit in no one speaks to them just AT them
Childrens tv is dumbed down and seems preoccupied with farting and
denigrating grown-ups.They have few genuine heroes, all in all a poor life
compared to my own where I had nothing except dreams

[Oy]

I think Land Rovers with machine guns mounted on the back are a viable option that should be seriously considered.