I'm really sorry to hear that Jonathan, that must be very distressing indeed after so much hard work under such difficult circumstances. :-(

My Berberis took a bashing. But are young Vinca Minor likely to survive a severe trampling? I planted Vinca because I hoped it would be tough underneath heavy boots.

Vinca's are pretty tough customers, and have the advantage of stem-rooting from their runners too, so hopefully yours should be able to bounce back quite quickly.

Builders are the same. No matter what you say they will stand on plants - it is almost as if they can't see them! When our front porch was being sorted we had foot high epipactis just starting to bud. We put tall canes all around the clump and fastened them together with binder twine and warned the guys I would kill them if those plants were stepped on. They did mange to miss those but trampled down astilbes and other plants just coming into flower so I know how you feel!

Sorry to hear it Jonathan, and it wasn't even an emergency! :-(
I'm glad to hear that the Berberis isn't too badly damaged - perhaps some of the tramplers have scratches in return. Vinca minor is really tough - it'll recover as it roots really easily. Any other casualties?

I know how you feel, Jonathan - about 4 years ago, the painters decided to paint my balcony without warning me, and while I was out - I came back to find all the troughs full of surfinia petunias, which had been hard up against the railings so the plants trailed a foot down over the edge of the balcony, had all been pulled right back, and all the growth on all the plants had gone. It was end of July, so no hope of getting more and growing them on, too late in the season. I'm afraid I experienced the biggest bout of rage I'd felt in many years ... which was expressed at great length and in the strongest possible terms. Flinching, they were, by the time I'd finished, but it didn't help how I felt.

Unfortunately you have to love your own garden to appreciate how other people feel about theirs, and some occupations think we should be so grateful to them for existing that we should put up with anything! The one good thing is that it is amazing how resilient plants are, I am sure it will soon all be great again. Don't let it get you down.

Re: Bamboo's painters - my son had a similar prob when the council painters came and painted their fence - they actually painted over the honeysuckle because it was wound round the fence !!!! it beggars belief doesn't it ?

The choice of Vincas was very strategic. I was forseeing and planning for the worst case scenario. If it can happen it will. If only BP had too.

Well, even I, Jonathan, who is known by the nickname of meerkat because I'm constantly on the lookout, and preparing for, trouble, get caught out sometimes, so ultimately, stuff just happens, lol

Fancy painters painting a plant. How ridiculous!

I'm not surprised, old cynic that I am - fits with my idea of council painters and a lot of workers in general - disinterest and avoidance of responsibility, the last being a common problem in general these days.

We have the same problem here but with the windowcleaners. Are they blind? can they not see the plants in flower or do they deliberately stamp on them. I had a word with the 'chief' in the spring and the problem was resolved.

We stopped having a window cleaner for that very reason

I hope all the GoY members support for you has cheered you up a tad Jonathan. It's abit of a double edged sword, we need these guys in times of real emergencies but for a key better care could have been taken. Your garden is amazing & clearly this should have been an indication that this is something special & should have been respected. Like you I love my garden & reckon I must take photo's almost everyday of the year, come the winter I will get a buzz out of looking at them on the computer.
I remember years ago when locals complained of a 'maggotty smell' in our area which no-one could trace, two chaps were sent round with a foul smelling concoction & disregarding what us residents were saying just randomly sloshed this evil smelling stuff all over our paths & gardens with such a cavalier arrogant attitude that we were quite frankly stunned. Talk about making matters worse eh ? Oh well, thankfully we're not all like that.

Oh Jonathan how I feel for you. People who do not love their gardens will never understand they think us gardeners are all nuts.I have a similar problem although not so extensive in the form of a 10 year old grandson who is mad about football. I could murder him at times. He's devastated countless flowers and shrubs I,ve spent months nurturing and although he always says sorry his attitude is 'well its only a few flowers nan go and buy some more! ' I hope your garden recovers quickly. I wont say anything bad about firemen just in case i need em!

Thank you so much everyone. Forsight is the key. Tough plants for tough places.