- Use
hostile plants to supplement
existing boundaries,
such as hawthorn or holly. (As a beneficial
by-product, hostile plants offer good homes to wildlife)
- Use
hostile plants around drainpipes and below windows.
- Ensure
trees and shrubs are well pruned - especially near outbuildings
and expensive garden items
- Hostile
plants as identified at www.met.police.uk
- For a selection of hostile garden plants, please go to the Crocus website:
- N.B.
Polite Warning - some plants can be dangerous, particularly
to young children. A useful list of these can be found at www.rhs.org.uk
- For further information on hostile plants best suited to your area (and appropriate
growing conditions) please consult your local nursery and/or garden centre.
- Plants for protection: Although there are many plants which can be used for defence purposes, some of the more common ones are:

Holly, which makes an excellent hedge and can grow to 6 – 15m high if allowed to.
Gorse, which grows well in exposed areas but it is a slow grower and rarely exceeds 1.5m.
Blackthorn, a medium fast grower, which can reach the same height as Holly (the added advantage is that its berries can be used to make sloe gin).
Hawthorn, a slow grower, but it will flourish in most types of ground. Can reach anywhere between 1 – 5m
Pyracantha (Firethorn) is particularly useful for growing up walls or fences. It will grow almost anywhere as long as it gets some sun, and can reach 4m high.