Another plant ID please (Berberis)

That invokes such fond memories Veggi, especially the being free to roam.

We used to play in the coal yard at Newton Abbot, those were the days when prams were left outside supermarkets, complete with babies!

Sounds like that’s how it should be. Being a child of the 70s things were starting to change a bit. But then my view was probably different to most kids. Being a sickly & unsociable child. Some things don’t change, I’m still unsociable   .

Would they keep the deer away?

My memory of berberis - When I was a nipper we'd play in the local park and the challenge was to hide in the bushes (mostly berberis and other unpleasant stuff) until the Parkie had locked the gates and gone home. We'd then play in the park until we wanted to leave and either climb the railings (spikes on top) or, in my case, wriggle out under the railings through a little tunnel we'd dug.
Fortunately, our accidents were minor as nobody would have known where we were or been able to get in to help!

Beware trainspotters,  they're a strange breed.  I know I married one.  I've managed to tame him a bit nowadays.

Sounds like that’s how it should be. Being a child of the 70s things were starting to change a bit. But then my view was probably different to most kids. Being a sickly & unsociable child. Some things don’t change, I’m still unsociable   .

Yes Sc I'm a child in the 70s also and thing just aren't the same nowadays for instance in those days the deer didn't come near the gardens (there wasn't as many in those days) and any that did come near would very likely have finished up in the pot

You're a "child" in your 70s, Spec, you can't pretend otherwise!

Would they keep the deer away?

My memory of berberis - When I was a nipper we'd play in the local park and the challenge was to hide in the bushes (mostly berberis and other unpleasant stuff) until the Parkie had locked the gates and gone home. We'd then play in the park until we wanted to leave and either climb the railings (spikes on top) or, in my case, wriggle out under the railings through a little tunnel we'd dug.
Fortunately, our accidents were minor as nobody would have known where we were or been able to get in to help!

Hmm, I think that's a welsh thing - unfortunately that little bit of mischief has never left me and I also managed to do the same on a barmy summer evening in Regents park in London.

Unfortunately climbing over the railings while 6 months pregnant with twins wasn't such a great idea - I think I had 4 blokes trying to catch this fat ball  with a couple staying guard on the inside! It created a bit of a stir and I can't believe how stupid I was now but it made the blokes feel like hero's and entertained a dozen others.

You're a "child" in your 70s, Spec, you can't pretend otherwise!

Yes I can

It was a typo by Specs, he meant 1870's