Devon couple startled as strange gnomes keep arriving in their lawn without explanation

Six garden gnomes unexpectedly arrived in their front lawn without explanation, leaving a couple perplexed.

Christine and Stephen Lock, the Mayoress and Mayor of South Molton Town Council in Devon, claimed six of the friendly-faced decorations had appeared on their lawn in the middle of the night in the previous 18 months.

Six garden gnomes unexpectedly arrived in their front lawn without explanation, leaving a couple perplexed.Gnome sweet gnome! Mrs Lock thought the gnomes looked lonely so she bought them an ornamental house to 'socialise in'.Christine Lock, who is Mayoress of South Molton Town Council, has grown to love the mysterious gnomes that have turned up in her garden. Since February 2021 six of the statues have been planted around her home.

Christine and Stephen Lock, the Mayoress and Mayor of South Molton Town Council in Devon, claimed six of the friendly-faced decorations had appeared on their lawn in the middle of the night in the previous 18 months.

‘I simply remember going home one day and not paying any attention,’ she said.

“Oh well, someone got rid of a gnome and didn’t know where to put it,” I thought.

‘So I left it in the garden, but soon after another appeared.’

‘I thanked the person who delivered these tiny critters to our house on Facebook, hinting that if they wanted them back, they were more than welcome to come and get them – but nobody ever did.’

The couple believes that someone is sneaking into the yard at night to put the sculptures, which began appearing in February of last year.

Despite contacting neighbors on Churchill Crescent and putting a plea on Facebook, the retirees claim they are no closer to solving the strange problem.

‘They appear to be left outside overnight, and I have no idea who is doing it,’ Mrs Lock said.

‘Everyone I’ve questioned has denied it – relatives, friends, neighbors – it’s extremely strange,’ she says.

The couple had just one miniature gnome beside their fishpond prior to the intermittent emergence of the supernatural creatures.

Mrs Lock said she has come to appreciate the new additions to their yard and has even purchased them a new home.

‘They are pleasant and look beautiful, but I’m afraid I’ll wake up one morning and the garden will be covered,’ she added.

When I got a circle of around six gnomes – about an inch and a half high – sitting around a fire in the collection, I thought it looked unusual since they were so little.

‘They seemed lonely, so I purchased a tiny decorative home in the form of a cabbage for them to interact in.’

The most recent addition to the collection was a Pride gnome, which arrived roughly three weeks ago, coincidentally the day after the pair visited the Isle of Wight Pride festival.

‘It was quite funny because we had been to the Isle of Wight and there was a Pride Festival over the weekend,’ Mr Lock said.

‘When we returned home, we discovered the Pride gnome, thinking, “Who knew we were there?”

‘It’s rather amusing sometimes to walk out in the morning, find a new gnome, and have no idea where these creatures came from.’

Christine accused me of placing them there, but I don’t have the money to purchase gnomes.’

The ever-expanding collection also includes a fishing and dancing gnome.

‘It does bring a grin to my face, but I’m not sure I want a whole yard full of gnomes,’ the mayoress remarked.

‘I may start concealing them in or under the plant pots and having the individual guess where they are – it would be interesting to watch their expression.’