Elderly couple ordered to remove garden or pay £1,000
An elderly couple from Worcester are facing a £1,000 bill after a neighbour complained about flowers they planted on a patch of land next to their home. Hilary Garner, 82, and her husband Christopher, 84, spent more than £700 decorating a 3x3 metre (9.84ft) verge in Coxs Close, Hallow, Worcester, with aubrieta, eucalyptus, cherry trees and a large acer.
The couple moved onto the estate in August 2024 and decided to transform the bare scrubland into a community garden. However, they were shocked when Ground Solutions UK Ltd, acting for the developer, sent letters banning them from 'encroaching' on the land. The company has now ordered them to 'rectify' the 97sq ft area or face a £953.40 bill from contractors.
Couple feel victimised by complaint
Hilary, a retired lecturer, said: "It feels like a witch-hunt, we can't understand it. Ours was the last house to be built and we were assured that we were going to have wild flowers and plants all along there. We've got nothing, so we thought we'd go along and do it ourselves."
She added: "This little bit of ground is supposed to be communal, supposed to run along the hedge with our neighbours. Our immediate next door neighbours love it, they think it looks good. A young couple said 'the more lovely flowers the better'. I can't see how that little bit of land is causing problems."
The couple have been receiving letters since September 2025. Hilary said: "We think a neighbour down the road has complained. We asked who the land belongs to, as we pay £320-a-year for this maintenance. Who are we paying that to?"
Deadline passed, couple refuse to remove plants
Christopher, a retired insurance claims expert, said: "At the moment we are standing our ground, it will be interesting to see if they have the nerve to come and do it. I thought everybody would be quite pleased, the neighbours certainly are, but that's not the case with the company who have been contracted to do the grass cutting."
The couple's son Nathan Garner, 54, added: "Where's the common sense? My parents understand that the land isn't theirs and access for any maintenance, drains, etcetera is fine. I see it as guerrilla gardening which should be celebrated. It encourages wildlife and improves a bare grassy corner. The world has gone mad."
Company says complaints from other residents prompted action
Mike Pett, managing director of Ground Solutions, confirmed the company has written to the couple on five occasions. He said: "This approach has been taken following concerns and complaints raised by residents of the development. The land in question remains in the ownership of the developer and is due to be transferred to the Residents' Management Company in due course.
"The use of this land is governed by the covenants contained within the transfer documentation completed upon the purchase of each property. These covenants provide that all managed open spaces within the development are intended for recreational purposes only, and the cultivation or planting of such areas without prior authorisation is not permitted.
"Our reason for issuing repeated correspondence has been to provide Mr and Mrs Garner with every reasonable opportunity to resolve the matter voluntarily. Our preference is to avoid the need to instruct contractors to remove the trees and plants at additional cost. The matter can be resolved simply by relocating the planting from the managed land onto their own property.
"Despite our attempts to engage through both written correspondence and telephone contact, we have not yet been able to reach a resolution. Nevertheless, we remain committed to finding a practical and amicable solution and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further with Mr and Mrs Garner."
