An elderly couple in Worcester could be forced to pay a £1,000 bill after complaints were raised about their gardening efforts. Hilary Garner, 82, and her husband Christopher, 84, spent over £700 transforming a 3x3 metre plot of land next to their home in Coxs Close, Hallow, Worcester. They planted vibrant aubrieta, eucalyptus, cherry trees and a large acer to brighten up the verge.
However, Ground Solutions UK Ltd, acting on behalf of the developers, sent letters forbidding them from encroaching on the land. The couple have been told to rectify the area or face a £953.40 bill from contractors to carry out the work themselves.
Grandparents' gardening efforts spark dispute
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. This little bit of ground is supposed to be communal."
The couple decided to transform the land into a community garden space after moving into the estate in August 2024. They have been receiving letters since September 2025 from Ground Solutions, which manages the land on behalf of the developer.
Couple 'standing their ground' despite deadline
Hilary added: "We've been getting these letters since September 2025. 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? It doesn't interfere with anybody at all."
The couple, who have one grandchild, were given a deadline of June 22 to pull up the plants but have refused. Christopher, a retired insurance claims expert, said: "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."
Son criticizes 'guerrilla gardening' crackdown
The couple's son Nathan said: "My parents understand that the land isn't theirs. I see it as guerrilla gardening which should be celebrated. It encourages wildlife and improves a bare grassy corner. The world has gone mad."
Mike Pett, managing director of Ground Solutions, confirmed that 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."
Pett added: "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."
