Home / Lifestyle / Elderly Couple Faces £1,000 Bill Over Garden Flowers
Elderly Couple Faces £1,000 Bill Over Garden Flowers
2 Jul
Summary
- Couple spent £700 on a community garden plot next to their home.
- Developers demand removal of plants or a £953.40 bill.
- Couple refuses to remove the vibrant aubrieta, eucalyptus, and cherry trees.
An elderly couple in Worcester is in dispute with developers over a small garden they created on communal land.
Hilary and Christopher Garner, aged 82 and 84, spent £700 planting flowers and trees on a 3x3 metre plot next to their home in Coxs Close, Hallow. They believed the land was intended for communal wildflowers and decided to enhance it themselves after moving in during August 2024.
However, Ground Solutions UK Ltd, on behalf of the developers, issued letters starting in September 2025, stating the couple was "encroaching" on the land. The couple was given a deadline of June 22 to remove the plants or face a £953.40 bill from contractors.
The couple has refused to comply, with Christopher stating they are "standing their ground." They pay £320 annually for maintenance and question who the land belongs to. Neighbours, however, reportedly appreciate the improved appearance of the verge.
Mike Pett, managing director of Ground Solutions, confirmed the company's correspondence, citing complaints from residents and covenants governing the managed open spaces. He stated the land is for recreational purposes only and planting requires prior authorization. The company prefers voluntary resolution but indicated the matter could be resolved by relocating the planting to the couple's own property.
