July 8, 2008

When is a garden, not a garden?

Most people believe and rightly so that when they buy a house that the garden is theirs to do with as they please within reason. But there some authorities within the UK who would like to think that they can go around deciding exactly what you are allowed do in your own garden.

One man, Michael Rockall, bought a house with a three acre garden, he decided that the garden could be cleared and then allowing part of it to return to it natural condition, which is wooded with oak and beech trees. Many eco people would feel that it was a good idea.

However the official from the Forestry Commission had other ideas and promptly charged him with illegal cutting of trees. This is because they believe that the garden was a forest, fortunately for him the Judges decision went the garden owner’s way.

But the Judges also said that this is a very grey area and no two cases will ever be the same, and so we will now have to watch what we do in our own gardens.

Source [Foolocracy]