A gardener who spent eight years transforming a neglected footpath into a secret garden has been told he needs to vacate the site after officials claimed he planted ‘invasive bamboo’.
Jim Gardner has poured his time, money and passion into transforming the once-neglected cut-through into a vibrant wildlife haven.
What was once an overgrown, vandal-prone lane is now bursting with wildflowers, exotic, shrubs and seasonal colour and even attracts newts.
The aptly-named green-fingered has earned awards and the admiration of locals in Poole, Dorset. But despite his hard work, he has now been slapped with a formal solicitor’s letter telling him he must vacate the site by February, and remove his belongings.
The 60-year-old has won several awards for his work as well as plaudits from the local community in Poole, Dorset.
Although the path itself is council-owned, the verges belong to Bournemouth and Poole College.
Mr Gardner has worked the space under a gentleman’s agreement since 2016, footing every cost himself. But that arrangement collapsed after a neighbour complained about bamboo roots, prompting the college to reassess his involvement.
The legal notice cited ‘safety reasons’, triggering a sudden end to his years of voluntary work.
Jim Gardner has poured his time, money and passion into transforming the once-neglected cut-through into a vibrant wildlife haven.
What was once an overgrown, vandal-prone lane is now bursting with wildflowers, exotic, shrubs and seasonal colour and even attracts newts
Bournemouth & Poole College have issued a further statement in which they praised Jim for his efforts. But they claimed that one of the reasons they were terminating their agreement with him was the discovery of an open drain cover on the site.
Mr Gardner, who lives close to the ‘secret garden’ and also tends to his own garden and allotment, said: ‘It was a rough, untidy lane covered in weeds before I started. It attracted vandals, and women didn’t feel safe walking through it.
‘I love gardening, it is my passion so I asked the college if I could take it over and tidy it up. I never thought it would become this secret garden for the community to enjoy.
‘I am so proud of it and the fact that people came especially to see it and chat to me about it. I have worked on it almost everyday. I have spent a small fortune on plants, and members of the public have donated many plants. I put blood, sweat and tears into it.’
Mr Gardner says the ordeal has traumatised him to the point that it ‘brings tears to my eyes for the wrong reasons’
‘I just did a good deed and have had no thanks at all,’ he explained, adding: ‘Things changed this summer when the college restricted the amount of water I was using for the plants to just one day a week and everything started dying off.
‘Now I have had a solicitor’s letter telling me to leave. I know there is a local resident who has been moaning about bamboo roots and I feel they started this all off. The college have acted like bullies over this.
‘I just don’t understand. Are they wanting to take it over now I have done all the hard work? Are they going to ruin everything I have done?’
In a statement, the Bournemouth and Poole College accused Mr Gardner of attaching works of art to protected trees without permission and growing non-native and invasive plants.
A college spokesperson said: ‘Reports from neighbours and routine inspections identified issues including rats, invasive bamboo, rubbish, and overgrown areas.
Mr Gardner has worked the space under a gentleman’s agreement since 2016, footing every cost himself
Mr Gardner believes a local’s complaints about bamboo could be behind the decision
Bournemouth & Poole College said one of the reasons they were terminating their agreement with him was the discovery of an open drain cover on the site
‘We’re also concerned about waterlogged ground and unsafe installations, such as items nailed to protected trees. A manhole cover was repeatedly removed, leaving a three-metre drop exposed.
‘While we recognise the time and care invested, safety and environmental risks, along with complaints, mean the informal arrangement can no longer continue.
‘A three-month notice period was given for the removal of items. We’ve updated neighbours and received positive feedback.’
He said the situation could have been resolved through dialogue: ‘They could have worked with me. We could have removed the bamboo and fixed problems together. Instead, solicitors are involved.’
The legal letter informed him: ‘Our client is no longer willing to allow your use and occupation of the property and we enclose a notice to terminate the licence.
‘The notice requires you to take steps to remove all items and goods belonging to you.’
It states the planting of invasive bamboo, the affixing of items onto protected trees, the creation of marsh areas and a pond, concerns raised by neighbours about a rat infestation and the growth of shrubs and vegetation on the verges causing a reduction of visibility along the path as the reasons for the decision.
Mr Gardner disputed the garden was to blame for rats and pointed the finger at litter being dropped in the area.
