Father of twos 25, 000 Garden Dream Turns Sour After Council Orders Him to Open It to the Public

A fatheroftwo who spent 25, 000 to create a dream garden for his daughters has been told he has to throw it open to the public after a council ruling. Richard Hickson, 37, bought a patch of land next to his property in Istead Rise, near Gravesend, in 2022 and spent the next year transforming it into a beautiful oasis for his two young daughters. He fenced off the land and planted trees, shrubs, and flowers, as well as creating a play area and a pond. However, the council has now ruled that the garden is a public space and that Hickson must open it up to everyone. Hickson is furious with the decision, saying that he has spent a lot of time and money creating the garden for his daughters and that he doesn t want to share it with strangers. I m absolutely gutted, he said. I spent every weekend for a year working on this garden for my daughters and now I m being told that I have to share it with everyone. It s not fair. I, 39