Father-of-two’s £25,000 Garden Dream Turns Sour After Council Orders Him to Open It to the Public

A father-of-two 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'