A gardener who has been ordered to tear down his strawberries by housing bosses said the ‘crazy’ feud is like ‘living in North Korea’.
Green-fingered Michael Coyle, 62, has been told by his social houses bosses that his strawberries and fruit trees are growing in the wrong place in his garden.
And so they have told him to remove from the front of his home in Braford, West Yorks, because he cannot plant them in the garden in front of his home.
The retired pet shop owner said he has been ‘devastated’ by the row in the Incommunities social housing managers in Bradford, West Yorks.
Incommunities claim the front garden belongs to his neighbour.
He was removing the fruit, which he keeps in pots, from his front garden when the visited him.
The father-of-four said: ‘I am heartbroken to be doing this but I was told it is against my tenancy agreement.
‘I can’t put things in the shared garden even thought my neighbour loves it and I have been teaching him how to garden.
‘My neighbour has no problem with it.
‘No-one has a bad word to say about the strawberries and it makes the place looks nice.
‘It’s mad – it’s like living in North Korea or something.
‘I can’t use my back garden as it is completely overgrown. I used the front as it was a bit of an eyesore.
‘My friend has suggested starting a petition called SOS or Save our Strawberries, so you never know.
‘I hope we can resolve situation. I love gardening and have out so much effort into making it what it is.
‘I’m devastated it’s come to this.’
The keen gardener, who has lived in his home for 40 years, added: ‘I am moving the pots upstairs and have to remove them from the garden.
‘Some will go on my balcony but there’s not room for most of them.
‘I’ll have to donate them or give them away. It’s crazy – I have been punished for making a nice garden and making the neighbourhood nice.’
One neighbour said: ‘It looks nice with the strawberries and fruit trees there.
‘They should just leave it alone. It’s not harming anyone.’
A spokesperson for Incommunities said: ‘We appreciate that Michael has a passion for gardening, and has recently added plants and trees to a garden at the front of his property.
‘However, the front garden is not part of his property but belongs to a neighbour. We have spoken to Michael to make him aware of this.
‘The back garden belongs to his property, and we have no concerns regarding its use and encourage Michael to use this back garden.
‘It is not possible to share or claim ownership of gardens, and the use of all our properties’ gardens have to be in line with a customer’s tenancy agreement.
‘We are happy to offer further support to Michael with using the garden at the back of his property.’