89-year-old woman in London gave 25 years to groom a street garden, now local council wants it removed

An 89-year-old woman who has cared for a street garden outside her home in St John's Wood, central London, for more than 25 years has been told by Westminster City Council to remove a bench and more than 20 plant pots from the pavement. Katharine Hoskyns received a removal notice from the council in July. The dispute has since led to a petition started by her son, which has collected more than 190 signatures.

According to the BBC, Hoskyns created the garden after parking spaces were introduced on the street. Over the years, she has grown geraniums, tomatoes and herbs with help from neighbours.

'I was very upset and angry'

Hoskyns, a retired teacher who has lived in the area since the 1960s, said the council's notice upset her. "I was very upset and angry when I first got the letter, but then my family all rallied round and wrote a letter to the council and started this petition," she told BBC.


She said the garden has also become an important part of her daily life and gives her a reason to spend time outside. "This space is important to me because I love gardening and it gives me plenty to do. I need an occupation in my retirement," she said.

"People come up and talk to me while I'm doing it, so it gives me a bit of a social life as well." Hoskyns uses a walking frame but said she can move past the plant pots without difficulty. She also disputed claims that the pots block the pavement.

Council cites anti-social behaviour

Westminster City Council said unauthorised plant pots can be subject to enforcement when they cause an obstruction or when complaints are made about them. The council said the bench had also been linked to anti-social behaviour. According to the council, incidents around the bench included drug taking and dumped rubbish.

The council said it hoped to work with Hoskyns to move the bench and plant pots to a more suitable location.

Neighbours back the garden

Some residents have opposed the removal of the garden and said it has become part of the local community. Neighbour said the area would lose its character if the plants were removed. They said removing the pots means it would just become another concrete corner. The place has been a memory lane for many. Neighbours said their children learned how to ride bikes in this corner. Some described the area as a "quiet oasis" and said residents would support working with the council on its future.

Garden remains despite deadline

The deadline in the removal notice has now passed, but the garden has not been removed. Residents have indicated that they would welcome a joint effort with Westminster City Council to decide what happens to the garden, while the council has said it hopes to reach an agreement with Hoskyns over the bench and plant pots.