Ecologist is told he can't create garden on his land; Impact of appeal may be huge.

Byline: Brian Daniel

ARENOWNED ecologist who was refused permission to create a garden has failed in an appeal.

Dr Bill Pickering, a qualified botanist and plant ecologist, could now be ordered to clear the agricultural land behind his cottage, near Rothbury, of trees and vegetation following the outcome of his bid.

Dr Pickering was refused permission for the change of use of the land, in the hamlet of Swindon, by Northumberland National Park Authority.

He had made the application as the authority had turned down his proposals for a shed on the land, because it is not classed as a garden. Dr Pickering has used the land for planting since buying the country retreat in 1983, believing it was his garden.

And following a February site visit, planning inspector Anthony Lyman has dismissed the ecologist's appeal, made last October.

In his report, Mr Lyman said: "This landscaped garden, which was previously open pasture land, is highly visually intrusive and detrimental to the outstanding natural beauty of this part of the Northumberland National Park."

Dr Pickering refused to comment last night.

The ecologist could be ordered to return the land to its original condition.

Authority members have previously been presented with a report on possible enforcement action in respect of Dr Pickering's unauthorised use of the land as garden.

At the time, they endorsed a recommendation not to take any action until the outcome of the appeal was known. The authority last night said it was too early to say what might happen.

A spokesman said: "We have only recently just got the appeal decision and there has been no decision made on what the next steps are yet."

Dr Pickering, who divides his time between the cottage and his home at Moor Place in Gosforth, wants the shed to store the machinery and equipment he needs to look after his five acres of land.

He first applied for permission in 2007 but was refused.

Dr Pickering resubmitted his application last June, along with a retrospective proposal for change of use of the land to garden.

The authority deferred the shed application pending the outcome of the change of use bid.

That was refused. And at a meeting last July, the shed application was again rejected, because the land was still classed as agricultural.

CAPTION(S):

DENIED Ecologist Dr Bill Pickering cannot call the land where he lives his 'garden'