A Baildon man who started tending common land more than a decade ago while recovering from cancer says he been told to dig up trees and bushes he planted there.

Matthew Robinson, 38, of Upper Green, has spent thousands of pounds during the last 14 years maintaining the once rough grassland next to his home, planting conifers and other shrubs and trees as well as installing garden features.

But last year Bradford Council, responsible for the upkeep of the land, said it must be returned to its original state and all non-native plants uprooted.

Mr Robinson, who stopped tending the land last year and took down fencing and hutches, said he dreaded digging up the bushes and trees which have become a habitat for wildlife.

He said he had no intention of claiming the land as his own and simply wanted to maintain it for the benefit of people living nearby.

He said: “The Council has not been to cut the grass since I stopped looking after the land last year. They are wanting it to be put back as it was. There’s a lot of thought gone into it. I know it seems nothing but it’s a lot to us, it’s our home. I have spent thousands and thousands, there’s been hours of time and efforts gone into it.

“I don’t want to have to take the trees and shrubs out. The birds are nesting. Everybody who comes up here says how beautiful and nice it is. There are other gardens that back on to the green where gardens have been extended and there have been no issues there. ”

The Council has also claimed fencing put up by a neighbour of Mr Robinson’s nearby is obstructing a footpath, which it is responsible for keeping open.

Baildon Liberal Democrat campaigner Ian Lyons said the Council, which has suggested residents continue to cut the grass on the land, needed to consult with them before taking any action.

He said: “The Council has to take into consideration the amount of work and effort local people have put into this piece of land. If the Council is suggesting the residents help maintain the land in the future, it is unfair to expect them to do this when it is not consulting with them.”

Richard Perham, Bradford Council countryside officer, said: “People are not allowed to fence in common land to create a private garden extension, nor to obstruct a right of way.

“In the case of Upper Green, Baildon, we will try and continue to work with residents to work out a successful resolution of any issues arising.”