Pensioners Unite to Protect Historic Hedge at Coastal Retirement Community
Approximately 80 retirees have mounted a determined protest at the upscale Solent Grange retirement park in Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire, successfully preventing the removal of a cherished 60-year-old hedge. The demonstration unfolded on Wednesday as residents rallied against plans by property managers Regency Living to replace the mature greenery with a wooden fence.
"All Hedges Matter" Campaign Gains Momentum
Elderly residents stood shoulder-to-shoulder holding handmade signs proclaiming "All Hedges Matter" while voicing their grievances against Regency Living. Many protesters expressed feeling "treated like babies" by management and described experiencing "nothing but hassle" since moving to the nine-acre coastal development where bungalows command prices up to £550,000.
Marilyn Whalley, 73, a key organizer from the residents' association committee, revealed that Regency Living only notified residents of the hedge removal plans on Friday evening. "They only told us on Friday evening to stop us from being able to get together," she explained. "The support has been overwhelming. It's terrific that we can get all these people to turn out."
Contractors Turned Away Amid Emotional Standoff
When contractors from New Forest Fencing arrived at Solent Grange on Wednesday morning, they encountered determined resistance. Protesters physically blocked access to the site, with one woman even lying on the ground refusing to move. Police and a rural crime taskforce were called to manage tensions before, amid cheers from residents, the fencing company decided to decline the contract and depart.
While residents celebrated this temporary victory, many remain apprehensive about future actions. "We are thrilled to bits, but we know it won't stop them from taking the hedge down, that's the problem," Whalley acknowledged. "It's worrying that we don't know what will happen. To lose this hedge is a huge issue."
Ecological and Community Concerns Take Center Stage
Residents highlighted multiple reasons for protecting the hedge, which has stood on the property for at least half a century since the site operated as a caravan park. Birdwatcher Keith Metcalf, a former parish clerk who moved to the area in 1988, emphasized the hedge's ecological importance. "I've been doing surveys on the hedges around here," he said. "I've seen this one house common birds like blackbirds, bluetits, great tits, pheasants, and wrens, but I've also seen fairly uncommon birds like Cetti's warblers and stonechats."
The timing of the proposed removal during nesting season particularly angered residents. "It's in the height of nesting season - they would only have to wait a few more months for it to be over, but no," Metcalf noted.
Broken Promises and Growing Frustration
For many residents, the hedge controversy represents the "final straw" following what they describe as broken commitments from Regency Living. Steve Bennett, 68, explained: "We were promised a swimming pool and a gym when we moved in here but I think we've all given up on that now."
Caroline Bennett, a 67-year-old semi-retired teacher, emphasized the community aspect that drew residents to Solent Grange. "We moved here for the community really. That's what matters to people our age. We have a crochet club and quiz nights, it's so lovely," she said. "Without the hedge we'll see all the traffic that speeds past. We can already hear it but it'll be worse with no hedge."
Management Responds to Growing Tensions
Regency Living issued a statement addressing residents' concerns: "We understand why residents feel strongly about this, and we want to reassure them that protecting local wildlife is something we take very seriously. These works are being carried out in order to meet the conditions of our site licence, and in full compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981."
The company added that "a qualified ecologist will be present on site throughout - no nesting bird will be disturbed" and expressed hope that "this is the start of a longer conversation with the community about the environment at Solent Grange."
Residents Vow to Continue Their Fight
Despite the temporary reprieve, residents remain vigilant. Denise Dawson, 70, summarized the collective sentiment: "We've had so many issues here. The place is a building site, there's skips and piles of rubble years after they were meant to be cleared. This hedge is the last straw for a lot of us."
Maggie Prince, 77, who visited the site when it was still a caravan park decades ago, emphasized the hedge's historical significance. "That hedge was here back then, which must have been 50 years ago, at least," she recalled. "I've always seen the different birds living there and now they want to get rid of it."
The protest has galvanized the retirement community, with residents demonstrating their willingness to defend what they see as integral to their quality of life and the character of their tranquil coastal haven.
