A widow from Rowledge has been left broken hearted after a hedge she planted with her husband decades ago was ripped out with little warning.

Monica Rodgers and her late husband left their mark on the landscape after planting a hedge along the lane which links Fullers Road and Kiln Equestrian Centre.

But years of growth ended abruptly during the last week of January when the hedge was removed with minimal notice.

Affected residents have made attempts to track down the landowner but it’s understood he did not breach any planning regulations as the hedge is on private land.

But the speed of its removal shocked neighbours, with notices being pushed through letterboxes on the day of work with machinery already in attendance.

Residents were upset with the lack of notice while their attempts to halt work and contract the landlord were fruitless.

“I asked if I could speak to the landowner to discuss with him about what was going on,” said Monica, who has lived on Fullers Road for 52 years.

“I was told that if I don’t know who to speak to then no-one can help me.”

She added: “It’s the principle of it as we didn’t know it was going to happen until it was happening and that is what has upset me.”

Residents were told the hedge was being removed as part of “landscaping work” with turf since being laid in its place.

Some fear the lane is being prepped as a possible access road as the land behind has been identified by EHDC as a possible allocation site with Cala Homes having an option to buy.

There is history as one of Monica’s neighbours, Angela Macleod, tipped off the Herald last September about a failed bid to remove horses from an associated field used by the Kiln Equestrian Centre.