Lydia Sutcliffe's plot is her pride and joy.
Although she is partially blind, has heart problems and walks with a stick, every day she tends to her manicured lawn and flowerbeds.
Her green-fingered talents have landed her three prestigious council gardening awards.
So Lydia, 79, was stunned when she received a letter telling her to tidy it up.
It warned that the state of the garden was `unacceptable' and reminded her that it must be kept in good order `at all times'.
There was no reference in the letter to the garden bursting with colour and greenery, not to mention the array of shrubs, bushes and trees - the result of decades of hard work.
Lydia, who has lived at her Rawtenstall home for 37 years, said: "I just didn't understand why I had got a letter.
"I have been so upset about it.
"I was surprised and upset and was crying about it.
"My garden is my pride and joy.
"My garden and my family is all I have got. I know I don't have that many flowers, but I have my grass cut every week by my neighbour and I have planted all the shrubs and plants myself over the years.
"I even wash my flags and tidy up the debris. I absolutely love my garden."
Lydia, who has seven grandchildren, told her son John, who was informed the letter had been `sent in error' by landlords Green Vale Homes after a `clerical error'.
Bosses apologised with a bunch of flowers.
Diabolical insult
John described the letter as `intimidating' and said that it was a `diabolical insult' to his mum.
Lydia who is originally from Latvia, has won three prizes in Rossendale council gardening competitions.
She said: "I am getting on a bit now but I still get out there and tend to the shrubs and flowers.
"My garden is definitely not messy and this whole thing has been a big mistake.
"I garden every day when it is nice and always pick the weeds up.
"There are all sorts of flowers in there and many different plants and trees.
"It's beautiful."
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I can understand the upset caused, but it really doesn't warrant a newspaper article surely? A mistake was made, admitted and a bunch of flowers sent by way of apology. Why the huge song and dance eh?
must be a slow news day again.
Reminds me of the time when the Blue Peter Garden got vandalised (See Youtube... It's hillarious) Seriously though... Stop picking on an old lady you big bully Landlord.
They should visit those Council house tenents who have Caravans and cars parked.Where the Garden should be it looks a right Bloody mess!
Instead of hounding this lady why not have some of our scroats look after her garden as a community punishment and we should have community workers made up of our out of control children and criminals.chaingangs etc.MAKE THEM PAYBACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
Ace Shakespeare, Manchester... I share your sentiments however 'Scroats' would probably cultivate canabis plants in her green house and steal her telly.