Garden / paddock

[FishInCarparks]

I have recently purchased a house with a large garden. Approximately 10-15 years ago land was purchased from a farmer to enlarge the garden making the current garden part garden part ‘paddock’

What are the laws regarding what I can do with the ‘paddock’ part? Am I able to put up a climbing frame? A shed? Has it been so long since the land was officially used as farming land that now I can do what I like with it?

Any advice would be much appreciated

You need to check for any covenants and conditions on the deeds for the land, especially if green belt or in a conservation area. We once looked at a house which had done similar but no building or structure, permanent or otherwise was permitted on it. It had to be left green and uncultivated, and there was no time frame.

Depends on your local authority and where you are. We have a field adjoining our garden and, as it’s in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Conservation Area we can’t even grow veg in it, much less put any furniture, sheds etc in it, we’ve made it into a wildflower meadow and planted native trees.

Call your planning department, they’ll be able to tell you.

Usually the paddock has to remain distinct from the house garden. A friend had this and there had to be a discernible barrier to demonstrate what was garden and maintained and what was the paddock. I recall there were only supposed to cut the grass in the paddock a couple of times a year as well as otherwise it would effectively be their garden

There may be different rules depending on where you live and whether in a national park for example.

You can keep livestock, mow or top as much as you like, but as others have said it cannot be incorporated or absorbed as part of your garden, it needs to be discernable as a paddock or meadow. The Local Planning Authority have powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to issue an enforcement notice if you do incorporate it into your garden. This would set out what is considered to be the breach of planning control and what is required to stop such breach, such as returning the land to its original lawful planning use.