BAKERS Piece resident Peter Goodall was amazed when men sent by the county Highways Department to cut verges began hacking into shrubs on his own property.
"And not content with cutting into my feverfew they moved next door and began attacking my near neighbour's honeysuckle and clematis," he said.
"It all started when two men were sent after somebody said an earlier trim had not been done properly. I saw them coming along the lane and I was shocked when they simply carried on into my property and began to cut back my borders.
"I managed to stop the one in the lead and pointed out my wall and boundary and he shouted out to his mate and moved on next door – but lo and behold when the next man came up he continued in my garden where the other one left off!"
Professor Goodall has led a high powered diplomatic life until moving to the Forest and said he was well aware of individual rights over what amounted to aggravated trespass.
He had contacted Gloucestershire County Council over the matter and had received an apology but he was considering seeking compensation.
He said he was also unhappy with the council saying the reason for the fault was that the work had been sub-contracted.
"Does that mean they have no control over the contractors they hire?" he asked.
A County Council spokesperson said: "A subcontractor working on behalf of the County Council to tidy the grass verges on roads inadvertently cut down some foliage that appeared to be on highway land in a garden in Ruardean Woodside.
"The County Council has apologised for any distress caused to the owner and have tidied up the area concerned."