A community of gardeners are claiming squatters rights after up to 25 allotments they occupy were sold to an unknown buyer.
The allotments in Senghenydd have been used by residents for food and leisure for over 80 years but were sold at auction on September 2.
The gardens, to the rear of Cenydd Terrace and South of Graig Terrace, were owned by the Oddfellows Society and posters advertising the sale were only put up two weeks before auction.
Some plots are used to grow vegetables, while others house chickens and horses and although the occupants do not own the land they say they have been allowed to use it unhindered for generations.
But now they are worried the new owner will try and force them off the land, possibly to develop it, so the community have set up a gardeners’ association to bid for squatter’s rights.
Marrion Davies, who uses one of the allotments, said: “They’ve been gardening there since I was a child and I’m 83. We’ve had one for 52 years and we’ll have it until they take it off us.
“When you’re old you plant stuff and want to do things in the garden because it keeps you healthy. I’ll really miss it – I don’t know what I’ll do.
“The people who owned the land should have asked the people who use the land to have first choice on it. That’s upset us the most.”
Her son and daughter-in-law moved into Graig Terrace 21 years ago and have landscaped their allotment, creating an impressive garden.
The couple have 12 grandchildren and their son also has an allotment.
Pamela Davies, 56, said: “When we bought the house 21 years ago they had the land for 41 years previously. We know it wasn’t in the deeds but it’s all hedged off and well looked after.
“How can somebody just come along and take the land that some people have been on for 50 years?”
Anthony Davies, 57, said: “We are waiting for the information to come back from the Land Registry but we are going to claim adverse possession which is basically squatter’s rights.
“There’s nowhere else in Senghenydd, even if I had a garden half a mile away, you’ve got to keep an eye it.
“I’m devastated. People don’t realise how I feel – it’s my land. Even if I had the money for it, it’s worth a million pounds to me. It’s my life.”
The allotments measure nearly seven acres and were sold for £11,000.
The auctioneer who sold the land said it was sold to a private buyer with an interest in the allotments and the area.
Matt Tyler of Seel & Co said: “It was advertised with development potential but the topography and access to the land would make it difficult.”
The Oddfellows Society did not respond to a request to comment and the new owner of the land is not yet listed on the Land Registry.