An Oxford research nurse was ordered to cut back her beloved wisteria over claims it was sparking a rat problem for the entire village.

Katy Gordon-Quayle, 43, was told by her local council to cut the plant which was affixed to her Grade II thatched property in Baydon, Wiltshire. 

The local authority insisted that the wisteria was allowing rodents access into neighbouring properties, despite pest controllers telling her that this was not true.

Mrs Gordon-Quayle lives in Newton’s Barn – a listed property once owned by 17th century scientist Sir Isaac Newton.

She said she was ‘devastated’ by Wiltshire Council’s order to cut back the plant.  

‘The wisteria had a huge sentimental value to me,’ Mrs Gordon-Quayle said.

‘It was a work gift I received from a family in 2018. I am quite an unemotional person but I was crying – it was devastating to me.

‘It was heartbreaking at the time. But what frightens me is the way the council has behaved. There is no evidence that rats are using the wisteria as a motorway.’

Katy Gordon-Quayle was told she would have to cut back her beloved wisteria after being told it was attracting rats to the village

The plant pictured after it was cut back by Mrs Gordon-Quayle following pressure from the council 

The research nurse at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford, first received a letter from the authority about the wisteria in September 2025.

She wrote back to the Liberal Democrat-controlled council, acknowledging there had been rats in the area, but insisted the complaint ‘was ridiculous’ because they were based ‘on the opposite end of the building’.

She added: ‘The council said the wisteria was causing problems in the neighbours’ house and that they were using the wisteria to access the building.

‘I emailed back and I said we don’t have any rats in our property and I said they were more than welcome to see it for themselves.

‘I demonstrated that there were no rats on the property. I showed them there was no signs of rats but they were still adamant it was the wisteria.

‘I invoiced three independent pest control experts and all three of them said there is no evidence of rats on my side of the property.

‘We proved irrefutably that the rats were nowhere near the wisteria.’

Rod Smith, of Humane Pest Control Solutions, examined the home himself, using tracking dust and cameras.

He said the finding of the Wiltshire Council ‘expert’ was ‘comical’.

Katy Gordon-Quayle, 43, was told by her local council to cut the plant which was affixed to her Grade II thatched property

The council insisted that the wisteria was allowing rats access into neighbouring properties – despite pest controllers disputing the claim

However, Wiltshire Council told Mrs Gordon-Quayle they still had concerns about it.

She said she sent emails to people around the village but was told ‘nobody’ had reported problems with rats.

In mid-January she decided to cut back the longstanding wisteria plant as she faced a criminal order if she did not comply.

She said: ‘I presented three independent reports to the council. Based on the evidence from one pest controller, they seem to have this power to cut this down.

‘We would have had a criminal order if we didn’t cut it down. We didn’t even have the right to appeal.

‘He cut it down and the problem is still persisting, which has shown that the wisteria had nothing to do with it.

‘They [Wiltshire Council] are saying that we have to keep it clear off the roof. We don’t want a criminal record. No legal terms have been overturned.’

Cllr Paul Sample JP, Cabinet Member for Environment, said previously: ‘Following a number of complaints about rats entering homes in Baydon, Marlborough, our officers began an investigation, which is still ongoing.

‘As part of this, a legal notice was issued to one of the residents, Mrs Gordon-Quayle, requiring a number of preventative measures to help reduce the risk of attracting rodents.

‘These included reducing the height of the wisteria to reduce roof access, removing potential food sources linked to chicken or bird feeding, and following the recommendations provided by the pest control company appointed by Mrs Gordon-Quayle.

‘The notice did not require any structural work to the property.’

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said on Friday: ‘A site visit was carried out last week and our pest control team met with Mrs Gordon-Quayle and their pest contractor to reassess the property following works undertaken as required by the notice.

‘The wisteria has now been cut back and the rodent activity has stopped. Advice has been given and this matter is now resolved.’