I am a pensioner who gets someone in to mow my lawn and generally tidy up my garden. Is it true that if someone does this on a regular basis they can claim the land after a number of years?
No. If that were the case thered be an awful lot of wealthy gardeners around! It is possible for people to acquire rights over private land over a long period of time but in order for the gardener to claim ownership of your property (through adverse possession) you would have had to have been absent for at least 12 years and never challenged his right to be on your property. The fact that he’s in your garden at your invitation and carrying out your instructions doesn’t give him any rights over your property at all.