War has broken out in a peace garden as a Tai Chi group for pensioners has been kicked out over insurance issues.

For over a decade, elderly participants have gathered once a week at the sanctuary known as Glasgow's Hidden Gardens to perform an hour of early-morning Tai Chi.

But the 'shocked' pensioners say they have been hounded out of the gardens by a new management team that has introduced rules demanding they get insurance cover for their pastime.

The news of their expulsion has left the dedicated bunch 'in tears'.

For many of the pensioners, the class has been a 'lifeline to so many people on their own', offering connection and solace to many who are bereaved or disabled, according to retired judge Anne Murray. 

She said: 'It's a really lovely friendly group who all look out for each other.

'But now we have been told we are no longer welcome. It's a shocking way to treat elderly people.

'For many of them, the meetings were their only opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air.

'Several of our members have been in tears because these get-togethers were the highlight of their week.

'The Hidden Gardens is a lovely big space which is rarely used by others at the time of the morning we go there, so we cannot understand why we've been told we are not welcome.' 

The Hidden Gardens is the venue for dozens of events every week.

It boasts that it 'serves as a beacon of hope and possibility' and 'it is a living embodiment of our commitment to peace, inclusion and environmental regeneration'.

On their own website, the Hidden Gardens states it 'exists primarily to make a difference in people's lives by improving the wellbeing of the community'.

Another group member, Siobhan Mcfadyen, said the 'get togethers mean such a lot to us', while keeping the group 'healthy and connected'.

Around 30 people belong to the group but half are said to regularly attend and have used the gardens for over 10 years 'without any issues'.

But in the past year, 'things changed and it became clear we were no longer welcome'.  

Ms Murray claimed that the Hidden Gardens management has invited the Tai Chi class to join another movement group which was organised.

She added that the new CEO, Mahri Reilly, 'turned to me one day and said "your days here are numbered" before walking off, I was shocked'. 

'The Hidden Gardens is supposed to be a place of peace and harmony, but now we feel we are stuck in all-out war,' she said.

A letter from Ms Reilly to the Tai Chi group warned they could no longer continue to use the grounds due to 'health and safety, and insurance reasons'.

Reilly said: 'The group will not be permitted to us the space and will not be connected to or supported by the organisation in any way including the use of facilities, resources or staff time.

'The Tai Chi group has not been a member of our formal programme for over 12 months and has been operating independently with support from us in kind since that time.

'However, the group does not have a trained facilitator in place, and we are no longer able to support or accommodate its continuation.'

Reilly also claimed staff had been spoken to disrespectfully by group members, but then went on to invite them to join the new movement and gathering.

The claim has infuriated Ms Mcfadyen, who hit back: 'Nobody has been disrespectful to any staff.

'The former management team at the Hidden Gardens had no issue with us, but Miss Reilly is now threatening to lock the gates on us.'

Glasgow City Council's Green Party councillor Jon Molyneux, who heads The Hidden Gardens Trust, said: 'The gardens is a much-loved space for people and nature which welcomes thousands of visitors every year, both casually and for organised events.

'Organised Tai Chi sessions were previously delivered as part of a funded programme which ended in 2024.

'We have since engaged with members of that group in an attempt to ensure that its activity could continue.

'Anyone looking to hold an organised event in the Gardens needs to complete a booking form and satisfy conditions of booking, which include having appropriate insurance.

'As yet, members of the former Tai Chi group have not been able to satisfy our conditions of booking.

'We remain in dialogue with members of the group and have offered to support them.'