The United Kingdom is grappling with a severe drought, leading to widespread brown landscapes and the implementation of hosepipe bans by numerous water companies. Amidst these restrictions, public attention has turned to several celebrities whose gardens remain notably verdant.
Television personality Billie Faiers is among those whose property has drawn scrutiny. Aerial photographs of her £1.4 million Essex mansion, purchased in January 2021 with husband Greg Shepard, show the surrounding grounds retaining a healthy green appearance, in stark contrast to the parched lawns of her neighbors. The couple's water supplier, Essex and Suffolk Water, has enacted a temporary ban due to prolonged dry weather and declining water reserves. Eight other water companies have similarly imposed bans, legally prohibiting the use of hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens or washing vehicles. The Environment Agency has declared a drought affecting nearly three-quarters of England, including Essex, citing exceptionally dry conditions, low river flows, and depleted groundwater.
While there is no direct evidence that Faiers or Shepard have violated the ban, as watering cans or potential exemptions could explain the garden's condition, their property's lushness has become a talking point. Representatives for Faiers have been contacted for comment.
Similarly, the estate of former TOWIE star Mark Wright and his wife, Michelle Keegan, was observed to have vibrant grounds just a week prior to these reports. The couple purchased their £1.3 million Essex mansion in 2019 and renovated it extensively, including its landscaped grounds and an outdoor swimming pool. Wright later shared photos of scorched grass on social media, though it is not believed to be from his property. Some online comments suggested his home’s lawn still appeared green, with Wright reportedly deleting comments referencing this observation.
Celebrities Maintaining Green Spaces
Other public figures have also managed to maintain green gardens despite the dry conditions. Horticulturalist Monty Don's property, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire, has remained healthy. While some water companies serving the region have imposed bans, Severn Trent Water, which covers parts of Herefordshire, has not, and Welsh Water's restrictions primarily apply to Wales.
Singer Sir Rod Stewart's Grade II-listed mansion in Essex also features exceptionally green gardens. Despite Affinity Water implementing a hosepipe ban in the region on July 17, his property's grounds, which include a mini-golf course and an artificial football pitch, appear well-maintained. In 2006, Stewart faced a potential fine for reportedly flouting a hosepipe ban at a previous property by using an underground irrigation system for his football pitch.
Jeremy Clarkson has reportedly kept the garden of his Cotswolds pub green, attributing it in a newspaper column to a possible borehole, a private underground water source. He suggested that such private sources are not subject to government restrictions.
Chef Jamie Oliver's lawns are also noted for their greenness, attributed to a large private lake on his 70-acre property. Water drawn from privately owned sources like lakes or ponds is exempt from hosepipe bans.
Billie Mucklow and her ex-partner Andy Carroll have reportedly maintained a green area at their £8.5 million Essex mansion using artificial grass. The property, previously owned by Sir Rod Stewart, is situated on 25 acres and includes a football pitch and a lake.
Water companies have implemented hosepipe bans in response to the drought, which has led to depleted reservoirs and increased demand. While residents are generally prohibited from using hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, or filling pools, various methods such as using watering cans, recycling water, or accessing private water sources like boreholes or lakes are lawful workarounds. The use of artificial turf also circumvents the need for natural grass watering.