Sir Rod Stewart's sprawling estate in Essex has maintained remarkably green lawns and a mini golf course despite a record-breaking drought affecting much of England. Aerial photographs show the grounds of the 81-year-old singer's 18th-century property, purchased in 2013, as an oasis of verdant grass amidst widespread browning.
The property features a ten-bedroom mansion with extensive gardens, including a mini golf course with a fairway, two bunkers, and a putting green. An artificial football pitch with a 20-space car park was also installed before Stewart moved in with his wife, Penny Lancaster, in 2016.
Stewart's estate is supplied by Affinity Water, which implemented a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Essex, on July 17 due to the arid weather conditions. Eight other water companies have since enacted similar bans, legally prohibiting the use of hosepipes for watering gardens or washing vehicles and outdoor surfaces.
While there is no explicit evidence that Stewart has violated the current ban, the use of watering cans or potential exemptions could explain the maintained lushness of his grass. Affinity Water declined to comment on the matter.
This situation echoes an incident in August 2006, when Stewart was reportedly fined for flouting a hosepipe ban at his previous property. At that time, his spokesman cited an underground irrigation system, a practice deemed prohibited by his then-water provider. Stewart himself commented then that while other gardens suffered, his football pitch remained green because he continued to water it.
Drought conditions were officially declared last month for all of Wales and more than half of England, with further heatwaves anticipated. The rock star's well-kept grounds stand in stark contrast to the parched landscapes affecting millions of gardens across the country.