Billie Faiers becomes the latest TOWIE star who is still sporting a VERY green garden during a record-breaking drought - after Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's family mansion was called into question

The UK's drought is hitting hard, with brown fields and hosepipe bans across the country.

But somehow, TOWIE star Billie Faiers is still sporting a very green garden during the ongoing heatwave.

Aerial photographs of the £1.4million property show the land surrounding the mansion she purchased with her husband, Greg Shepard, in January 2021 still looking healthy. 

To the side of their home sits a long stretch of grass with a trampoline, kids' climbing frame and two football nets.

The aerial image shows their surrounding neighbours' monotone brown lawns, while theirs is still a vibrant green. 

The couple's water supplier Essex and Suffolk Water announced a temporary ban after months of prolonged dry weather and dwindling water reserves.

Eight other water companies have brought in bans, which mean customers are legally prohibited from using hosepipes to water gardens or wash cars, patios or boats.

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across almost three-quarters of England, including Essex.

The declaration followed exceptionally dry conditions, low river flows, depleted groundwater and continuing hot weather.

Residents generally cannot use a hosepipe, sprinkler, pressure washer or automatic irrigation system for things such as watering gardens or lawns, washing cars, patios or boats, or filling swimming or paddling pools.

Essex and Suffolk Water said the combined level of Hanningfield and Abberton reservoirs was around 69 per cent, below the normal level for that time of year, while demand had risen substantially during the heat

There is no evidence to suggest that Billie and Greg have breached a ban, given there are many workarounds for watering grass such as using a watering can. They may also have an exemption.

The Daily Mail has contacted Billie's representative for comment.

Just last week, the grounds of Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's Essex mansion were still looking vibrant and lush.

Aerial photographs taken a week ago show the land around the former TOWIE star and actress's renovated mansion, which they transformed after purchasing it for £1.3million in 2019.

The five-bedroom property looks out on sprawling landscaped grounds with an outdoor swimming pool designed with an Ibiza-style feel.

The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Mark and Michelle for comment.

Just days after the lush lawn at their family mansion was called into question, Mark shared a series of family photos featuring very scorched grass.

In a new carousel of Instagram photos pointedly shared by Mark on Wednesday night, his family were pictured enjoying a day in the sunshine on a much more scorched area of grass, which is not thought to be the at the star's home.

Mark didn't tag a location for the snaps, but many fans referenced the lawn, commenting: 'Grass is looking a bit burnt.'

The clearly disgruntled star soon started deleting comments, when some fans pointed out that the last photo shared by Mark clearly shows the lush lawn at his Essex mansion.

Replying to one comment which read 'your grass is looking like the rest of the country', one follower pointed out in a now deleted comment: 'Erm look at the last photo, looks a bit green is you ask me!' 

What other stars have managed to keep their garden green?

Monty Don

Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has been able to maintain lush, green surroundings at his home.

As might be expected of the veteran horticulturalist, the grounds at his Herefordshire property, named Longmeadow, are still looking healthy.

While hosepipe bans have been put in place in various parts of the country, Severn Trent Water which covers parts of Herefordshire has not done so.

Welsh Water, which also serves the region, has only imposed restrictions in Wales.

Broadcaster and writer Don has owned his property outside the market town of Leominster, with his wife Sarah since 1991.

Sir Rod Stewart

The grass is still very much alive outside Sir Rod Stewart's Grade II-listed mansion as he has maintained his piece of England's green and pleasant land in Essex.

Aerial photographs show the land around the 81-year-old singer's 18th-century property, which he bought for £4.65million in 2013, is still extremely green.

His ten-bedroom home opens out on to a range of sprawling gardens and includes a mini golf course with a fairway, two bunkers and a lush putting green.

There is also an artificial football pitch with a 20-space car park which Sir Rod had installed at the property before moving in with wife Penny Lancaster in 2016.

Sir Rod's property is supplied by Affinity Water, which introduced a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Essex, on July 17 due to the weather conditions.

Back in August 2006, Sir Rod risked a £1,000 fine when he was caught flouting the hosepipe ban at his previous £6million property Copped Hall, in Epping Forest.

His spokesman said he was using an underground irrigation system but Sir Rod's then-provider Three Valleys Water confirmed this was prohibited under the ban.

Sir Rod later told the Mirror that November: 'This summer has caused a lot of trouble as it didn't rain for months. Every garden was burnt, every flower dried out.

'Water was rationed, watering was banned. Only my football pitch was a beautiful, lush green. Because, naturally, I continued to water it.'

After being warned about a fine, Sir Rod said: 'I'll take that on board if it happens. For me there's hardly anything more beautiful than to walk across my tended grass.'

He sold Copped Hall for £4million in 2019. Sir Rod's representative was contacted for comment by the Daily Mail. Affinity Water declined to comment.

Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson has kept his Cotswolds pub's garden looking green.

Aerial images from above the former Top Gear host's pub last week showed much of the grass remaining green while some patches and neighbouring fields were parched brown. 

The Farmer's Dog has found itself subject to a hosepipe ban, much like the rest of the UK.

However, there are several lawful exemptions and exceptions that allow people to work around the rules imposed by water companies.

Writing in his Sun column, Jeremy revealed how he has kept the garden green and also suggested that Sir Richard has done the same thing.

He wrote: 'Could it be, perhaps, that Rod, here with wife Penny, probably has a borehole?

'You dig a hole maybe 100m down into the ground, put a pump in it and water comes out. Water that’s not subjected to any kind of government interference.

'That’s what we did at my pub, which is why the lawns there are also weirdly verdant.'

Jamie Oliver

Meanwhile, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's lawns are greener than most thanks to a large private lake just a stone’s throw from the back of his Essex mansion.

The star has installed hosepipes between the pond and his garden, which is markedly greener than the parched countryside that surrounds it.

Water taken from a privately owned source – such as from a lake, pond, spring or well on a property – is exempt from the hosepipe ban.

Oliver has lived at the Grade I-listed 12-bedroom property since purchasing it for £6million in 2019, and the pond sits within its 70-acre site.

Billie Mucklow

Billie Mucklow and her ex Andy Carroll have managed to find a hack to keep their garden green at their £8.5million mansion in Essex.

Aerial images from above their sprawling property show an area of grass at the back of their place still looking healthy.

This is because it's a big stretch of fake grass. 

Following their split, their home has hit the market for £8million – after a sale for a much higher price fell through last year.

The estranged couple had a buyer lined up for the stunning six-bedroom home in Essex, which was once owned by Sir Rod Stewart.

They were set to be in for a massive windfall after purchasing the 18th century property which boasts 25 acres of land, a football pitch and a lake, six years ago from the singer for £4.1million.

They had reportedly agreed a deal for £8.5million in June – which would have meant a £4.4million profit and the warring exes could finally move on.

The property has now been listed by luxury estate agents Savills for £8million, which is a half a million pound reduction from the previously agreed sale.

It's likely that both parties will be keen for a quick sale to move on, especially as Andy is now in a relationship with celebrity hair stylist Lou Teasdale.

How have they managed to keep their garden green without a hosepipe during the drought? 

Yes, there are many ways these stars could be achieving their green gardens without using a hosepipe.

They can use watering cans and buckets, along with recycling water from their bath, shower and washing up.

Some might even have their own borehole, which is a private underground water source.

Or they could simply be using fake grass.