BILLIE and Greg Shepherd have spent nearly £20,000 on trees for their new Essex mansion.
The reality TV couple had 80 Laurel trees delivered, which will be used to create extra privacy and security around the house.
The trees, which cost £240 a pop, can grow between 15 and 35 feet tall, so are perfect to keep away prying eyes – and their neighbours, who they already aren’t on speaking terms with.
It comes just weeks after Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan splashed out £30k on trees for their dream home, also in Essex.
Billie, 31, and husband Greg, 35, bought the four-bedroom 1920s property in Brentwood for £1.4 million in January 2020.
The pair – who share Nelly, seven, and Arthur, four – had plans to transform the run-down space into their dream five bed home with an eye-watering renovation that included a two-storey extension, gym, games room and huge walk-in wardrobe.
But they were refused planning permission amid uproar from the neighbours who claimed the works were “excessive” and not in keeping with other properties on the street.
Billie and Greg went away and modified the plans, which were then approved but the experience has meant they longer speak to their new neighbours.
Asked if they had built bridges, Billie said: “No, actually.
“We don’t go there much, to be honest, so we’ve not seen anyone. But it’s just not a great start, is it?”
She continued: “The house is so old, whoever was going to buy it was going to have to renovate.
“There’s only one neighbour to the side of us and he had a lot of reasons as to why he didn’t want us to go ahead, but it was getting a bit silly in the end.”
The house is now starting to resemble the plans and they are hoping to move in by spring of this year.
Wellness experts at Eden’s Gate revealed that their choice of tree is very popular amongst celebs, telling us: “the choice for Laurel trees to be planted around the border of their home is no surprise.
“As a celebrity family they’ll be looking to make their home as safe and secure as possible. Laurel trees are a popular choice among celebrities as they’re extremely tall and dense plants making them a perfect choice to have surrounding your home for privacy.”
