Inside the incredible 'jungle' garden hidden behind an ordinary semi-detached house
09.10.2023 - 14:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A man has created an impressive jungle-style garden behind his ordinary-looking semi-detached house, which he now opens up to the public during summer. Kris Swaine, 41, has transformed his normal back garden into what he now calls his 'surban paradise', which resembles a real-life jungle.
The green-fingered dad now says he has ‘no need’ to take overseas holidays after making a tropical outdoor space at his property in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The dad-of-four began his DIY horticultural project around five years ago after picking up a small yet hardy banana plant from his local garden centre.
What was once a standard north-west facing garden, the 165 foot by 30 foot grass plot now features a 45 foot eucalyptus tree, dozen of palm trees and bamboo. It even has an incredible ‘chocolate vine’, which smells just like cocoa, along with a wooden footbridge that sits above a rock waterfall.
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Kris, who loves to entertain family and friends in his ‘jungle hut’, now says he doesn’t need to jet off for breaks as he enjoys the fruits of his labour in his home. “When you’re sitting in the jungle hut area surrounded by all the bamboo and grasses, it does feel like you’re on holiday - or in a much warmer climate," he said.
“There’s been no need in recent years to go overseas when you’ve got all the tropical plants and palm trees around us. And when we have nice weather, it does feel like you’re on holiday in the garden.”
Kris, who works for his local council, said he purchased his property in 2013 with his wife specifically for its north-west facing garden, which backs onto farmland. He then