Jeremy Clarkson defends Rod Stewart in row over his lush green lawns during UK drought

Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster have faced questions about their lush green lawns at their Grade II-listed Essex mansion amid widespread hosepipe bans

Jeremy Clarkson uses a borehole to water the grass near his pub (Image: undefined)

Sir Rod Stewart, 81, and his wife Penny Lancaster, 55, have faced a backlash after aerial photographs exposed the remarkably verdant grounds surrounding their Grade II-listed mansion, situated on the Hertfordshire and Essex border. The Maggie May hitmaker’s immaculate lawns have raised eyebrows amongst many, given that the vast majority of gardens across the UK have turned a parched brown owing to relentless heatwaves and prolonged dry spells.

Overhead images reveal Rod and Penny’s ten-bedroom property, flanked by gardens, an artificial football pitch and a mini golf course complete with a fairway, two bunkers and a putting green. The rock legend’s impressive estate is served by Affinity Water, which imposed a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Essex, on July 17 in response to the ongoing drought.

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart (Image: BBC)

Eight additional water companies have similarly introduced bans, meaning customers are legally prohibited from using hosepipes to water their gardens or clean cars, patios or boats.

The images of the celebrated couple’s home have ignited a wave of criticism on social media, despite there being no proof that Sir Rod has flouted the hosepipe ban, as he may well have sourced an alternative means of keeping his grounds hydrated, or could hold an exemption.

Jeremy Clarkson has since leapt to Sir Rod’s defence, proposing that he “probably has a borehole” to maintain his pristine lawns without resorting to hosepipe usage.

Writing in his column for The Sun, Jeremy said: “An aerial photograph of the lush green lawns outside Rod Stewart’s sprawling mansion in Essex prompted the nation’s bitter people to ask: ‘How did you manage that, mate, when there’s a hosepipe ban in force?’.

“Well, let’s think. Could it be, perhaps, that Rod, here with wife Penny, probably has a borehole? It’s not a difficult concept to get your head round.

Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster has been enjoying time in the garden

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

The Diddly Squat Farm proprietor revealed he was drawing on personal experience, having done exactly the same at his West Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer’s Dog, “which is why the lawns there are also weirdly verdant”.

Nearly three-quarters of England is currently experiencing drought conditions, with the situation continuing to deteriorate following an exceptionally dry start to August.

In Essex and Suffolk, a mere 2mm of rainfall was recorded throughout July, prompting the Environment Agency to officially declare a drought across the region, with temporary usage restrictions subsequently introduced to safeguard water supplies.