Pictures of Christopher Tull’s jungle garden left Brits stunned when they were shared on social media in 2022.
The reclusive pensioner had let trees and shrubs completely engulf his front garden and home.
Jaw-dropping aerial shots showed an explosion of green between two ordinary terraced houses either side.
In fact the ‘jungle’ shrubbery was so intense it swallowed up two vans parked on the driveway, with only a back door partially poking out from beneath the vines.
Neighbours had told MailOnline of how the terraced property in Ramsgate, Kent, had been in a state ‘as long as’ they could remember, but were perplexed by it given the ‘well-dressed’ appearance of the owner.
One local even had to rebuild their wall due to incursion onto their property from the out-of-control vegetation.
But now, three years later, the house is undergoing a complete transformation.
It had been lived in by ‘tidy hoarder’ Mr Tull, a ‘popular and friendly’ resident, until he passed away in 2022.
Property developer and landlord Paul Taylor bought it after it went up for auction and has since started major works on it so it can be let out.
A view of the house shows just how severely overgrown the garden was, with the greenery standing taller than the house itself
Several cars, vans and even a truck were discovered hidden in the overgrown garden
Vines and even tree branches had grown over the cars, with there being little sign other than a glimpse of a van door to show there were vehicles there
In contrast, both houses on either side of the property were properly maintained and had clear front yards
A view of the garden from above. The greenery was so overgrown that even the front door and all windows were completely obstructed by vines
The back garden was also found in a state of disrepair. It was filled with disused cars and cycles
Tens of thousands of pounds are being spent on the project, which has included a large tidying operation.
A huge overgrown garden at the front and rear had to be cut back, which led to the discovery of six cars and even a boat.
The state of the front garden was so bad it covered the path to the front door, and the local postman had even refused to deliver mail , labelling mail destined for the bushy house as ‘undeliverable’.
Striking before and after photos show the transformation as the major cleaning operation is underway.
Mr Taylor said it has been a large job to restore the property so it can be rented out.
Mr Taylor, 56, said: ‘Christopher was a lovely man. He was what I would call a tidy hoarder.
‘There were a lot of belongings and things which had been hoarded over the years but it was tidy.
‘I’m doing it up and then will rent it out.
‘It seems like he would buy anything and then keep it. There were six cars and even a boat.
Property developer and landlord Paul Taylor bought the house after it went up for auction and has since started major works on it so it can be let out
There were at least five cars, bikes and a boat found in the rear garden
The property, in Ramsgate, was made slightly more accessible when it was partially trimmed back in 2022
When the property was trimmed back in 2022, it revealed two large vans in the front yard
Photos taken now show the house has undergone a complete transformation
‘We have a small operation and take our time. It’s been a big task. The biggest part was emptying the whole property out.’
Mr Taylor said over £20,000 has been spent so far, with more needed to finish the job.
He added: ‘The property has needed rewiring. There was only partial central heating, so we have had to do all of that. The roof was leaking so that has had to be sorted.
‘Obviously the garden was a big job. There’s been several skips over the time we have been doing it. There were leaking rooms, including the bedroom, so that has had to be sorted.’
He described Mr Tull as ‘lucky’ and added: ‘Thankfully, nothing went wrong.’
Other locals said while he was alive, the fire service visited because of the risk of a blaze.
Neighbour John Christison, 73, has lived in the area since 1985 and said the property had always been in a bad state.
He said: ‘I am glad finally something is being done about it. It’s been a real eye-sore.
A view of the front of the property, which was completely obstructed when previous owner Christopher Tull lived in it
When the property was covered in vines it was so overgrown that one neighbour had to rebuild their garden wall due to incursion on their property
The side of a van which looks equipped to carry disabled people could be just about spotted through the overgrown greenery
Once the ‘jungle’ was trimmed back partly in 2022, the front door of the house could actually be seen and accessed in the first time in a long time
The path to the front door was said to have been so overrun by plants that Mr Tull would use the back garden to enter his property
The severely overgrown garden engulfed the house in Ramsgate, east Kent, causing locals to complain about the vine-ridden property before it was partially cleared. Left: 2020 Right: 2022
‘It’s taken a long time but I imagine it’s been a big job. I’m very glad something is being done about it finally.’
One local, who lives opposite, said: ‘It was shocking. It impacted other people and I worried about my house price for a while. Who would want to look out and see that? It was the messiest garden in Britain.
‘I think what has been done is very good.’
Another neighbour described Christopher as ‘amazing’. She said: ‘He was a lovely man. He was brilliant. It was his house. He kept himself to himself.
‘He would come round for dinner.’
