Being seen on Google Earth can get you evicted

THE LEEWARD SIDE: Rachel's garden had weed so long, it could be seen from space on Google Earth.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Budget and you: How policies impact your life | Secrecy Cordon around the Budget 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• CPI-M Central Committee to act to curb Kerala infights 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief | Pay Tribute 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• British spy chief's cover blown on Facebook 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• Kambakkht Ishq is not vulgar or offensive: Akshay 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

London: It seems that gardening was not Rachel McGarie’s cup of tea, for the weeds and brambles in her garden grew so long that they could be seen from space on Google Earth.

And the messy garden has resulted in Rachel’s removal from the house she lived in.

Since years, McGarie’s backyard was home to these 10ft long eyesores that had eaten up a child’s swing and a garden shed and reached so high that it could touch the windows of the floor above.

In fact, her neighbour Roy Didcott, who lives upstairs, could easily pick blackberries from his windows.

The 29-year-old woman did not trim the rampant brambles for as long as six years.

This led the housing association bosses to finally evict her as she did not pay any heed to the constant local council warnings to control the growth.

“In the back you can pick blackberries from the top-floor flat window, it has grown so high. It’s a good thing that she has been moved out – but it should have happened a long time ago,” The Sun quoted Roy, 63, as saying.

It’s been ten years since McGarie shifted to the two-bed ground-floor flat in Yate near Bristol, and as part of the tenancy agreement she was asked to maintain the garden.

However, her neighbours insist that the brambles have been out of control for years.

One elderly resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I’ve lived here for six years and the garden has been like that for as long as I can remember. We have had a lot of problems with the brambles spilling over. I would hate to imagine what’s under there.”

Ultimately, Merlin Housing Society, which owns the property, took legal action at Bristol County Court to get her moved out.

“We will shortly be starting work to clear the weeds,” said Hyell Lloyd, spokesman for Merlin.