A slice of jungle paradise thriving in the inner city
GLANCE along any South Lon- don row of Victorian homes and you’ll notice some well-trimmed privets, a bit of creeping ivy… perhaps the occasional ornamental tree.
But if you’re passing Patrick de Nangle’s house you might think you’ve happened upon a very exotic world. The tropic of Camberwell.
The front is dominated by a giant palm and banana plant. But this is just an appetiser for the sight that awaits in the back. There, fern trees tower 16ft into the sky, soaring up from a lush carpet of Mediterranean bright green foliage.
There are three other palm trees, and around the edge of the garden are cycads, cannas and bird’s nest ferns. It is truly a slice of paradise.
And remarkably, it is all in a 100ft by 45ft garden. Retired builder Mr de Nangle, 58, has spent 12 years turning the once drab plot into the inner-city idyll it is today. It all started when he bought one plant from B&Q. Now he spends a couple of days every week cultivating it and has fitted CCTV in case thieves try to steal some of the more expensive specimens.
While there are some domestic plants, his garden includes many New Zealand and Australian ferns, and instead of grass, the carpet of green is provided by the creeping perennial plant known as mindyour-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) – native to Italy and surrounding islands.
In the cold winter months, he wraps the huge ferns in specially made tree jackets that are hooked up to a heater so the plants can stay warm.
Mr de Nangle said: ‘This really is a labour of love. When I retired from being a builder, I knew I needed a hobby and this really suits me. I was trying to create a tropical garden, but I ended up falling in love with ferns.’