David and Victoria Beckham's stunning Cotswolds home is costing millions to renovate - but will be one of the best gardens in the countryside when it's finished.
Posh and Becks' new planning application shows the lengths they are going to create a green-fingered rural retreat at their Grade II-listed barn conversion. 
The celeb pair want to build a two-tier outdoor space that balances beauty with security - as it is turned into an intruder-proof fortress hidden from view.
In the sprawling two-acre site will be an orchard with 23 different types of trees that will take a team of gardeners three days a week to maintain.
Green fingers: David and Victoria Beckham want to create a two-tier 'fortress' garden at their new Cotswolds home, pictured, with an orchard in the garden containing 23 types of tree.
Green fingers: David and Victoria Beckham want to create a two-tier 'fortress' garden at their new Cotswolds home, pictured, with an orchard in the garden containing 23 types of tree.
Garden plans: Posh and Becks' new planning application shows the lengths they are going to create a green-fingered rural retreat at their Grade II-listed barn conversion. Pictured: Plans of the Beckhams' £6.15million restoration project in the Cotswolds
Garden plans: Posh and Becks' new planning application shows the lengths they are going to create a green-fingered rural retreat at their Grade II-listed barn conversion. Pictured: Plans of the Beckhams' £6.15million restoration project in the Cotswolds
Grand design: New plans show the family will create two gardens; an 'outer garden' made up of wild 'meadow grass' and surrounded by a huge native hedgerow. Pictured: Architect drawing of how the rural retreat will look 
Grand design: New plans show the family will create two gardens; an 'outer garden' made up of wild 'meadow grass' and surrounded by a huge native hedgerow. Pictured: Architect drawing of how the rural retreat will look 
In the sprawling two-acre site will be an orchard with 23 different types of  trees. They include seven white oaks, eight cherry trees, a plum tree, nine apple trees, three holly trees, nine witch hazels and a maple. Pictured: Plans for the orchard
In the sprawling two-acre site will be an orchard with 23 different types of trees. They include seven white oaks, eight cherry trees, a plum tree, nine apple trees, three holly trees, nine witch hazels and a maple. Pictured: Plans for the orchard

But restoration work on the property, set in acres of rolling countryside, has been delayed by a series of planning wrangles with West Oxfordshire District Council.
Recent photographs of the site showed several diggers have been left abandoned in the garden, which is still a mudbath. 
The family was granted permission for a 60ft croquet lawn, an orchard with apple, pear and plum trees and two vegetable patches. 
But proposals for an outdoor seating area to entertain friends were rejected and they have instead submitted plans for a 10ft-wide pergola, which can be removed if necessary.
They also wanted a huge swimming pool but have had to settle for natural swimming pond, using water recycled from the main house, sited within one of the courtyards so it cannot be seen from the road. 
Last month they applied for permission to change the roofs on outbuildings from tiles to thatch.
But the delays have not deterred their big plans for the garden as they have hired Chelsea Flower Show winning gardener and landscape designer Marcus Barnett to transform the space surrounding the property.
Slow going: Restoration work on the property, set in acres of rolling countryside, has been delayed by a series of planning wrangles with West Oxfordshire District Council. Recent photographs (above) of the site showed several diggers have been left abandoned in the garden, which is still a mudbath. 
Slow going: Restoration work on the property, set in acres of rolling countryside, has been delayed by a series of planning wrangles with West Oxfordshire District Council. Recent photographs (above) of the site showed several diggers have been left abandoned in the garden, which is still a mudbath. 
But the delays have not deterred their big plans for the garden as they have hired Chelsea Flower Show winning gardener and landscape designer Marcus Barnett to transform the space surrounding the property. Pictured: Plans for their new 'two-tier' submitted with the council.  
But the delays have not deterred their big plans for the garden as they have hired Chelsea Flower Show winning gardener and landscape designer Marcus Barnett to transform the space surrounding the property. Pictured: Plans for their new 'two-tier' submitted with the council.  
Married to painter Louise Pragnell, whose portrait of the Duke of Kent is exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, Barnett has has won three Gold Medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and is seen as 'gardening royalty'.
Barnett's new plans show the family will create two gardens; an 'outer garden' made up of wild 'meadow grass' and surrounded by a huge hedgerow.
Running just behind the hedgerow, will be a timber 1.2 metre fence meshed with 'galvanised wire livestock netting.' 
The inner garden - where their 'natural' swimming pond will be located - will be surrounded by 'native hedge' and two-metre fencing.
The celeb couple want to build a huge 'wind-cheater' mound in the south west corner made up of 'soil from the site excavation', which will 'provide screening and shelter from prevailing wind'. 
The orchard will be planted around the house with a mixture of bought-in mature trees, plants and shrubs fitting in character with the local environment. 
The list of shipped in mature trees has is costing thousands of pounds and includes 23 oaks, seven white oaks, eight cherry trees, a plum tree, nine apple trees, three holly trees, nine witch hazels and a maple.
According to the Landscape Design Statement, the Beckhams have gone for the more 'organic' approach to the grounds, which means that they want to let the trees, bushes and plants run free rather than have a perfectly manicured garden like at their city properties in Los Angeles and London.
It states: 'The proposed planting design aims to tie in with the surrounding landscape, using many native wildflowers interspersed amongst grasses… the materials used across the site will be sensitive to the heritage nature of the property, reflective of what is on site and in the surrounding vernacular.'
This still means their garden contractor, Nicholsons, will be working flat out. 
Country pile: The Beckhams will create two gardens; an 'outer garden' made up of wild 'meadow grass' and surrounded by a huge native hedgerow. Behind the hedgerow, will be a timber 1.2m fence meshed with 'galvanised wire livestock netting.' Pictured: The new house.
Country pile: The Beckhams will create two gardens; an 'outer garden' made up of wild 'meadow grass' and surrounded by a huge native hedgerow. Behind the hedgerow, will be a timber 1.2m fence meshed with 'galvanised wire livestock netting.' Pictured: The new house.
Bolthole: The celeb couple also want an inner garden - where their 'natural' swimming pond will be located - will be surrounded by 'native hedge' and two-metre fencing. Pictured: Work continues on the countryside project
Bolthole: The celeb couple also want an inner garden - where their 'natural' swimming pond will be located - will be surrounded by 'native hedge' and two-metre fencing. Pictured: Work continues on the countryside project
Retreat: The Beckhams bought the property, pictured, in December, as a countryside getaway. The property is close top the exclusive celebrity hangout Soho Farmhouse.
Retreat: The Beckhams bought the property, pictured, in December, as a countryside getaway. The property is close top the exclusive celebrity hangout Soho Farmhouse.
According to plans submitted to the council, Nicholsons say it will take a team of staff three days a week for nine months of the year to maintain the two-acre site.
Nicholsons say that they will give the Beckhams weekly reports on wildlife damage and fruit collection. The two-page maintenance report also lists over 30 tasks they need to do to keep the exterior in tip-top shape.
But, according to experts, this sort of garden is ideal for people who won't be at the property all the time and use it only a few times a year, as it's lower maintenance than the perfect gardens often associated with celebrities.
Tim Whitcombe, Head Gardener at GardenAdvice.co.uk, said: 'In general wild gardens and fruit gardens have two main periods of maintenance in the spring and the autumn cutting meadows and pruning fruit trees. I would say they take less maintaining that a traditional garden.'