He may have grown up kicking a ball around a modest patch of grass in East London, but David Beckham has now transformed his countryside retreat into the garden he always dreamed of.

The former England captain, 50, has spent years cultivating a tranquil escape at the Cotswolds estate he shares with wife Victoria. Since buying the property nine years ago, Sir David has spared no expense turning the grounds into a lush haven - complete with vegetable patches, chickens, bees, and a selection of roses planted especially for Victoria and their youngest daughter, Harper, 14.

The garden, which now boasts everything from carrots and radishes to kale and onions, is a far cry from the limited outdoor space of Beckham's childhood in Chingford. Despite his parents, Ted and Sandra, not being particularly green-fingered, Sir David says his love of gardening was sparked by his maternal grandfather Joe.

He told the Daily Mail: "Grandad Joe would come to our house every Sunday to tend to the roses and, when he left, it would all look perfect. Then he'd visit the Sunday after, only to find that all the heads had been knocked off the roses because I'd been kicking a football around.

"As much as he loved me, I think that drove him mad! Although I didn't really plant anything with him, I showed an interest and he talked me through everything he was doing, so I think that's where my love of gardening came from, even if I didn't realise it at the time."

David and Victoria bought their Cotswolds home in December 2016 for approximately £6.15 million. The converted farmhouse is located in the village of Great Tew, Oxfordshire.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing in the countryside as the Beckhams have ruffled some feathers among their neighbours with plans to build a new barn after the England legend sought planning permission for an "agricultural storage barn for hay/straw and agricultural equipment."

Angry villager Harriet Jones has told West Oxfordshire District Council in a letter of objection, "This is just the latest in a long line of applications to build new structures on this land, plus a giant lake. Why do famous people move out to the country and then clutter up their land with endless buildings and make silly alterations? It makes no sense."

Becks already keeps bees and chickens at their rural retreat, which comes complete with a spa, swimming pool, and tennis court. Inside, the opulent country residence boasts a sprawling kitchen, a stylish yet snug lounge, open fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed wooden beams, and a woodfire oven.

Last year, the duo also bought a new nine-bedroom mansion in Miami - and paid the £55million in cash. They already have a £18million flat in the Florida city with Victoria. The two pads are part of the couple's impressive property portfolio, which also includes a £31million townhouse in Holland Park, west London.

David Beckham completely transforms Cotswolds garden and reveals sweet inspiration - The Mirror