What was once a regular garden consisting of no more than a patch of grass and dated patio has been transformed into a mini-rainforest.

We sent reporter Chantal Weller to Dover to meet the brothers who made it happen…

Not knowing exactly what I was about to see, I knocked on Chris Bowers’ door.

And it was not long before I felt as if I had been flown hours away to the Amazon when, in fact, I was near Whitfield on the outskirts of Dover.

After purchasing the run-down property five years ago, the 39-year-old wanted to give it a new lease of life, both internally and externally.

Describing what it looked like when he got the keys, he said the inside of the property was left to “rack and ruin” while the outside consisted of a “horrible, dated patio with not a plant in sight”.

But now an incredible mini-rainforest stands proud.

As I entered the first part of the garden before stepping into the ‘jungle’, colour immediately filled my line of sight.

While mostly green, pops of purple, red and white peppered the former patio area alongside a koi carp pond.

But while the lower area of the garden was already jaw-dropping, the main event was yet to come.

Because behind a simple gate sat the miniature Amazon-style rainforest.

As I ventured up the path, I was smiling from ear to ear at what Chris and his brother Oliver had accomplished.

I found it incredible that what was once a patch of grass was now filled with scores of plants, pools of water, and even a boardwalk.

Although I had to crouch slightly to avoid the branches as I ventured through it, I did not mind as I was in awe of the incredible creation.

Chris, who works as a vehicle fitter, had even put a fake crocodile in a pool of water, and a stuffed monkey in a tree – the effort could not be faulted.

When asked what sparked his jaw-dropping idea, Chris said: “When I moved in, we had ducks but they trashed everything I was planting so we rehomed them, which meant I could start planting.

“I spent most of my time in the garden brainstorming. The rest is history.

“We installed the koi pond then cracked on with the jungle which started to look quite good but the patio never really had an identity. It was one of the hardest parts to tie in with the jungle and make sense.

“We saw the Mediterranean orb at the Eden Project (in Cornwall) and it sparked something with me. It’s so different to the jungle but it kind of worked and made sense.

“I did some research on surfaces and we came up with the binding gravel and I think it ties the jungle to the Mediterranean area.

“There wasn’t a lot to work with but it’s surprising what you can learn by having a quick read every now and again and through trial and error.”

With the help of Oliver, 37, the pair put their passion for gardening, which they had both had since they were young, to the test.

“Chris has done an insane job,” Oliver said.

“He’s turned a relatively small garden into a jungle. I’m proud of him.

“On the day Chris moved in, I was mowing the dusty lawn at the top of the garden. If you had said to me that in five years he would have created this insane garden, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

The garden now includes a host of Philodendrons and ferns, along with Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' - otherwise known as the Chinese rice-paper plant - and Miscanthus Giganteus (elephant grass).

But as well as the impressive array of greenery, Chris also has a collection of animals he keeps in his house.

They include a Burmese python, a royal python, a red-footed tortoise, various stick insects from all over the world, and a giant African land snail.

But Chris, who did not reveal how much he has spent on the project, said winter is the most demanding time of year.

“The jungle is pretty low maintenance, but when the winter comes along you’ve got to watch out for the frosts and get the tender bits in,” he said.

In light of the rainforest’s success, Chris, who has a seven-year-old daughter, says he is now planning his next project.

“This is just the start,” he said.

“It’s an ongoing project – it’ll never be finished but I want to find somewhere else to make something new.”

Chris and Oliver have also launched a podcast called ‘Our Garden Podcast’, which they record inside a cabin within the mini-rainforest.

Oliver, who owns a woodcraft business, explained: “I have a cottage garden whereas Chris has a jungle/rainforest vibe so we treat it as a bit of an ongoing battle of what’s better and what’s worse.

“It’s a hobby that we both love.”

After joking “the jungle is better”, Chris added: “We’ve had one million views on YouTube so we thought we’d give the visual podcast a go. We have videos inbetween us talking about our gardens.”

The pair say the more mistakes they make, the more they have learnt, and would encourage anyone who is thinking of giving gardening a go to do it.

“It can be as easy as you want it, or as hard as you want it to be,” Chris said.

“Go and buy a pack of seeds and give it a go.”

Oliver, who has five children, added: “No matter how small your garden is, or if you just have a balcony, you can get a small greenhouse and start seeds, grow cress on your windowsill and get into it that way.

“It’s fun, especially for kids. All our kids enjoy it and it’s about the next generation and learning to be sustainable so it’s only a good thing that they’re getting into it.

“The outcome now is this, there’s been ups and downs in the process.

“It’s Chris’ outlet and it’s his way of switching off.”

Visitors may soon be able to see the garden themselves as an open day is planned for later in the summer, but details are yet to be confirmed.