FORGET the Joneses - Britain is now a nation desperate to keep up with the `Greens' next door.

People are more likely to be jealous of a neighbour's vegetable patch or chicken coop than their new car, says a new poll.

`Green envy' is rife, with home-grown vegetables, eco-friendly plant watering systems and egg-laying chickens among the most envied things spotted over a garden fence.

The results of the study show that an estimated £3.8bn will be spent in the next year to make gardens greener.

One in five people will buy a water butt, 22 per cent plan to buy solar-powered garden lighting and two in three intend to grow their own fruit, vegetables or herbs this year.

Nearly eight in ten say they would like to be greener in the garden, with most claiming cost as the biggest factor against it.

On the streets of Manchester, opinion was divided.

David Bradbury, 62, from Rochdale said: "We'd certainly have a vegetable patch if we had a big enough garden. I like to see a nice garden, but I don't think I'd be envious."

"Grow"

Jean Prior, 60, from Gorton said: "I have two gardens, a shaded one in the front and a sun garden at the back. I grow strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries, but I haven't the room for any of the eco-stuff.

"My next-door neighbours and myself are the only ones in our street who look after the gardens - so I'm not jealous of any others."

Students Charlie Taylor and Bryony Davies, both 17, admitted they didn't do much work in their gardens themselves.

Charlie said: "I do like gardens and my parents have an eco-friendly one. I suppose I would be a bit more envious of a nicer garden a new sports car on the drive."

But Bryony said, "I'm saving up to get a car, so I'd much rather have a nice new car than a vegetable patch."

The poll was carried out by B&Q and the company's Rachel Bradley said: "This is one example where one-upmanship over your neighbours is actually a positive thing.

"It's encouraging that people seem to be shunning traditional status symbols and are instead hankering for items that provide us with the new ideal of green living.

"However, it's interesting that most still cite cost as the key factor in not going green, when a water butt and solar lighting are cheap these days."

B&Q is launching an eco-calculator on its website this weekend to help customers gauge where they can make the biggest impact. Miss Bradley said: "We want to demonstrate that having a green garden really doesn't cost the earth."