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We all have different tastes when it comes to our home and gardens. Some prefer new build properties with modern furniture, Love Island-style garden firepits and simple plants, while others prefer old-fashioned homes with bright, vibrant outside spaces. In the UK, many cottages are adorned with ivy, which attaches to walls and fences. With its glossy, dark green leaves shaped like hearts, it's not hard to see why many love it.

However, getting the plant to grow on your home is a commitment. It can take a single plant around 10-20 years to reach its full growing potential, meaning you'll have to dedicate lots of time and effort to it. It's worth it for many people; the Royal Horticultural Society reports that ivy can keep buildings cool in summer and less damp in winter.

Recently, one house-proud woman shared how she and her partner teared down their ivy on the exterior of their home.

In a video shared on Instagram, Whitney Lee Masseny, who boasts over 32,000 followers, showed her red brick property with ivy growing up the front of the house. Her partner can be seen ripping the thick plant off the wall and pulling up the root from the ground.

She said: "Does Ivy ruin your house? I hated ours, this was the best decision."

Despite being delighted with the results, people were left gobsmacked by the change.

Some offered support, as one said: "Great job." Another agreed, writing: "I hate it too. Happy for you. I would do the Same."

"I can't stand ivy," agreed one other. One other suggested: "Ivy destroys the brick and is so invasive."

But others were left horrified by the decision. "I almost cried watching this," commented one. Another said: "What a shame it looked beautiful. Oh how sad! The ivy was so beautiful."

A third wrote: "Ivy was the only thing making that house not look boring. Congrats." "That ivy was the only thing that would make me wanna look at this house," commented one other.

"It's horrible to see when nature is harmed," another saddened individual commented.

One other said: "And just like that...all personality and beauty of the home gone." "Now it just looks like every other house," observed another.

Sharing their split opinion, one other added: "It's your home but I thought it gave it some character, guess you prefer a brick look maybe or going to redesign the front of the home?".

One other noted: "Ivy looked beautiful! But let's not forget people like what they like."

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said that while it is regularly reported to damage the walls it grows on, it is only in some instances where it can cause or exacerbate damage.

The RHS said: "In most cases ivy does not cause these structural issues. Its aerial roots are unable to bore into sound masonry, and they often only cause damage when they are removed with force."

In fact, the plant has a lot of benefits. Studies have found that a covering of ivy can even benefit buildings; it lessens the effect of frost on vulnerable wall coverings, like plaster and lime mortar, and traps airborne pollutants which can blacken and erode them.

"It also acts as a shield against heavy rain-driven winds, which can themselves cause erosion and contribute to damp," added the RHS.