Say NO To Plastic Grass and Plants

I fully support a new campaign launched this month by the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Landscape Institute (LI), that highlights the extreme environmental damage and decline to wildlife caused by artificial grass and plants.

The ‘Say NO to Plastic Grass and Plants’ campaign aims to encourage homeowners, gardeners, garden designers and landscapers to opt for natural solutions in gardens, to help cut down the pollution and ecological destruction caused by plastic grass and to create more habitats for birds, bees and other wildlife.

The UK now ranks as one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe. One of the key reasons for this decline is the loss of natural habitats and ‘green corridors’ in our towns and cities, of which gardens form a major part. 

I highlighted this problem five years ago in a blog post on this website back in 2018. Sadly, since then there has been huge growth in the use of plastic lawns, with devastating effects on both the environment and biodiversity.

Artificial grass destroys soil ecosystems by removing topsoil and covering the ground in plastic, eliminating a crucial habitat for earthworms, fungi and a whole host of other soil organisms. This in turn removes all sources of food and habitat for insects, birds and other animals.

Plastic grass is manufactured from fossil fuel-based plastics, which results in increased carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. By contrast, natural lawns and plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. 

When heated by the sun, natural lawns are cooled through evaporation. However, plastic lawns absorb the sun’s heat, becoming hot under foot and contributing to ‘urban heat islands.’

Artificial grass absorbs less water than natural lawns, causing more run-off and potentially flooding. Furthermore, as the plastic used to make artificial grass gradually deteriorates, microplastics are released into the environment and watercourses, polluting our rivers and seas.

Despite dubious claims made by some manufacturers of artificial grass, it is not bio-degradable, cannot be recycled, does not last forever and is definitely not maintenance-free, requiring regular cleaning and even weeding!

There are plenty of natural and sustainable options that benefit both people and the environment. For instance, a traditional mown lawn or a low-mow lawn that allows flowering plants to flourish between cuts. Other options include chamomile lawns or clover lawns in sunnier areas or blue star creeper ground cover in shadier areas. Or why not try a wildflower meadow to encourage even greater biodiversity. 

Even a bark chip mulch under and around children’s climbing frames and trampolines is a  better option than artificial grass. Being a natural organic material, it will gradually break down releasing nutrients back into the soil and can easily be topped up if required.

In light of all the detrimental effects of artificial grass, there really is no excuse to use it. I will not be specifying artificial grass or plants in any of my garden designs. 

Bigger Gardens a Top Priority for Home-hunters

A survey by Rightmove of over 4,000 home movers has revealed that having a bigger garden, or at least access to one, is now the top priority for both buyers and renters.

With most people now spending more time at home as a result of the lockdown, priorities have changed when home hunting and access to outdoor space has become more important than ever.

63% of buyers and 59% of renters said they now wanted a bigger garden or access to one in their next home, achieving a higher score than any other priority.

Searches by buyers for homes with gardens are up 42% in May 2020 compared to May 2019 and for renters they are up a massive 84%.

Furthermore, of the new life interests that people say they plan to continue after lockdown, 82% said gardening and 89% exercising outdoors.

Clearly the challenging times created by the pandemic and lockdown has reinforced the importance of gardens in enriching our lives and improving our mental health and wellbeing. Whether as a tranquil retreat, for sunbathing, exercising, alfresco dining, connecting with nature, growing food, nurturing plants, increasing bio-diversity or simply listening to bird song, gardens are good for the soul and we need them now more than ever.

Source: Rightmove survey

The Value of a Well-Designed Garden

Spending money to have your garden professionally designed not only enhances your use and enjoyment of your outdoor space but is also a good investment in your property, as revealed by a new survey commissioned by property website Zoopla and the Society of Garden Designers. The survey revealed that half of all Brits say a well-designed garden is as important, or more important, than a designer kitchen or bathroom, when looking for a new home.

The findings show that house hunters are prepared to pay an average premium of nearly £15,000 for a garden when purchasing a property and nearly half (47%) have been put off buying or renting a property because of the condition of the garden.

The poll shows that the desire for good design is not exclusively limited to interiors, with 40% of respondents saying they would consider hiring a professional garden designer in order to transform their outdoor space.

The research also shows that around three quarters (74%) of homeowners have already, or would consider, spending money on their garden to increase the value of their property.

A regional breakdown of the findings showed that those living in the South East are prepared to invest the most for a garden, £21,925 on average, and ranked the importance of a garden the highest at 91%. Meanwhile those living in London would be willing to invest an average of £13,388 to secure their own garden with 79% believing it is important to have private outside space.

The survey also asked respondents to rank the most important design features of a garden and found that ‘having somewhere to sit and relax’ is the most popular element.

The survey was conducted in July 2019 with 2,161 respondents – comprising 1,673 homeowners and 465 renters.

Source: Zoopla