Why plastic grass is devaluing your house – and ruining the environment
The verdant Grade I listed gardens at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire have made it one of the National Trust’s most visited properties. Artificial grass enjoyed a surge of popularity around 15 years ago when its quality improved and suspiciously green lawns are now a common sight in back gardens, children’s playgrounds and at outdoor events. During lockdown, installers reported record sales – searches for “artificial grass” jumped 185 per cent from May 2019 to 2020, according to Google Trends – and it is estimated that more than eight million square metres of plastic grass are still sold annually in the UK. Estate agents have warned that artificial grass can knock 5 per cent off the value of your home and Springwatch presenter Chris Packham described artificial grass as the “horticultural antichrist”. “If, as a nation, we’re banning single-use plastic such as bags and bottles, why on earth are we still allowing people to cover their gardens with plastic?” says Lynne Marcus from the Society of Garden Designers, which launched a “Say No To Plastic Grass and Plants” campaign last year.
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