Artificial garden lawns - what a weird world

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Another installed on our street. I just don’t understand it. Why would anyone do this?

There is a petition to ban their sale for installation in residential dwellings if you want to sign it:

It’s only got 5,900 signatures so far, which seems a pretty low number, given how much of a no brainer this is, imo. Maybe that’s just me.

petition deleted by MNHQ as we don't allow them, we're afraid.

Afternoon everyone. The thread was reported to us as the opening post contained a petition link, which we don't allow. We've now removed the link but will leave the thread standing as this is clearly a hot debate topic.

Thanks all.

Thanks for your advice. Established big trees like the ones you are talking about cost $20k each here, so we will stick with planting the small ones we have already & wait for them to grow. We also gave restrictions from the fire department & have to get approval for everything planted in the garden & some plants/ trees are not allowed within 3 or 6 m of the property. Who would have known rosemary is a fire hazard? Our shade is already in place, we have a 3 x 6 M built in shaded area. Water is so expensive here & we are in drought. Grass is not recommended to be planted due to the amount of watering that is needed. Everywhere is different. Really surprised at the number of judge mental comments here. The carbon foot print to mow a lawn frequently will soon add up, as would the water use. Some of our neighbours water twice a day for their real grass. We picked appropriate plants for where we live, palms, cactus, succulents & fruit trees. We only need to water once a week. We used xeriscaping in the front garden.

Excellent post, thank you! Looks like there are two kinds of people and they are clashing over this topic. Those who subscribe to the notion that we are all part of an interconnected world (including the animals and insects), and that we should all be mindful of what we do and how it impacts the other organisms we share this world with, and those who feel that it is their right to do as they please with their gardens and that it is none of anybody else's business what they do and how they choose to do it.

Absolutely hate these plastic lawns and yes I have long thought their sale should be banned.

We're taking part in "no mow May". Our insect population is dropping off alarmingly and we should all be doing our best to provide them with a habitat if we want the human race to survive instead of installing these abominations.

<wanders off in search of the petition>

I have a 100ft garden which is full of life. My new neighbours have installed concrete based fences all around their garden, ripped out the hedge on my side and their lawn (including a natural pond that had been there for 50 years) and have installed fence to fence artificial lawn.

If I had a garden of that size I would be much more inclined to have real grass. However my garden is 8’ wide, 2’ on the left is flower bed and 2’ the other side is in permanent shade because of the fence with patio one end and decking and shed the other. It really isn’t worth having real lawn for that 4’ strip. We would also churn it up in the winter to get to the shed as the shared path is on our neighbour’s side of the fence and the door is our side! It’s a strange set up unfortunately!

Thank you for this link. Have downloaded the pdf. Very very interesting, and an eye-opener.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I agree that there is some nuance to this, however I do see a big trend to fake grass now. The fact my neighbours have done it in a fairly large garden is not the convenience you describe, it is purely aesthetics, insta posting and prevention of a muddy footprint. And it has a serious impact on wildlife.

What is most bizarre about the whole thing with my neighbours is their two small girls are constantly asking me if they can come round and see the tadpoles in my pond. They can't wait until the legs are growing (any day now!) and are totally fascinated by it all. Of course, when they come over, I ensure I introduce them to all the other bugs around the pond and under the stones. (Wasn't that also a childhood joy - lifting up stones and discovering all the weird and wonderful creepy crawlies?)

What a shame their parents obliterated all forms of wildlife in their own garden.

Could someone private message me the link? I’d like to sign. Toxic plastic shit…we don’t need any more of it. It’ll end up being washed up on a beach In the Seychelles. 😳

That article about grounding is fascinating, thank you.

I sat on artificial grass for the first time ever this weekend. It was boiling hot and prickly, very unpleasant to sit on. It was also a weird blueish colour - didn't really look anything like grass at all! I understand this might have been a cheapo version but it really was pretty nasty.

My eco-credentials are far from pristine, but I do think there is something particularly grim and careless about installing a plastic lawn. I am really disheartened by some of the 'my garden, I'll do what I like, nose out!' posts - the whole point is that these small individual decisions add up to a big problem. I am not sure how anyone can understand anything about biodiversity (or our increasing lack of) and still think that covering their little bit of the Earth in microplastics is justifiable.

The planet is, frankly, fucked if we keep this up and the irony of arguing that you're doing it so the kiddies have somewhere to play is mind-blowing.

@hamstersarse I would love a large garden with a wild area and pond but it’s never going to happen! I wouldn’t have artificial grass if I had a bigger space, I’d have real grass. I cried when the conifer had to be cut down but I’m lucky to have a garden at all as we live in a flat so it was a case of making the best of what we have. I’ve replanted the garden and tried to choose bee friendly plants but let’s see if they survive!

Another interesting research paper on grounding is here

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/

It makes me sad we dismiss traditions and habits that we have had for centuries as nothing and change our habitats to such an extent that our bodies don't recognise them - lots of comments on here about fake grass 'feeling weird' - because it is weird to spend thousands of pounds on a fake version of something that literally grows like, erm, grass for free.

The house next to me with AstroTurf is a second home. Another thing that I'm not a fan of.

I think they were talking about all the children [in the world]. rather than just their own. Correct me if I'm wrong.

A fair few of us from Mumsnet will have a child, or be ttc.

Awful stuff. Just signed. 6,577 signatures now. 👍

Will some PM me the link please.

someone

What did I sign then?! The one I found had about 11k!

I hate them. I live on a new build estate (yes I know, very Marmite on MN). Anyway, every man and his dog seems to have artificial grass! We’re not, we’ve just seeded the garden as we think artificial looks a bit naff.

The original one is 'ban the sale' on UK gov website, started by Margaret Moran, the one you signed I think is 'introduce an 'ecological damage tax'' etc.

Yeah you are right. I’ve been sent the correct link now. Think I prefer the one I signed TBH… seems more rational/likely to go somewhere? The one OP shared seems to be “we don’t like your previous response, try again”. Which I don’t feel confident in.

The one I signed is called: “Introduce an "Ecological Damage Tax" on Astroturf Lawns / Artificial Grass” (if anyone wants to try and find).

A friend with a tiny garden got rid of the fake grass she'd inherited and put down small shingle in its place. She planted some shrubs in the corners and it looks lovely.

There are options other than lawn or pretend lawn.

@sweetieqie so do your children have no plastic toys
Its not all or nothing is it
I have a small strip of astro but i also have plants and a pond and don't buy lots of other plastic tat that many on here moaning about astro do and many will have more than 2 children , so its all relative

@ScattyHattie yes we have no drainage issues with ours as mud underneath and stones etc
Like you say many of these moaning will be using and disposing of more plastic than they realise
I would have grass but it doesn't grow and small garden but we have plants in borders and pots and all around as well as a pond and herb garden
Out front we have about a 1m strip by 0.5 m which is all planted off
I bet loads have huge driveways etc and see that as fine

I dont mind them.

id love to put some down but i have slate waste and a slate patio.

i also have 7 acres and grazing rights on common land so i do have grass which is active with wild flowers and animals.

so yes, id put some down tomorrow if i could plan my garden but i cant so….

Who's the saddo who reported the petition link? 😆