Hi all. Please remove if not welcome but I’m trying to find like minded people who might sign this petition. I’m worried about the impact plastic grass is having on the U.K. eco system, gardens and birds.
I’m aware of the limitations but it’s banned in countries like the Netherlands. I also know there’s a good chance that a petition will do nothing but I found myself getting more and more upset every time I saw it and thought I should at least try and do something.
Thanks
by MissingTheMidlands
16 Comments
Great idea, dreadful stuff! I’ve just signed it
Signed
Signed
Signed! I couldn’t agree more. P
Awful stuff, happy to say I’ve signed.
I used to think the same, but then I discovered that a colleague had a severally disabled son with pica and if he was ever to be allowed to play outside it would either be on plastic grass or not at all. Absolute bans of things are rarely practical or achievable.
Signed taking it to a 1,000.
Is the idea that people with fake grass replace it with real grass? If fake grass is banned then they are far more likely to replace it with concrete/resin.
>but it’s banned in countries like the Netherlands.
Is it? As a Dutchie (though living in the UK for too long now to keep track of everything that has changed) this is the firs time I have heard of that.
I hate artificial grass with a passion and I think everyone should be dissuaded from putting it down where possible. However, there will no doubt be some genuine practical reasons for why some people need to install it, over real plants/grass. For example, the elderly or disabled may not have the capability/finances to maintain a real lawn.
I do really hope there are steps taken to reduce the number of people who use it though. As you have rightly pointed out, it’s horrible for the environment and I’m sure the majority of people who have it put in could instead consider natural solutions.
As much as I hate the stuff, a disabled friend has it for practically whilst not wishing to live in a concrete jungle (it’s at least green, and from indoors isn’t obviously different to a regular garden).
I know another friend who has it in one section for their dogs.
If you banned it, they’d probably put paving or worse, just concrete it all.
This trend of banning things you don’t personally like without thinking of why some people do it is getting ridiculous, just mind your own business and enjoy your garden.
I despise artificial grass but I don’t believe banning it is the solution.
Like most things, it has its place.
As another poster mentioned, disability and access etc. is a big one.
Any ban is going to see an increase in concrete/resin spaces which is arguably worse.
Some form or relief on tax maybe a good incentive to entice people to plant their land or reward those already doing it.
I’ve signed because I think it’s an environmental nightmare. However I think in reality it’s going to be a hard sell.
Removing it from domestic use would impact people with disabilities, mobility issues, older folks, plus lots of families witn young kids.
I think it needs to be redesigned so it’s safely biodegradable with no legacy microplastics or other environmental impact. But that’s going to be expensive.
So I’ll just stick to quietly loathing it, and trying to come up with helpful alternative suggestions for regular folks wanting to install it (usually people with a small garden in a new build, not great sunshine, busy people, want somewhere for their kids to play etc).
Nope. I know I’ll get downvoted, but once I get my house extension done I’ll be changing my lawn to artificial. I’ve lived here for nearly 10 years and I’ve been fighting the clay soil the whole time. I’ve mixed in everything suggested such as compost and sand. I’ve aerated repeatedly. I’ve even fitted a large french drain and sump pump under it. I’m now at the point that it doesn’t flood. But I basically can’t use my garden between October and March. Plus I’m fighting muddy dog paws that whole time. It’s an absolute nightmare and it’s not through not trying to keep it natural. I must do a towel wash every other day which is impossible to get dry over the winter.
I have a dog and a 4 year old. I’m not going to have the picturesque wildflower garden anytime soon. It needs to be practical. I have plenty of hanging baskets, I have a strip that I grow berries and some vegetables in so it’s not a whole plastic garden.
I understand the environmental effects of it but you have to realise people still want a usable garden, if you ban artificial grass people will just concrete or patio it instead.
Leave other people to do what they want with their gardens.
I hate artificial grass but if people want to keep their gardens low maintenance then that’s their choice, not yours.
I don’t like plastic grass, just like the majority of us on this sun but a ban isn’t practical. It does come in useful for some people.
A ban on something you disagree with is not a place I’d like to live.
Educate, advise and guide those who can have a living lawn, but leave it for those who need artificial grass to enjoy outdoor space.
Better yet create a biodegradable, cheap alternative.