NATURE NOTES

NATURE NOTES

 

We are often asked about the effects of artificial
lawns on wildlife. The benefits in terms of
maintenance etc. are understood and promoted in
advertising by plastic grass suppliers. However
recently the Royal Horticultural Society published
an article summarising the less welcome effects
these can have on our flowers, birds and bees. Fake
lawns can contaminate the soil and surrounding
watercourses with micro-plastics. Real grass stores
carbon but with artificial grass the soil is dug up and
replaced with chippings or other crushed material.
Grass and soil will help to keep a garden cooler
through evaporation but plastic grass can get much
hotter and cause problems for the sensitive paws of
household pets. Plastic grass provides no habitat for
wildlife and the lack of worms and insects leaves
nothing for our wild birds to feed on. False grass
needs replacing after some years and the old
material ends up
as landfill. And
you cannot make
a daisy chain
with plastic
lawns! So, if you
have or are
considering
replacing your
grass with
plastic, make
sure you take
account of the
adverse effects
this can have on
your garden
wildlife.