This recent spell of cold weather is a stark reminder of what we may be facing in the coming months. 

How quickly things can change. We were in still double figures in November and early December, with temperatures between 10-15 degrees. Now, within a few days, we have temperatures down to minus 3 with heavy frosts and a threat of the Beast from the East! This has been confirmed by the great weather website run by Mark Hunt, the retired Headland Amenity manager.
 
Mark says, "We do indeed have some pretty parky weather on the way, not surprising really when we are only a couple of weeks away from the Winter Solstice and the shortest day. 

"Hats off to GFS forecasting because a couple of week’s ago in this blog, I discussed in my outlook a period of easterlies ending in a cold, northerly scenario based on their output - and indeed it has come to pass. 

"So yes, winter is on its way and after one of the mildest autumns on record, we took a temperature step down to normality at the end of November. 
So we start this week with cold air firmly entrenched across the U.K & Ireland. In addition, we have a low-pressure system sitting off the north-west tip of Scotland. So, I think we will see more snow this week across Scotland from the start of the week. This low pressure will also increase the risk of wintry showers pushing inland along the eastern coastline of the U.K. Some of these showers could reach further inland on today and Tuesday and we will continue our run of overnight frosts and very cold, low single figure, daytime temperatures.

"It's too early to say whether we will have a White Christmas, but many places will have a white December prior to that."

Mark as always gives a great insight into the current weather fronts and from reading his recent report, turf professionals are going to be busy protecting their playing surfaces in the coming weeks. 

No doubt there will be some casualties along the way with games called off and some golf courses having to close due to the bad weather, especially if we have a lot of snow. 

Frozen turf

Frost on the grass leaf blades tells us that the water inside the leaves is frozen. Remember that 80+% of plant tissue is made up of water, the primary component of plant tissue. When this water is frozen, foot traffic on the turf causes the ice crystals in the cells to puncture through the plant's cell walls, thus killing plant tissue.

When they are frozen the leaves of the turf get easily bruised by player's feet. After thawing, the affected turf turns black or brown and becomes sparse. The turf can often remain thin for long periods if damage occurs early in the winter. The fine turf on greens becomes more susceptible to disease and the putting surface becomes very uneven.

More long-term damage can be caused when play takes place as the turf is thawing after a prolonged freeze. Under these conditions the top surface of the turf may be soft, but the underlying soil can still be frozen. Root damage occurs easily from a shearing action as player's feet move the soft top surface against the frozen sub soil.

The process of damage to the turf normally occurs in the following pattern:

• Bruising and damage to the leaf.
• Loss of turf colour.
• Severing of grass roots.
• Compaction of the soil.
• Thinning of the swards.

Each time you continue to allow play on frosty greens you continue to promote further turf decline. Low soil and air temperatures prevent turfgrass recovery.

However, many golf clubs do operate a favourable frost policy, whereby several contingencies are put in place to reduce frost damage on the course to allow golf to be played during frosty conditions, some of the methods used by clubs include:

• Many clubs are now using artificial winter tee mats, which are brought out for the winter period.
• Temporary green areas have been mown out and introduced for winter play.
• The course is inspected every morning by the greenkeeping staff who then make a judgement on whether the greens / or which greens are playable depending on the severity of the frost.

Often if the frost is a hoar frost, it is likely that many of the greens will be playable by late morning once thawed. In most cases frost damage will not be noticeable until the spring when long term damage has already occurred. A poor thin sward, a heavy compacted green and a poor putting surface are all consequences of play being allowed on frosty courses.

The best policy is for a club to inform club members / players of the reasons why greens and courses must be closed during heavy frosts. Explaining these facts to the members and players will help them understand the longer-term benefits of maintaining the sward quality of their greens.

 
As for winter sports pitches they are again prone to surface damage during very wet periods and postponements are likely if you have a very heavy frost. It would seem from the recent weather reports, this year we may be facing a more challenging winter period, so I suggest we get prepared for the worst.

And maybe like Mark says, we may indeed have a white Christmas.

TurfPro's sister title, Service Dealer, has announced that over £3,500 was raised at the recent Dealer Of The Year Awards gala ceremony, in aid of Safe Fields For Ukraine - the crowdfunder established to raise money to help develop equipment for the disposal of landmines.

Jonathan Elwes who spoke on the night of the Awards, and who is driving the campaign, said, "I am so grateful for all the attendees of the Service Dealer Awards for their tremendous support for Safe Fields for Ukraine."

You can watch below a video shown at the ceremony, explaining the crowdfunder.

Initially Safe Fields Ukraine are helping to raise funds for a prototype, on completion of the project, the working prototype will be gifted to the Ukrainian government and put to work.

You can learn more about the initiative on their Crowdfunder page.

HRH The Prince of Wales recently hosted industry leaders at a Fields in Trust roundtable to discuss how green spaces can help to tackle some of the key challenges facing communities now, and in the future. 

Charity Fields in Trust convened planners, designers, developers, and house builders for the conversation, focussing on how green spaces should be championing health and well-being, inclusion and diversity, climate change and nature recovery. 

The event held at Kensington Palace provided an opportunity for HRH The Prince of Wales, President of Fields in Trust, to listen to the current challenges and discuss how the charity plans to transform the approach to delivering future green spaces through practical tools and guidance.

The Prince of Wales was joined at the roundtable event by Adrian Brown from Berkeley Strategic Land Limited, Ian Anderson from ICENI Projects, Ian Houlston from LDA Design, Victoria Hills from the Royal Town Planning Institute, a representative from The Royal Foundation, Mark Skilbeck from Taylor Wimpey, and Dinah Bornat from ZCD Architects.

Following meaningful discussion all attendees agreed the time to act is now and they committed their expertise and experience to work with Fields in Trust to co-design the future guidance and encourage more industry leaders to get involved.

Founded in 1925, Fields in Trust has used its respected position to advocate benchmark standards for parks and green spaces since the 1930s. The “Six Acre Standard” came to be widely accepted and a derivation of the standard is adopted by around 75% of local authorities. Building on this legacy the initial discovery work with LDA Design will lead to the creation of more holistic guidance to support the industry to optimise the quality, functionality, and long-term sustainability of green spaces. 

Jo Barnett, Chair of Trustees at Fields in Trust said, "For nearly a century we have used our voice to advocate for the provision of the right quantity of future proofed green space in towns and cities but we recognise that we need to go further. The covid-19 pandemic reinforced the value of shared green space to community, health and wellbeing and with increasing recognition of the role of these spaces in local climate action plans now is the time to act. 

"With the support of key players in the industry, we are delighted to have a real opportunity to create guidance that can inspire the green spaces of the future that will support both people and nature."

According to the head greenkeeper at Houghwood Golf Club, Michael Abbott, in less than a year, an ICL fortnightly tank-mix has radically improved the greens.

Head greenkeeper, Michael Abbott

“When I show people photos of the greens last September compared to this September, they cannot believe it,” said Michael, who has worked at Houghwood for an incredible twenty-two years. 

Michael has seen the young course develop into one of the best in the area. Based in Lancashire, the course is an 18-hole, par 71 (6388 yard), private, parkland golf course and was the creation of two farmers in 1994.

Michael and his team of three have their challenges - particularly with some parts of the course which consists of heavy clay. He admits that his small team can feel stretched at times, and it is for this reason that he likes to be as prepared as possible.

“We’re a small team but we believe we can tackle any task put in front of us and I feel our experience is invaluable,” he said. “From a management point of view, I like having a plan in place and ICL has given me a superb integrated turf management (ITM) plan to follow.”

Houghwood Golf Club’s ITM programme was devised by ICL technical area sales manager Rob Ainscough and was based on the results of soil testing.

As part of the programme, Michael applies a fortnightly tank-mix on his greens which consists of Sportsmaster WSF Spring & Summer 28-5-19+TE, H2Pro TriSmart, Vitalnova Links and Primo Maxx II. 

“Since using this tank-mix, I’ve noticed improved playability,” said Michael. “There are no bare areas, no moss, just a nice, lovely coverage with great colour throughout all the greens. 

“It gives us consistency throughout the year with no flushes of growth and applying it fortnightly saves us time - which is another major reason for using the mixture.

“It’s also very cost-effective for us but most importantly, it works. The members have loved the improvements.”

Coming in a busy year following the transition to New Holland, along with expanding their JCB & Kuhn territories, RVT have announced that Matt Mulligan has been promoted into the role of managing director.

Originating from Lancashire and being brought up on the family farm, RVT say Matt is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of the agricultural industry. As a Harper Adams graduate Matt worked for 12 years for JCB both in the UK and abroad.

Having joined the dealership six years ago and held roles as sales manager, depot manager, operations director and now managing director, Matt says he will take RVT into its next exciting phase.

Matt says he will focus not only on developing internal talent but on meeting and exceeding customer expectations along with providing a service to customers that RVT has built its reputation on for decades.

"I look forward to building on the solid foundation Rea Valley Tractors already delivers our customers," Matt said, "driving growth and customer satisfaction now and into the future."

With zero emissions and lower running costs, the new Kress range of commercial battery power tools is the only way forward to meet climate change goals. Kress products deliver the same power as petrol, and work with very high efficiency. Thanks to the innovative Kress 8-minute Cybersystem™ battery platform, this is the first truly cordless solution for commercial use. The new battery platform has been engineered to have the fastest re-charge of any commercial battery system available, has twice the power output of standard lithium-ion batteries and has been developed with heavy-duty use in mind. It is battery-power as has never been seen before.

Kress have removed all the barriers which exist with other battery systems on the market, such as slow charging times, short battery life cycles and not being powerful enough to reach petrol power with the Cybersystem™ platform. Kress’s advanced, fully interchangeable, 60V battery technology, provides the most powerful and durable range of outdoor green garden tools available, extending from the range of mowers, to hedge trimmers, backpack blowers, chainsaws and more. Experience power on an unprecedented scale.

The new commercial range from Kress sets new standards in operating comfort, features and design. The quality-manufactured tools are driven by high-performance brushless motors and exceptionally powerful Kress 60V max batteries. As a result, they are a green alternative to cable-based and petrol tools, even for challenging jobs.

Think of the Cybersystem™ DC-DC charger as you new fuel tank and stores enough juice for all your tools for the whole day. Refill it after work in your garage or back of the van, and you’ll never have to stop at a petrol station to fill a tank with fossil fuel again. The Kress range is ideal for Landscapers, Commercial contractors, Sports Clubs and Landowners looking to reduce emissions, fuel and the operating costs to manage sports pitches, lawns and large grounds. 

Find out more about Cybersystem™ and find your local Kress dealer here.

Kersten UK has been appointed as the distributor in the UK for the new Eco Weedkiller Products from Finland. 

Eco Weedkiller offers new technology for weed control based on hot water. The water is heated via electricity and then kept warm in an insulated tank.  The device will keep its warmth (more than 100 degrees Celsius) for at least eight hours after disconnecting the power. The device does not need to be connected to the electricity network or water supply during use. You can go wherever you wish.

There are versions with a 300 litre and 600 litre storage tanks as well as a small Garden version with a 25 litre water tank.

Using water allows great penetration into the soil, allowing successful treatment of perennial plants with more established root systems in many situations.  The rule of thumb is that 2–2.5 litres of hot water is needed per square metre in areas with 100% greenery coverage. This means that 300 litres of water is enough for 100–150 green square metres. 

The water in Pro SP products has two purposes: to transmit heat to the plants to be killed and to STORE energy. Water is an affordable “battery” compared to traditional electric batteries. The heating is done with electricity, but you can choose the method used for generating the energy needed, which helps decrease environmental impact. The device can be connected directly to solar panels, for example to heat the water.

The Eco Weedkiller Pro SP series can utilise preheated water at temperatures between 5–80 degrees Celsius. The traditional devices based on diesel-run heaters cannot offer the same advantage, requiring cold water to be heated by the machine as it is being used.

The Eco Weedkiller products are nearly silent in operation, only the hiss of the nozzle lets the user know that the water is hot enough for weed control. Pro SP is an excellent choice for sites where noise could be disruptive: now you can enjoy your early summer mornings in silence!

For more information contact Kersten UK Ltd

kerstenuk.com
sales@kerstenuk.com
0118 9869 253

HONOURING OUR PRO DEALERS

PREVENTING POSTPONEMENTS

BENCHMARKING FACILITIES

TIME FOR A REVOLUTION

DONT LEAF IT TOO LATE!

REWILD THING

ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE IS KEY

ROLE OF THE CONSULTANT

RENOVATION TIME

RECRUITMENT WOES

A COG IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

BOWLS IN DECLINE

BONE-HARD PITCHES!

TIME TO RECRUIT

HOT & BOTHERED

FAKE NEWS

PARKS MUST BE A STATUTORY SERVICE

WORKING PRESSURES INCREASING

CURRENT STATE OF PARKS SERVICES

HOT STUFF

GET CONNECTED

A GROWING NATIONAL REPUTATION

NEW BEGINNINGS

SUMMER SPORTING SEASON STARTS

CALCULATING THE VALUE

IRRIGATION IS VITAL

WEEDS FLOURISHING

TREE PLANTING INNOVATIONS

END OF SEASON RENOVATIONS TIME

PARK AND RIDE

IT'S NOT THE LENGTH THAT MATTERS . . .

NO EXCUSES FOR POOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT

SPRING INTO ACTION

SUN SHINES ON BTME

BRIGHT START

INDUSTRY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

TESTING TIME

TIME TO PAY UP

DON'T PANIC!

ALL APSE-PECTS DISCUSSED

WINTER WARMING

THE BANE OF BUNKERS

POOR PERFORMANCE? BLAME THE PITCH!

PREPARING FOR 2022's GROWING SEASON

THREE AREAS OF CONTENTION

AREAS OF CONCERN

View all of 2021's blogs here

View all of 2020's blogs here

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

Perhaps Defra has shares in the oil industry? That at least would help to explain its complete failure to address the plastic grass debate by providing honest information and education to the public.

Here’s the problem.

Due to inaction by Defra and other governing bodies (not to mention MPs), our outdoor spaces are being increasingly carpeted in plastic. That’s right - carpeted gardens; try explaining that to the wildlife losing its habitat and food. And not only is it the kind of non-recyclable and oil-based product we need so badly to reduce - it also strips away essential but fragile ecosystems, massively damaging our attempts to combat climate change, promote biodiversity and maintain human health.

This inexplicable failure to lead leaves us with nothing more than hope - that’s right, hope; no plans, no standards, no goals, just hope that somehow people might change their behaviour and put an end to this destructive trend. But …

. . . hope’s no good. If you don’t tell people what’s wrong, why should they change?

What we desperately need is good information and education. With that, even the most libertarian of politicians would then be satisfied that the public can be left to make up their own minds responsibly without any nannying.

But it isn’t happening. Why not?

What would convince our governing bodies finally to grow a spine and be proactive in sharing simple, obvious and strategically important information? There’s certainly no shortage of incentives:

Money? Well, that’s easy. The entire UK horticultural industry is worth some £24 billion. But however big the contribution from the plastic grass sector, it is hugely outweighed by the combined revenue power of all the products and services supporting sustainable gardening. So, HM Treasury, if you want to back the right horse and keep growing this successful industry, get Defra to help with education about living gardens, not dead ones.

Climate change? What a fantastic win-win this should be for the government and horticultural agencies! Up and down the country people are crying out for guidance on how to do their bit for tackling climate change and its impacts right here in the UK. And what could be simpler - and more popular - than helping people to understand their choice between sustainable living grass and inert oil-based plastic?

Biodiversity? The living natural world is an increasingly popular banner for politicians of all colours wanting green credentials. Yet when was the last time - or even the first time - you heard one talk about the environmental perils of plastic grass, or promote appreciation for the simple lawn and its contribution to stronger biodiversity?

Plastic trees? Of course not, but hear me out. Trees, quite rightly, capture the imagination of Westminster, agencies, horticultural organisations and the like of you and me because we see and admire them; we see the birds nesting in them; we know of the rain forest and its role in keeping us all alive.

Well, here’s something you should be hearing loud and clear from all horticultural organisations and governing bodies - grass does exactly the same! So now is the time for grass to receive the same respect and the same energy and commitment to promoting accurate information and education and better-informed choices.

Without this, all those responsible for inaction during the continued decline in living outdoor spaces and the catastrophic consequence of this in the future will share a shameful legacy of failure.

So, Defra et all, what do you say?

By David Hedges Gower - Chairman of the Lawn Association