NOT ALL LAWNS ARE CREATED EQUAL

Surely an emerald green lawn is beneficial to the environment? Well, here’s the thing: traditional grass species (Fescue and Bent) have been largely replaced by dwarf rye grass since the ‘80s, when it was introduced as a cost effective turf for sports pitches. Why is this relevant to sustainability? Because the wider blades need more water and fertiliser to keep them green; it grows twice as fast, so requires more mowing, and it doesn’t creep, leaving more bare patches. In short, it’s a carbon intensive surface to maintain – and with 15 million lawns in the UK, this has quite an impact!

So, what’s the alternative? We love using clover and species-rich lawns where possible, containing a blend of different grasses. Maybe even a wildflower or two. They need less mowing and less water (due to their deeper root systems), they stay greener through summer. In fact mowing them a bit less to let them go a bit wild and woolly will allow them to flower and provide an extra source of colour and interest during the Summer months as well as benefitting insects and pollinators. Taking this one step further and allowing a patch of lawn to grow long to become a mini-meadow will attract even more wildlife, and can be a fun project for children and adults alike.

We believe rethinking the notion of what a lawn is and can be, can lead to a more interesting and richer space.