THE WHOLE WORLD HAS GONE PLASTIC CRAZY.

Homeowners should be banned from using artificial grass and get council tax discounts for sustainable gardening, scientists have suggested. A study by researchers at the University of Sheffield has said financial incentives are needed to combat the effects of climate change in cities and promote a healthier urban landscape. Professor Ross Cameron, who wrote the report, said Britain’s natural gardens are vital for keeping down temperatures, absorbing rain and offering refuge to wildlife. But he believes modern trends in garden design have become ‘very damaging’ to the environment – particularly singling out an uptick in paved patio areas and fake turf. He said: ‘Gardens need to be green and full of plants to be beneficial to the local environment, and some types of garden are more beneficial than others. We have paved them over to house the car, or provide sterile patio space; factors that increase urban temperatures and increase flooding risk. ‘Many residents use artificial grass that kills much of the soil life underneath it, and when real plants are present, we wrongly assume we need to hit them with a cocktail of chemicals to keep them alive and free of pests. ‘These chemicals pollute our watercourses and damage the ecological function of our gardens.’