Britain's front gardens are increasingly turning from green to grey, with almost a quarter now entirely paved over, a survey for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests.
The RHS is launching the its ‘Greening Grey Britain’ report at the Chelsea Flower Show today as it calls for a reversal of the alarming trend.
Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said studies showed there was a need to increase green in towns and cities by 10% to help combat predicted temperature rises with climate change.
She said: "The evidence in this report suggests we need to increase this target to deal with the 15% loss of greenery in front gardens.
"We need to urgently increase plants in urban environments, and better understand how to select and use ornamental plants, not reduce them, as this report indicates we're doing. Whatever the pressures to pave, there is always room for plants."
The RHS study claims the percentage of front gardens that are entirely paved, concreted or gravelled over triple in a decade from 8% in 2005 to 24% this year.
The research also found that an increasing number of gardens are completely devoid of plants, with more than a quarter (28%) of the people quizzed saying there was no greenery in their front gardens - up from 8% in 2005.
The RHS believes reversing the trend is vital for the nation's health, for wildlife, to help reduce pollution and heat waves and protect the UK's homes from flooding.
Comments
"The research also found that an increasing number of gardens are completely devoid of plants, with more than a quarter (28%) of the people quizzed saying there was no greenery in their front gardens - up from 8% in 2005."
What would you suggest gardeners do to encourage clients to grow more plants in their front gardens?