Could these people not get themselves to the seaside?!

Very interested in the astro turf! Our new back garden had an elegant shingle arrangement about which I'm not too sure, because of the GC and their dogs too - I understand it can hurt their paws?

Theseus is determined not to have grass (there is a lawn at the front and he thinks that's enough. So......thank you!

Thank you Harrigran I'll pass that on. Now she justs needs to save up for some!

Glad to read your positive comments Harri as we are waiting to have our awful patch of lumpy, stony, clay-soil patch of weeds (described as a lawn by the estate agents) covered with astroturf. We went to see examples of it laid at a garden centre and also at a private house and were very impressed. The homeowner who let us view it stressed how easy it is to look after and that, together with how good it looks helped us to make the decision.

We did have a well-known lawn maintenance company come to analyse the "lawn" and he said it could be made to look a bit better with a lot of attention but would never be very good given its orientation and the state of the soil. There are borders around it which seem to be well stocked with lavender and roses and various shrubs and we shall keep those in situ.

DGS aged 7 is very thrilled as he tells us that it is good for playing football on! I gently advised him that he would not be demonstrating!

NfkDumpling I have astro turf in my rear garden for the GC to play on, it is amazingly realistic. I have a brush with very long bristles to sweep off the leaves etc. it can then be hosed down. We have had some torrential rain this year and the water has never pooled on the lawn.I have planted lavendar in pots to keep the bees happy
I have kept traditional lawns at the front of my house.

My DD is thinking of astro turf for her little back garden as the bald patches left by the dog are joining up. Would it practical with doggy doos? Can it be hosed down?

I agree. There will be plenty of other places in the village for bees and grasshoppers to flourish!

I have a hillside garden which is hard work to mow (see my profile). I have always said that when I can no longer cope, I shall have artificial turf. A front garden in my village has been done, and the only give-away is that there is a seam which shows and of course it is always short, but it is very realistic. If it gives the desired effect why not?

Harri do you think they meant '30 square metres' or '30 metres square'? Bourton is a real tourist trap anyway, the artificial grass will just be the last straw!

Sorry.

Oh yes I do. All those feet trampling ones lawns

You don't?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry!

30 square metres, hardly paving over the whole town. What is wrong with astro-turf ? I have it in my garden and it stops visitors wearing it down to the soil.

I have a distant cousin who lives there in a pretty little cottage down one of the back roads. She puts tables and chairs out in her garden for afternoon tea and makes a very nice living during the summer. She like chatting to tourists from all over the world, but says she does have some very snooty neighbours (one insists on being called 'brigadier' despite being in his 80s) who bark at anyone they don't recognise. The sensible villagers keep way from the centre of the village in summer and have a perfectly good social life away from the touristy bit.

Actually, I gather it was the town's council that made the decision about the astro turf (you know, elected representatives) so it may not be the townsfolk who are moaning. Phew.

The wee town of Bourton-on-the-Water depends on these very same tourists for its continued rich and comfortable existence. They can stop moaning about astro turf!

Went once, years ago, and although it was so pretty, the amount of people there (as in the photo) was overwhelming! We didn't stay very long - especially when a really rowdy game of football started, and lager cans were being thrown about. As when remarked, it would be better if fewer people wanted to go there!

There's something rather special about an innocent paddle in the water there. I love Bourton-on-the-Water and wish fewer people wanted to go there, but the reality is it will always be swamped with tourists on sunny days. I don't blame the council for trying to keep it looking neat and tidy against the odds.

Perhaps a better idea would be for the council to provide a nice paddling pool in the park.