In the quest for the perfect lawn, homeowners across the country are taking a shortcut — and it is the environment that is paying the price.

About eight million square metres of plastic grass is sold each year but opposition has now spread to the highest gardening circles.

The Chelsea Flower Show has banned fake grass from this year’s event, declaring it to be not part of its ethos.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which runs the annual show in west London, says it has introduced the ban because of the damage plastic grass does to the environment and biodiversity.

Ed Horne, of the RHS, said: “We launched our sustainability strategy last year and fake grass is just not in line with our ethos and

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