By Charlotte Mclaughlin For Mailonline

Published: 13:45 EDT, 29 April 2022 | Updated: 17:35 EDT, 29 April 2022

The Eden Project whose mission is to build a relationship between people and the natural world has installed plastic grass in a play area to stop children getting muddy. 

The eco visitor attraction in Cornwall has defended the move saying that grass is 'not sustainable' in a children's play area as it would become muddy in the space of a few hours. 

But scientific research is claimed to show that artificial turf can be harmful to both the environment and people when its exposed to intense heat. 

Social media users have reacted angrily to the move by the Eden Project saying using fake grass is more sustainable to the Guardian as 'appalling' 'shocking' and 'pathetic'. 

The Eden Project whose mission is to build a relationship between people and the natural world has installed plastic grass in a play area (see tweet above) to stop children getting muddy

The Eco visitor attraction in Cornwall (Eden Project pictured) has defended the move saying that grass is 'not sustainable' in a children's play area as it would become muddy in the space of a few hours

Reacting to the news that the Eden Project has put in plastic grass, Pam Shephard said: '[I am] shocked and dismayed to hear this. [The] Eden Project installs plastic grass to stop children getting muddy.'

Another questioned whether 'a bit of mud' really has an affect on kids playing. 

They said: 'What hope is there for biodiversity if even the Eden Project are lowering themselves to installing plastic grass?

'Quite frankly, I'm appalled. "Oh won't somebody think of the children!" A bit of mud never harmed anybody; pathetic.'

While Steve Waldron seemed extremely surprised, he said: 'What??? A ridiculous decision! Eden Project installs plastic grass to stop children getting muddy.' 

The Eden Project Mediterranean biome a popular visitor attraction built in a former quarry with tropical gardens in giant domes

The Eden Project states in its mission: 'We are an educational charity and social enterprise. 

'Our global mission is to create a movement that builds relationships between people and the natural world to demonstrate the power of working together for the benefit of all living things.'

A spokesperson for the Eden Project said: 'To ensure the safety of the children enjoying this temporary play area, we took the decision to use durable and soft artificial grass that will be reused many times over. 

'Real grass, in this context, would become mud within a few hours and therefore would not have been sustainable.' 

Some scientific research points to intense summer heat on artificial turf harming people and environment in a 2016 study and other concerns about loss of wildlife habitat, contaminated runoff and migration of synthetic materials. 

Paul Hetherington, director at Buglife, the insect charity, told the Daily Mail. ‘Artificial grass is bad for nature, it’s bad for wildlife. 

'A lawn supports so many creatures. This plastic alternative supports no life forms whatsoever.’

While Mel Wright, director at Wonderlawn, based in Newcastle, argues: ‘Natural grass does not look after itself. You have to use electricity or petrol to power your lawnmower, there’s the plastic in the lawn mower, trips back and forth to B&Q to buy weedkillers, you have to water it, weed it, to keep it in good condition.’ 

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