How have UK garden spaces changed?

Over the years, UK garden spaces have shrunk. If you compare today’s homes to those from 1920, for example, then they have halved in size. Additionally, looking at garden sizes, the average size of a UK garden has gone from 168 metres squared to 163.2 meters squared, in the period between 1983 and 2013.

Plus, according to 2010 figures, more than two million homes in the UK don’t have a garden at all. The same data forecast that 10.5% of homes would be without a garden by 2020. The impact of this could be problematic, as research suggests children without access to a garden are 38% more likely to become obese.

The change to UK gardens extends beyond just the size and access to them. The approach to gardening and landscaping in the UK has had to change to adapt to the smaller space available – with smaller gardens, for example, landscapers are finding they need to create the illusion of space. Making use of vertical rather than horizontal space for example or designing gardens without any lawn at all and focusing on plastic decking and timber decking or stonework. The tools and materials available has also changed to adapt:

Lawn mowers: Grass cutting was, in the past, a manual process. Early machinery was developed in the 1900s which saw early versions of cylinder mowers powered by pushing. Now, electric-powered motors mean gardens are far easier to maintain.
Materials: Gardening still makes use of much the same materials as it always did: stone, clay, timber and soil. Now, however, we use plastic, concrete and stainless steel – which was invented in 1913.
Plant pots: We’ve moved from clay to plastics and biodegradable material.
Fertiliser: Fertiliser used to be wholly organic. However, chemicals have now been developed to serve as fertiliser – although many gardeners prefer organics.

The purpose of gardens and gardening has changed a lot. During WW2, gardens became areas for growing food to supplement rationing, but also an area of refuge for those who’d build their own bomb shelters. In the 1950s, gardeners shrugged this sensibility off and focus shifted towards ornamentation and decoration, placing more attention on manicured lawns and neatly trimmed shrubs.

The first garden centre set up in the UK in 1955, in Ferndown, Dorset. This widespread availability of plants meant heathers, conifers and bedding plants became popular.

We went back to the idea of growing our own with our gardens in the 70s. Colour TV’s invention also saw the widespread airing of gardening programmes.

Recreation in the garden was the focus point of the 80s, much like current trends. BBQs and conservatories grew in popularity. By the 90s, this movement became more about the ‘makeover’ – with many people installing decking as a fast, affordable way to create a living space in their gardens.

With the rise of internet usage, the world of gardening has changed yet again. Now, information about growing and cultivating your own plants is everywhere, accessible through mobiles, desktops and tablets. A renewed focus on climate change and healthy eating has also meant more people are aiming to create sustainable gardens with minimal harm to the environment, using recycled materials in everything from plant pots to fencing.

But with garden spaces getting ever-smaller, what do we do with this new information and new materials available to us? For some, this means studying guides online and creating their own DIY fruit and vegetable gardens. For others, it means creating as much living space as they can in their shrinking gardens.

ByDave Stopher

Sources

By Dave Stopher

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