Britons who keep gardens green should get council tax cut, study suggests

Sterile gardens are damaging for local environments and not helpful in the climate crisis, experts say. Photograph: John Keeble/Getty Images

Eco-friendly gardeners should be given a cut in their council tax, scientists have recommended, as research shows cities may have lost as much as 50% of their green garden space over the past two decades.

Paving over gardens and using plastic grass has become a trend in recent years, which contributes to rising urban temperatures and biodiversity decline.