Debate: Is artificial grass ever acceptable? Tim Richardson Artificial grass, or even artificial flowers and other plant life, is fine in the right setting, usually a modern urban or "conceptual" garden space that is making a positive virtue out of the artificiality. But in a setting such as a rural village, I can't help thinking that artificial turf will spoil the ambience, rather. There are some tough grass mixes out there now - couldn't they use one of those? If that fails, what about Cotswold stone? That would be the correct vernacular solution if they are truly desperate. At least plants can grow in the cracks between the pavers. Anne Wareham It is very entertaining, since some environmental people (television presenter Carol Klein, for one) say that lawns, which is how most village greens are kept, are not environmentally friendly. In those terms, what's to lose - and are they right? Mowing is presumably also not environmentally friendly, given that most models burn petrol. I can't imagine that a space that size will make much difference to anything, but it's a wonderful debate. Will the village green now need vacuuming? Val Bourne In certain cases it can be fine, yes. At the National Trust's Cliveden estate overlooking the Thames near Marlow, they have used it in a formal part of the garden, where the number of visitors was continually wearing down the lawn. It makes sense: visually the lawn should be a rich green, but originally the garden would have had far fewer visitors. You can tell the difference from far away, but you wouldn't know as you walk over it. When I took a photograph, however, the artificial stuff stood out like a sore thumb against the real thing. The camera, it seems, doesn't lie... Helen Yemm Artificial grass is never acceptable. But at a pinch it could work as a visual joke. It might make people smile, for example, on the "floor" of the balcony of my son's third-floor flat in East London. Mary Keen Fake grass is brilliant now. We use it for tennis courts, and I would use it in London where small patches of grass are impossible to keep looking fresh. Especially in shade. But I tried it on a Notting Hill client recently who said it was horrible to walk on in bare feet, so now she has a scuffed and balding lawn instead. Stephen Lacey My sister has a fake lawn. It's very embarrassing. For me, artificial grass belongs with plastic flowers and chocolate fountains. Fine for a party venue on a city roof. but anywhere else you want to engage with nature. Mowing, inhaling the sweet smell of grass and agonising over the state of the lawn are all part of being British.