Mind the plants, kids

Children are being kept out of gardens as increasing numbers of Britons want them to be admired.

A new study has revealed the differences of todays gardens to their older counterparts and found that only 11 per cent of families use their garden to play with children.

This is in contrast to the gardens of 30 years ago where a quarter of families played cricket, croquet or football on their prize lawns.

Research from Cuprinol also revealed that 20 per cent of Britons now have a water feature in their garden, compared to the one per cent 75 years ago.

"Brits are more likely to use the garden as an extension of the home and feel the need to keep it clean and tidy rather than cluttered up with kids toys," said Maren Dumbuya, Cuprinol brand manager.

This change in attitudes could be down to the 21st century values of more money, less time, according to Anne Jennings, head of horticulture at the Museum of Garden History.

"These days, time-poor parents and grandparents undoubtedly have fewer opportunities to potter in the garden with children to show them the wonders of the vegetable patch," she told the Daily Mail.