Green fingered Britons ‘spend £7.7bn’ on their gardens
UK consumers spend £7.7 billion each year maintaining and furnishing their gardens, according to figures from HSBC.
The bank’s study found that the most expensive item in the British garden is a shed, present in more 53 per cent of gardens and costing an average £1,340.
This is followed by a greenhouse, owned by 13 per cent of gardeners and worth an average £1,310 while a barbecue features in 40 per cent of gardens and typically costs £512, the research indicates.
The popularity of garden events like this week’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show further highlights Britons’ love for all things green.
Two-thirds of consumers, inspired by TV gardeners like Alan Titchmarsh and Diamuid Gavin, like to get their hands dirty and design and maintain their gardens themselves.
In comparison just three per cent have a regular gardener, while six per cent have used a landscape designer, paying an average £3,904 for their services, HSBC’s poll of 2.000 people found.
Despite the investment made in their gardens, the British use their outside space for less than a third of the year, or 120 days on average.
Stuart Beattie, head of secured lending at HSBC, said: “The UK's unpredictable weather means homeowners do not necessarily spend as much time as they would like in their garden.”
