Keep green spaces secure, gardeners urged

16:59 29th May 2008

Horticultural enthusiasts should ensure that they keep their gardens as secure as possible, according to financial services provider Halifax.

A study by the firm suggests that 22 per cent of parents with children under the age of five have had equipment and toys taken from their green spaces during the last 12 months.

Such items include garden swings, slides and paddling pools.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, states that a comprehensive insurance policy can help with the financial impact that a theft can have.

"These policies can even cover the cost of replacing items taken from their garden," he adds.

In related news, the Guardian reported earlier this month that as a nation, Britain spends a total of £4 billion every year on gardening accessories, plants, tools and flowers, adding that retailers do not believe this area of spending will decline, despite the effects of the credit crunch.