Wet weather stops play in British gardens

With Britain’s summer rained off and recent reports stating that retailers are witnessing a 44% decline in the sale of BBQs, recent research from Legal & General reveals that 67% of Brits are not considering buying anything for the garden this summer.

Usually the garden is a focal point for household spending in the summer months, but after a month of solid rain and flooding just one in ten (10%) are thinking of buying garden furniture and only 11% of purchasing a BBQ in the next three months.

Other summer garden wash-outs:

Summer houses are out of fashion, just 1% intending to purchase one this summer

Gas heaters (2%), chimenea (3%) and fire pits (2%) are also low on the list

Children’s toys are just slightly higher up the list, with people considering buying paddling pools, 5% and trampoline’s 4%.

Only 1% are considering buying a swimming pool

Just 2% are considering buying a hot tub in the next 3 months

The research was conducted by YouGov in July 2007 on behalf of Legal & General amongst a GB representative sample of over 2000 people.

Ruth Wilkins, Head of Communications for Legal & General's general insurance business, said: “Although the bad weather means we currently don’t have the opportunity to enjoy our gardens, the value of the items stored in the garden shed ready for when the weather improves can soon add up to more than people often appreciate. It is worth checking just how much all your garden items are worth, even if you’ve not bought anything new so far this year just to ensure your insurance cover is adequate. Checking you’re not underinsured could mean you don’t then suffer a financial loss in the event of a theft from your garden and it is only the rain that stops play.”