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Young gardeners 'giving gnomes a home'
02/09/10
Edited by Tom Bardsley.Cast out by the Chelsea Flower Show and mocked as outdated and tacky, things have not been looking too good for gnomes recently - but a new study has found the ornaments are making a comeback among Britain's young gardeners.
According to the survey by insurer More Than, 16 to 24-year-olds are now second only to the over-55s in terms of gnome ownership.
However, this resurgence in popularity has been mirrored by an increase in thefts - known as "gnoming" - with over a quarter (27 per cent) of owners saying they have had at least one of the little guys stolen.
More Than's Peter Markey said gnomes are a "British institution" and there are a number of steps gardeners can take to protect them - and the rest of their outdoor space - from light-fingered visitors.
Hiring an electrician to install external lights can be a good deterrent to thieves, as can adding a noisy gravel driveway.
Residential property owners should always lock sheds, while planting thorny bushes near fences will create an additional obstacle for unwanted visitors.
According to a recent survey by Gocompare.com, Britons are expected to spend £6.8 billion on sprucing up their gardens this year.
