VISITORS to the picturesque Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds will have noticed areas of lawn have been replaced.

Gardeners across the region have been trying to tackle chafer grubs - the larvae of the chafer beetle - which have been leaving lawns in a less than pristine state.

While some of the damage is caused by the grubs chewing at the roots of the grass, much is caused by birds and animals scratching away at the soil searching for the juicy snack.

Damien Parker, parks manager for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “We have been resurfacing areas and putting up signage to try and encourage people not to feed the birds or squirrels in the central area just because the wildlife is as much to blame for the damage [as the grubs].”

He said a biological organic control called nematodes, which was applied towards the end of last summer, did not appear to have made a great deal of impact, but that was probably due to it being applied late in the season. He said more was due to be applied in coming weeks.

“We are hopefully headed in the right direction and it will be resolved shortly.” Mr Parker said the work to the lawns had probably cost several hundred pounds, adding it was from an existing budget.

At Ickworth House, the croquet lawn at the West Wing has been returfed, at a cost of about £3,000, as it was also affected by the grubs.