Book excerpt: Turf and amenity grasslands in their multifarious form, including sport pitches, playing fields, golf courses, lawns, motorway embankments, roadside verges, urban parks, and open spaces, have a significant impact on our everyday lives. Each year central government, local authorities, sports clubs, and other organizations spend large sums of money establishing, maintaining, and managing such grasslands. It is essential that all these bodies meet proper standards of provision and manage their grassland efficiently and in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way. This book will help them to achieve these objectives.