A substantial backyard has long been considered an iconic feature of the Australian suburb. Nevertheless, since the mid 1990s, substantial backyards have largely disappeared from new suburban houses in Australia. The loss of the backyard has serious ecological implications, notably for biodiversity, microclimate and drainage, a trend rendered permanent by the changes to the housing stock. It appears to be the physical expression of the way that Australian lifestyles are changing for the worse, in particular longer working hours. This in turn raises issues about health and wellbeing, especially for children. Read an article in The Age about backyard design trends.