We have grass. Why? Because what English garden would be complete without a lawn....
When we lived in continental Europe, landlords welcomed us as the English have a reputation for creating and maintaining beautiful lawns in their gardens. We always left our gardens looking much better than when we moved in!
I think it's very sad when grass is removed from a garden, not just for the aesthetic but also because it aids water absorption in the city. Flood risk is greatly increased by taking up lawn and putting down paving. It also raises the temperature in cities and there are serious concerns now about this causing severe problems. Architects are trying to design buildings with green roofs and plants growing out of the walls, so having some grass in the garden seems an easy way to help as well!