Hi again, thank you for responses. I had a look at the links and it looks like I have a lot of soft rush and couch grass. But neither of them describe these shoots - hope the photos are big enough to see what these are. I have tons of them in my small lawn.
Great, I'll mow the lawn when I get home this evening Thank you very much for your help Dove (and Laura) By for now until I have other problems/questions...!
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Hi again, thank you for responses. I had a look at the links and it looks like I have a lot of soft rush and couch grass. But neither of them describe these shoots - hope the photos are big enough to see what these are. I have tons of them in my small lawn.
Think that's a rye grass producing flower heads - it just needs regular mowing - no need to panic
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Great, I'll mow the lawn when I get home this evening
Thank you very much for your help Dove (and Laura) 
By for now until I have other problems/questions...!