We are often criticised by the Environment Agency and other ecologically concerned organisations that there is far too much concrete and asphalt covering our gardens and driveways. This all prevents water from soaking through soil to provide natural drainage and can encourage flooding!
An alternative is artificial grass, which, in domestic situations, allows water to permeate and doesn’t need cutting! It will, of course, need replacing as time goes by.
Several newly created artificial grass products highlight how a particular man-made synthetic turf is helping to care for the environment.
A significant part of its development by, who claim to be the UK’s only artificial grass manufacturer, has been listening to customer feedback.
All new grasses are made from recycled fibres.
They are all environmentally friendly.
One features a layer of grass made from recycled plastic bottles – only 15 bottles per sq m? There are three different shades of green with a light brown layer at the roots
Another offers environmental improvers a lighter coloured option that also features a similarly made layer of grass using just 15 recycled plastic bottles. Light green yarns and a light brown thatch layer combine to create a ‘vibrant, healthy’ product that appears every bit like the real thing.
Another one stands at 24mm high, giving it that freshly mowed look. It’s most suited, say the makers, to medium trafficked areas. It’s great to relax on, friendly to pets and a suitable choice for front garden areas.
Then there is a hardwearing, hassle free, multi-use turf using olive green and also beige yarns. According to the makers it’s ‘great for families who like to be outside as often as the weather allows.’
All of these artificial grasses cost around £23 – £25 per sq m. So it’s not a vast amount of money to give your garden that ‘evergreen’ touch, help the water drainage and, probably most important of all, totally eliminate mowing!
More information: andrew@nhic.org.uk