Cumberland Grass, Wimbledon & Shrimps

If you're a Wimbledon fan, we have a piece of fascinating local history to share with you. Our artificial grass factory is in Maryport, Cumbria and just up the road is the seaside town of Silloth, which faces Scotland across the Solway Firth.

Back in the 1920's it was Silloth that the Wimbledon groundsmen would call upon to supply new turf for the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championship. The grass was extra fine with a quality second to none, hence Cumberland (as it was then) acquired a first-class reputation for sports turf. What's more, the Silloth grass was in fact sea washed turf it and it's been said that when Wimbledon's new grass was delivered it often came with live shrimps embedded in it!

Today this area of Cumbria no longer supplies the hallowed Wimbledon turf but we feel we're playing our part in taking the tradition of providing quality grass for sports to a new level. Artificial grass is used for many sports including tennis and the grass produced in our factory is shipped out to many sporting facilities such as tennis clubs, soccer stadiums, five-a-side centres and schools throughout the UK and Europe.

Read more about our factory in Cumbria.
Watch the video of how we manufacture artificial grass.

Will We Have to Mow The Lawn All Year Round?

According to latest reports, scientists are now arguing the possibility that many of us in the UK will soon have to mow the lawn all year round.

The National Environment Research Council has said that, as a result of mild winters in the last 5 years, around 35% of homeowners in the UK are now mowing their lawns in winter.

To put this in context, 20 years ago grass would only grow during winter in milder areas of the UK such as the Scilly Isles.

When the temperature is above 5 degrees Celsius grass will grow and this January (2007) was the second mildest on record with temperatures reaching 5.9 degrees Celsius. Out came the mowers!

If the thought of keeping the lawn mower going continually over 12 months doesn't appeal to you then it's time to consider installing artificial grass and start enjoying the extra time you will save.

(This article is based on data reported by WHICH magazine)