The Growing Importance Of Permeable Surfacing

New government legislation recently came into force in an attempt to combat the risk of flooding which has hit many areas of Britain so hard in recent years. Homeowners are now required to seek planning permission if they want to pave over more than 5m2 of their front garden using impermeable materials such as tarmac or concrete. The reason? These materials prevent rainwater soaking into the ground and so can add to the risk of flooding.

Apparently, the number of people who have paved over their gardens in recent years in the London area alone has led to the loss of green space equal in size to no less than 22 times the size of Hyde Park!

People naturally want to improve their quality of life at home so it’s very common for a family to think of paving over their front garden to accommodate an extra car. Many homeowners also opt for a concrete patio as well so they can avoid having to set their table and chairs onto muddy grass after heavy rainfall. This is where artificial grass is a great solution. It not only gives you a mud-free area that is far more pleasant under foot and visually than a concrete patio, but it is permeable so rain can soak through into the ground.

It’s not surprising therefore that more paving and driveway specialists are coming to Artificial Grass Ltd to supplement their range of paving products. Read how one paving specialist has even set up his own artificial grass store front to help get the message across to the public.

More details on the legislation affecting driveway paving can be found on the government’s Business Link website.

Nativity Grass

Regular readers of our blog will already know about our white artificial grass which is popular for Santa’s Grottos – see our special feature this time last year.

White artificial grass has a wide range of applications, especially at Christmas – from shop window dressing to theatrical and stage use as well as in schools and nurseries. Using some of our snow grass at home in your conservatory is another option; a great way to enhance a display of Christmas cards or perhaps things your children have made specially for Christmas.

This photo was taken last week in the pedestrian area of Carlisle city centre where thousands of shoppers will pass through over the coming weeks on their way to do their Christmas shopping. Amongst the tall, green Christmas trees and array of coloured lighting, one thing stands out as special – a Christmas nativity scene which dazzles with white lights, all standing on a base covered with artificial grass.

However, it is not white artificial grass but green. Why? Well, we’re not entirely sure but it could be one of two things …

the builders did not know at the time that white artificial grass is even available

because a display of white figures with white lighting on white grass would not offer sufficient contrast, hence green artificial grass offered the perfect compliment.

Either way, it’s another endorsement of how artificial grass has a myriad of uses in situations where natural grass just would not work.