As the popularity of fake grass has escalated in recent years, some high profile tourist attractions have followed suit and chosen synthetic grass suppliers to transform their gardens in the South East. One of the biggest tourist draws that has jumped on board the artificial bandwagon was the remarkable Clivedon National Trust Estate, Buckinghamshire, which overlooks the Thames. Artificial turf was used for some of the walkways and visitors were pleasantly surprised to discover the origins of this small section of the estate. This article looks at the use of synthetic grass at Clivedon and the benefits of using fake turf for other UK tourist spots.
Imitation Grass at Clivedon
Clivedon has made its mark throughout history including famously being linked to the Profumo scandal which began in the swimming pool of the house. As well as being a tourist attraction, the imposing country home, now a luxury hotel, also presents the ideal setting for weddings and period dramas. As a result, this estate plays host to many thousands of visitors throughout the year, many of whom enjoy pacing the impressive formal gardens and extensive grounds, which include tree lined avenues and woodland walks.
However, the popularity of the attraction led to one main problem: over time the previously pristine grass walkways through the walled Italian garden were becoming worn down by footfall, and in the wetter months were muddy and waterlogged. So, the solution was to swap the grass walkways with fake turf, resulting in pathways designed to keep their vibrant green colour and merge well with their surroundings.
Clivedon is not the only tourist destination that has changed its grass to the artificial variety either. In 2012, the parish council of the picturesque village Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds voted to replace some of its green with artificial grass. Here we look at the pros of faking it.
Will Your Tourist Site Benefit?
Certainly fake grass at Clivedon plunged the use of this product for tourist destinations into the spotlight. Whether or not your organisation will benefit depends on a number of factors, including personal taste; but here is just a brief glimpse at the many pluses of fake lawns:
It saves costs – Real grass requires mowing, weeding, watering and edge trimming, the cost of which can really add up over the years and eat into the profits of a tourist attraction. In contrast, fake grass requires very little maintenance which is one of the biggest draws for switching to this type of product.
It saves water – Hosepipe bans, and scorching hot weather has a detrimental effect on grassed areas. As a result, turf can quickly lose its lush green colour. Alternatively, by choosing professionals to do your installation, such as synthetic grass suppliers Dayco, your South East gardens will keep their vibrancy all year round and your visitors will hardly know the difference.
It keeps its condition – Grass on well trodden walkway areas can wear down over time, but high quality fake turf is extremely hardy, which is why it can be installed in a wide range of places from football grounds, to swimming pool areas, and shopping centres. It means that your outdoor spaces will stay aesthetically pleasing and won’t become an eyesore.
It’s cleaner – During heavy rainfall, grass can get muddy and waterlogged, so at certain times of the year your visitors are well advised to bring their walking shoes or wellie boots to prevent footwear getting spoiled. Fake grass however, is self draining, so this is never an issue – and it means visitors won’t trail mud into their cars or into the indoor areas of your attraction.
It’s perfect for shaded areas – Grass struggles to grow in some areas, so imitation lawns offer a fantastic alternative; the right choice of turf looks neatly manicured and will blend effortlessly into its surroundings.
It’s ideal for children’s play areas – If you have a family-friendly site and pristine gardens are a main attraction, you might be reluctant to install a tarmaced children’s play area. Fake lawns provide a soft surface for the youngest family members to play on and is therefore an attractive choice for family-friendly tourist destinations.
Dayco Artificial Grass – Click here to see the quality of our products.