ADVANCED TURF SUPPORTS NATIONAL TRUST VISITORS

Such is the popularity of a new National Trust attraction that provision has been made to handle overspill car parking – and Netlon’s Advanced Turf system has provided the solution.

The Workhouse at Southwell in Nottinghamshire is one of the National Trust’s newest attractions, and is the best preserved remaining example of the hundreds of workhouses built across the country in the early 19th century.

Built in 1824, the Southwell property housed the local poor, homeless and elderly for over 150 years, and has remained almost unchanged since the 19th century. It was opened to the public a year ago and is proving a popular attraction, with consistently high visitor numbers.

Since the National Trust took over the property, extensive renovation work has been carried out on both the buildings and the grounds. The buildings now accurately reflect how the poor would have found them in the 1800s.

As part of the refurbishment of the grounds, a 1,200m2 overflow parking area has been created using the Advanced Turf System from Netlon. The area is also suitable for picnics and recreational use at quieter times.

Part of a sweeping grassed area leading up to the house was earmarked for use as the overspill car park for busy periods, but planning, environmental and aesthetic issues required that natural grass should be retained. Netlon’s Advanced Turf System was chosen as the appropriate solution, combining the strength and durability needed for parking with the aesthetic appeal of natural grass.

Netlon’s Advanced Turf System consists of a specially prepared rootzone incorporating thousands of small interlocking mesh elements. Washed turf or seed is used to establish grass cover, and as the roots develop they penetrate through the mesh to form a very stable rootzone and a deep anchored root system. The result is a free draining natural grass surface with no visible structures but with high load bearing capabilities.

Nikki Williams, Property Manager at the Workhouse. “We chose to use Netlon’s Advanced Turf System for our overflow car park and for a multi use recreational area. The reinforced turf has been used alongside the existing grassed area.”

Advanced Turf installations are designed to provide a range of benefits. The system resists rutting and provides rapid surface drainage. It is suitable for use in a variety of applications including events areas, emergency vehicle access roads, overspill car parks, sports surfaces and amenity areas.

Netlon offers the UK’s most comprehensive range of turf protection solutions. The company’s products also include Turfguard – a lightweight protective mesh capable of coping with light traffic – and Netpave 25 and Netpave 50, both of which consist of plastic paver units that simply clip together to provide protection against traffic up to and including heavy goods vehicles. Once installed, the grass grows through the pavers and they virtually disappear. The inherent flexibility of the Netpave design means that the system can be used on sloping surfaces and undulating ground.

Netlon’s experience covers a wide range of applications including access routes, car parks, sports fields, events and amenity areas, helicopter landing pads, aircraft taxiways, and even land sculptures.

For more information or literature about Netlon’s turf protection solutions contact Janet Gudgeon on 01254 266833 or email turf.systems@conwedplastics.com .

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