Posted on November 26, 2016 October 26, 2021

Namgrass wins at the Golden Bridge Awards

On Thursday 25^th November, the Namgrass team from Belgium and the UK travelled to the Belgian Embassy in London for the 20th annual Golden Bridge Trade & Export Awards.

They are one of Europe’s most prestigious awards which recognises the trade and export success of UK companies doing business in Belgium, and Belgian & Luxembourg companies doing business in the UK.

Earlier this year Namgrass Directors Stefaan Rossel and Robert Redcliffe were invited to present to a judging panel which included the Ambassador of Belgium and the Economic & Commercial Counsellor for Brussels to name but a few!

Namgrass team photo as Winners at awards ceremony

Namgrass were awarded with the title of Best Newcomer in the UK by Ben De Smit, Economic and Commercial Counsellor for Flanders and it was our Directors who impressed the jury with their entrepreneurial spirit; creating a niche market which was deemed too small for the big players and turning it into a profitable and sizeable market with great potential.

Providing high-quality artificial grass solutions for companies and individuals, Namgrass works with local partners to meet the demand across the UK, touting commercial work for a number of leading UK businesses.

Chamber of Commerce

British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium President Thomas Spiller said: “The Golden Bridge Trade & Export Awards continue to highlight the strength and importance of the Benelux and UK markets as a whole, and this year’s winners help to emphasise that point. These bilateral awards allow businesses to celebrate their commitment to maintaining a strong UK-European relationship and that we, as chambers of commerce, will continue to facilitate a platform for these UK-Belgium & Luxembourg ties to develop.”

It is such an honour to win such an award and we want to thank all of our partners and customers for all your continued support and it is so great to be part of an award-winning team and brand!

Namgrass team photo as Winners of the Golden Bridge Awards

Posted on September 23, 2016 December 7, 2021

From pro-golfer to pro-installer

From Pro-Golfer to Pro-Installer

For those on the outside looking at the prospect of being a professional golfer, it seems like living a dream. The truth is that it’s a very tough world and with the exception of a few individuals it can be a very competitive and difficult way to make a living. When David from Henry Thomas Garden Design decided to leave the world of professional golf, it’s fair to say his future was looking a little uncertain. After years of dedication to the game, he loved the big question was what to do next?

David looked at the trends in the market and knew that his love of landscaping and being outdoors, combined with the growth of interest in artificial grass meant there was a clear opportunity to step into the world of artificial grass and become an installer. “I looked at lots of different grasses and nothing really grabbed me but when I met you guys at FutureScape your professionalism as a team and the quality of the products themselves meant my decision was made for me. I went straight to the bank and borrowed the money I needed to get started and the rest has come from there.”

Namgrass approved installer David Walker

“I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the team at Namgrass. When I left the world of professional golf with nothing but £50 in my pocket I really didn’t know what I was going to do. After meeting with Shane and Morgan I had the confidence to go and get a bank loan and build my business to the success it is today. It’s been hard but having the support of Namgrass behind me all the way really has made all the difference. I’m so pleased I decided to work with you and the team.” David Walker, Henry Thomas Garden Design.

I love the Namgrass products, the quality is unmatched and all my clients love them too. This has given me the confidence to build my business, safe in the knowledge that I’m offering the best value and service to my customers and that I have the full support of the team at Namgrass behind me, it’s a true partnership.”

At Namgrass our install partners are second to none and go through a tried and tested procedure to earn the title of a Namgrass Approved Installer. If you would like to hear more about our National installer network why not give our team a call or find your nearest Namgrass Approved Installer now.

close up of golf hole with artificial grass laid

Posted on August 26, 2016 October 26, 2021

How to Keep Your Artificial Grass Looking Newer for Longer

How to Keep Your Artificial Grass Looking Newer for Longer

Artificial grass is probably one of the best investments you could make to your home. Gone are the weekends spent trying to tame your lawn, or telling your children (or dogs) to wipe their muddy shoes (or paws) from the garden. Instead, you will have extra precious time to spend on what you love to do and you’ll have the added benefit of having more space in your garden or garage – you won’t need to store a lawnmower anymore! With this in mind, you want your grass to look as perfectly manicured as it was when you first had it installed, and we have a few tips to make your grass last longer.

1. Protect heavy traffic areas

Think of your artificial grass as outdoor carpet. And just like the carpet in your home, your artificial lawn will have heavy traffic areas. The impact of heavy traffic can quickly cause the fibres of your grass to sit in different directions, which makes it look flatter than the rest of your lawn. So just as with natural grass, we recommend we recommend having a paving slab or two to step onto right under the stepping point from your home or any other heavy traffic areas.

2. Rotate heavy equipment

If you have a lovely set of garden furniture, planters or even some goal posts resting on your lawn it may be time to consider a layout shift. Just like natural turf, the fibres of artificial lawn will sit flatter due to being in more use and under more impact. Fear not! A good brushing with a stiff yard brush will help to stimulate the grass pile, resulting in a fresher looking lawn. Changing the layout of your lawn will also result in even wear, keeping it in better condition for longer.

3. Consider placements of decorative pieces

More often than not, once you have artificial grass laid, you tend to want to ‘finish’ the garden using additional plants and decorative pieces. What you need to consider is whether there are any mirrors, shiny features or any glass adjacent to the area you are installing – even a garden shed window.

It is quite common to have these in a garden, but the placement of the grass and the shiny objects are an important consideration. If they are in full sun for the majority of the day, the sun’s rays can be reflected and magnified onto the grass causing it to burn. Therefore, the layout is really key in ensuring that doesn’t happen.

4. Keep it Clean

After a while, common debris such as soil and twigs can find their way onto your lawn. Although these things will not directly affect your lawn, this matter does encourage the growth of weeds – the dreaded plant life for all lawns, both artificial and natural! Give your lawn some TLC from time-to-time with a good brushing, using a stiff brush or plastic rake. Alternatively, turn your neighbours’ heads by giving your lawn a vacuum – after all it is your outdoor carpet!

5. Artificial Grass and Pets

Artificial lawn is a great option for pet-owners. While our furry friend’s business can leave natural lawn discoloured, creating an overall patchy effect, this does not happen to artificial grass. However, it is still a good idea to apply an artificial grass cleaner, this will not only freshen up the appearance of your lawn it will also reduce the build up of odours.

By taking these steps on board you’re sure to have a luscious lawn for years to come!

Products

Posted on August 9, 2016 October 26, 2021

Keeping the Kids Entertained this Summer

Keeping the Kids Entertained this Summer

Keeping the kids entertained can be difficult at the best of times, especially during the summer break. Are you struggling with inspiration and wanting to make the most of your garden this summer? We have some fun ideas that will get the whole family involved and in the garden!

The Classics

Games played and passed on from one generation to the next. These games are timeless.

1. Swingball – need we say more? Hours of fun – even if you’re playing on your own!

2. Making dens – there is something quite magical about building dens in the garden. It’s an adventure in itself trying to find materials to make the den out of – old sheets or curtains, battered logs or simply some cardboard boxes. Once it’s made comes the fun part – decorating. Do you have old furniture lying around which can be used in the den?

3. Piggy in the middle – a simple but fun game for all the family. Even the dog can get involved!

senior man with his grandaughter planting a seedling on allotment. Man and a small girl gardening.

For Those Who Like to Explore

There are many things to find in the garden – natural or otherwise. The look of satisfaction on your little ones faces will be totally worth the muddy fingers.

1. Play the archaeologist – plant some toys or treasures around the garden for your children to find. They will have hours of fun digging to see what hidden treasures they can find. If your children are younger you can use a sand pit table and hide toys in the sand for them to dig out. You may even have a mini Indiana Jones in your midst!

2. Something for the brave – try and find as many insects as you can. Children love this game and are not shy about getting dirty and stuck in. This game is also a great numbers game as the children can count each one they’ve managed to find.

3. For nature lovers – show your children some pictures of various flowers and plants in your garden and ask them to find it. For each they find, reward them with a fun fact or a healthy treat (or not!).

Get Moving

If you’re sporting types, then why not hold your own Olympics? Whether it’s a one-day event or you spread it across the summer, there’s no better way to get little ones moving.

Length-of-the-garden race. However long your garden is – get your kids and their friends to run the length and back.
Football. If you’re lovers of the sport, then consider a tournament! If not, a how-many-can-you-get-to-the-back-of-the-net competition will do.
Bowling. Grab a lawn game set and have a see if you can knock over the skittles!
Jumping. How high, how far. Get the tape measure out and see who wins!

Cute little blonde hair boy enjoy blooming lilac in the domestic garden in warm day.

Father and son playing soccer in the garden

Take the Heat Off

There’s nothing kids love more, than a water fight on a hot day. With that in mind, why not transform your garden into the ultimate waterpark complete with hosepipes, sprinklers and a paddling pool. Create your own slip n’ slide using a large sheet of tarpaulin and hosepipes – then see who can slide the longest! Fill balloons with water, to create a water balloon pinata, which is sure to bring fun and a much needed cool down to all the family!

Gardening

Help the children understand the garden from a young age and get them to help you with planting flowers, herbs or seeds. By planting themselves they’ll have more of an interest in its progress. You could even hold sunflower races to see which sunflower grows to be the tallest.

As you can see the garden really is a great playground for you and the family. However if you have a lawn which is more Sahara Desert than play-pit then it might be time to consider artificial grass so your lawn is play-time ready all year round.

Products

Posted on August 5, 2016 April 25, 2019

Proud suppliers to Sky’s Soccer AM

Namgrass Supply Sky’s Soccer AM

Darius Merriman, Sky ‘Soccer AM’ Producer

“We are delighted to have Namgrass supply our artificial grass on Soccer AM. The team have been first class in delivering this amazing surface in a short amount of time, and we are over the moon with the finished look and quality of the grass. It has been an absolute pleasure to deal with everyone at Namgrass”.

As the football season is due to kick-off the teams and players are getting ready and so are we…We are proud to announce that we are the artificial grass supplier for Sky’s Soccer AM. The Soccer AM team were looking to replace the tired looking artificial grass for their ‘Top Bin’ feature and had approached a number of companies to be their supplier.

Namgrass came top of the league for its high-quality product and service. Spanning 500sqm of concrete surface and a high traffic area through to the studio, the space needed a very hard-wearing product to handle the crowds and that’s why Namgrass Green Vision was used. Find out more about the install here.

Posted on July 13, 2016 December 6, 2021

ITV’s Love Your Garden and Namgrass

Namgrass on ITV’s Love Your Garden

At Namgrass, we try to give back to the community as much as possible. In this year’s series of ITV’s Love Your Garden, we were lucky enough to be involved in a garden design project lead by Alan Titchmarsh, David Domoney and their team.

Tilly Sawford, a burns patient since she was very young, had been nominated by the medics at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham where she has been receiving treatment. Tilly’s home was being modified to allow easier wheelchair access in the home and the garden wasn’t a priority for the busy family of seven.

The nomination really was a blessing and Alan and the team created a beautiful, functional and safe playing environment for the children (and adults!).

Garden Design

The garden was sectioned off into different areas for the family with the summerhouse as the focal point, it also had a shepherds hut and a fairy garden for the girls and a football penalty area for the older boys which was created for them using Green Vision – our most hard-wearing grass suitable for a spaces that will see a lot of action!

red summer house shed surrounded with fake grass

We also provided the grass flooring to the ‘Dangerous Den’ – a perfect addition to add a bit of comfort and brightness to that area. The design of the garden really allows for the whole family to have their own space but to come together in the summerhouse which acts as a crafts area and dining room to make more special memories as a family. Just fab!

Want more information?

If you would like more information on Green Vision or any other grasses in our range you can go to our Artificial Grass page or call us on 01425 627832. We’re a friendly bunch so we would love to hear from you.

Posted on July 9, 2016 December 6, 2021

How to encourage wildlife into your garden

How to Encourage Wildlife into your Garden

Your garden can be a haven to relax in and enjoy – but it can also serve as somewhere the local wildlife can feed, breed and shelter. It’s not difficult and it doesn’t mean turning your manicured garden into a compost heap either. Read on to find out ways to make your low maintenance artificial grass work alongside nature to attract more wildlife into your garden.

Choosing the right plants

Bees, butterflies and other insects rely on flowers for pollen and nectar, and the flowers use them for fertilisation – it’s a happy symbiosis. So, if you want to get your garden buzzing, you need to plant some nectar-rich flowers. Choose plants that complement each other, so that you and your new insect-friends can enjoy them all year round. Try planting things that flower in sequence: for instance, Crocus and Mahonia flower from spring, Angelica and Buddleia flower in summer, Chrysanthemum and Ivy in autumn/winter. Together they’ll provide food for insects almost all year round. Likewise, a range of different types of plants – from flowers to shrubs through to trees – means that a variety of animals can live in your garden.

Boxes for birds, bats and more

The UK is a very urbanised country, and while a domestic garden can’t replace a wild one, providing places for birds and bats and other creatures to live will always be beneficial. Different size boxes provide homes to different birds, so get a variety – you can also buy boxes for bats to roost in. A bug hotel is a great way to attract insects to your garden – and you don’t need to buy anything fancy either, all you have to do is cut short lengths of hollow bamboo and tie them together. Leave on the ground for creepy crawlies or hang them up to attract flying insects.

Provide food and water

Birds are one of the easiest animals to attract to your garden. Over the winter especially, providing food and water for birds could mean that they survive the cold. A mix of food types is ideal, from fat balls to a blend of seeds and nuts depending on what birds your garden attracts. Try to keep feeding tables out of the reach of cats (who are a danger to birds) and squirrels (who just want to steal the food). Providing clean water will also be invaluable to birds over winter.

Create a woodpile

Woodpiles offer shelter to all sorts of species, from fungi, lichen, and mosses to creepy crawlies, amphibians, and even lizards. The dead and decaying wood are the beginning of an ecosystem that could bring insect-eating birds to your garden.

Leave woody cuttings from trees and shrubs on a soil bed, making sure that there is direct contact, ideally in a place that is mostly in shade, but does get occasional sunlight.

Start a compost heap

There are several benefits to a compost heap. Not only does it cut down your household waste and gives you a nutrient rich fertiliser to help nourish your plants, it also attracts a wide variety of animals. With slugs and snails and millipedes heading to the top layer of a compost heap for food, and earthworms, beetles and even mice attracted to the decomposing layers, there’s lots to look forward to with a compost heap. These animals will also attract larger mammals and birds too. When it comes to the compost heap itself, you have a choice of a closed bin or an open heap. An open heap will attract more wildlife, but a closed one is more aesthetically pleasing. All you have to do is make sure that any organic waste goes on the compost heap, such as vegetable and garden waste, hair, eggshells, tea bags etc. About a year later you’ll have a beautiful fertiliser and a wildlife rich garden!

Install a pond

A pond is probably the single best thing you could do in your garden to attract wildlife. Even a small pond could entice anything from frogs, newts, and ‘water boatmen’ to dragonflies and birds. Make sure your pond has shallow and deep areas. Shallow water is essential to the lifecycles of frogs, dragonflies and beetles, and birds and small mammals will bathe in it. Deeper water of up to 1m offer frogs a place to lurk when it’s cold. Plants around your pond will offer shelter from predators and shade from the sun, and make your pond look more naturalistic too. Plants that are submerged are good for newts and dragonflies, as they use them to breed.

Sustainable gardening

Sustainability is all about reducing the effect that the actions you take now have on future generations. In terms of gardening, that means thinking about the way your pesticides are produced, the way your outdoor furniture is manufactured, for example, and making the choice that is the best for the environment and the future.

Instead of using pesticides, you could plant certain plants together (for instance lavender is supposed to discourage weed growth, and marigolds are reported to counter black fly) or wait for nature to take its course. Ladybirds love to feed on aphids, birds eat snails, and frogs will eat slugs – you just have to give them a little encouragement to visit your garden.

Giving the local wildlife a place to feed, to shelter, and to breed not only gives you the opportunity to enjoy your garden, but it also helps the biodiversity of your area. There are a number of things that will make your garden more appealing, and there’s something you can do all year round.

garden updates

Products

Posted on July 5, 2016 December 6, 2021

Choosing Your Namgrass Product

family dining alfresco on vibrant fake grass

Choosing Your Namgrass Product

So you’re thinking about replacing that worn out tatty old lawn with a stunning artificial grass lawn that will look beautiful all year round no matter what. That’s great, now all you need to do is work out the artificial turf product that’s right for you and how you are going to install it.

Whilst Namgrass is simple to lay we also benefit from the support of a nation wide team of approved installers. Here are a few of the latest guys to join the team being put through their paces at the ‘School of Namgrass’ at Namgrass HQ.

We spend time going through all the individual products so that they can suggest the grass that best suits your needs and the style of your garden. For garden design tips check out our blog to help give you some inspiration.

close up of latex backing artificial grass

We cover the basics of the install and the best practices and tips to deliver a flawless job. From the preparation of the area, how to lay the perfect base using the various materials and edging systems, through to the art of the perfect join and cutting in. Every one of our partner installers is thoroughly trained and checked to ensure their work is of the very highest standard before they can earn the title of Namgrass Approved installer.

Quality you can trust

We gather a minimum of 4 customer references’ and personally inspect the quality of their work to give you the ultimate piece of mind that your job will be done professionally and to the highest standard. We do all of this to ensure if you decide to have your artificial lawn professionally fitted you are getting the very best job done.

It’s easy to find your nearest Installer, just click here.

Posted on June 30, 2016 October 26, 2021

Remove lines or marks in your artificial grass

Remove lines or marks in your artificial grass

The manufacturing process of artificial grass is a complicated and lengthy process – couple this with the fact that it is then shipped around (in our case from Belgium to our UK distribution centre) where it is once again passed through a process ready for its final distribution journey. The majority of our grass will pass through all these processes, arrive at its final destination, get rolled out and be in perfect condition. However, with some products there can be the occasional mark, line or crease in the grass. For creases, please refer to our ‘How-to remove from Namgrass’ guide.

In this article we provide some examples and explanations of what can occur and why they may occur. The aim of these explanations is to assure you that there is no need to panic if you unroll your grass and there are some lines or markings. With just a little time and/or manipulation they will disappear. The image below shows a piece of our Green Vision, which has just been rolled out – you can clearly see that there are some dark and light patches running across the roll, equally spaced. The cause of this is purely from the way in which the grass is rolled in the factory e.g. its wound onto the core/tube tightly, then put into stock or shipped out for delivery – a small amount of additional pressure to one or more sides of the grass can then cause the appearance of dark and light lines when the grass is first rolled out.

These lines will disappear once the grass has had a chance to fully relax, ideally in some warm sunshine. Some manipulation with a brush will also help. With regards to how long this may take, it can be anything from a matter of minutes to a few days depending on weather, product type and installation method e.g. has a mechanical brush been used as this will stimulate the pile and return it to how it should be at a faster rate.

Other lines or markings which can appear on grass is a very distinctive straight line through the grass. The cause of this is very simple, it can either be: 1. At the last stage of manufacturing in Belgium a mechanical wheel/track is passed over the top of the grass to ensure alignment of the rolls.

2. As the grass is processed in our distribution centre in the UK, the grass passes over a table with a measuring wheel running across it. In both these cases, the wheel can sometimes ruffle the fibres of the grass just before it is rolled up, therefore the ruffled fibres appear as a line when the grass is first rolled back out. Once again – please do not panic, allowing the grass to relax in warmth and/or giving the grass some manipulation will see these lines fade away pretty quickly. The timing of this can vary depending on product type and temperature.

Posted on June 15, 2016 April 24, 2019

The Great Grass Giveaway

The Great Grass Giveaway

Have you been longing for a freshly cut lawn that requires minimal maintenance and looks perfect all year round? In celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations we are giving away up to 90m2 of Namgrass artificial grass plus installation. Your perfect lawn is only a few clicks away.

Head over to our Facebook page to enter. Terms and Conditions apply.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We recognise this isn’t the most exciting bit to read! But this is the most important therefore please read these carefully.

1) You can only enter the competition once.

2) No purchase is necessary to enter the competition.

3) The promoter of the competition is Namgrass UK, Redcliffe, Bashley Road, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 5RY.

4) The prize is only available to United Kingdom residents over the age of 18, with a permanent UK address. It is not open to the Namgrass UK agencies, its group companies or anyone else connected with the competition including employees.

5) To enter the competition you must write in the comment box on the competition post on the Namgrass.com Facebook page as asked in the post. Posts that do not comply with that may be removed and will not be valid for entry.

6) One entry will be selected at random from the entries. The decision of the judge is final and the we will not enter into correspondence relating to the decision.

7) The start date and time of the competition is 7th June. The closing date and time of is 31st August at 23:59pm. Entries received after the closing date will not be processed. The draw will take place on 8th September.

8) The Winner will be notified via Namgrass Facebook page and given details of how to claim their prize. If the winner does not respond within 24 hours then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and we will be entitled to select another winner (and that winner will have to respond to the message sent to them by 24 hours also).

9) We may ask the winner to provide proof of age, country of residence and/or proof of property ownership.

10) Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted.

11) Namgrass UK shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, unforeseen legislation or any other events beyond its control.

12) No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.

13) We reserve the right to modify the competition at any time without prior notice.

14) The name of the winner will be available upon request for 4 weeks after the winner has been notified by emailing
[email protected]. The winner agrees to have their name and town/county of residence disclosed for this purpose.

15) The winner is happy to provide a customer testimonial written and verbal which includes their name, town/city.

16) The winner is happy for the installation to be filmed from start to finish. Any footage taken – video and photography are the property of Namgrass UK which may be used for promotional purposes.

About the installation

17) The installation is subject to a site survey and the installation site must be approved by Namgrass UK and the Installer before commencing any work.

18) Namgrass UK will select the Namgrass suitable for the install based on the site survey and consultation.

19) Installation is based on the Installers availability and the installation date will be agreed between the winner and the Installer. We will only use Namgrass Approved Installers.

20) If the site is more than 90m2 the winner must pay additional for the Namgrass and materials.

21) Entry to the competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.

If you have any questions then please email us with your query.