Latest news with #artificialgrass
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Plan for artificial football pitch approved in Countesthorpe
Plans for an artificial grass football pitch in Countesthorpe have been given the go-ahead. Blaby District Council has approved a planning application from LiFE Multi-Academy Trust to place a a floodlit 3G football pitch facility at Countesthorpe Academy, Winchester Road in to planning documents, the Football Association (FA) has identified a "need" for a 3G pitch in the area and said it would be prepared to fund the introduction of an "appropriate" said the proposed facility at the secondary school would also comprise of a spectator area, 14m (46 ft) high floodlights and fencing. Documents added: "The introduction of this new proposal will expand and improve the facilities available at the site and within the wider community, thus encouraging a wider range of participants."
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Artificial grass catches alight at Derbyshire farm in heatwave
A fire has broken out at a farm in Derbyshire after artificial grass caught alight during soaring fire crews from Derbyshire and Staffordshire were dispatched to the scene in Bridle Lane in Stanton, near Swadlincote, at about 12:45 BST on Fire and Rescue Service said the smoke plume from the blaze had led to a high volume of calls and asked people to keep windows and doors closed in the service added: "Please avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident." County councillor Amy Wheelton said that she had made contact with the farm and that all people and animals were thanked fire crews for their work, and added: "This heat is causing all sorts of issues for everyone, but especially farmers."Derbyshire is currently experiencing its third official heatwave of the amber heat health alert has been issued for the East Midlands until Monday.
Khaleej Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Greener, Smarter, Stronger: How artificial grass is transforming outdoor spaces in the UAE
In a city known for its dramatic climate from blistering heatwaves to unexpected downpours, maintaining vibrant, safe, and usable green spaces can be a daunting task. But one company has taken on the challenge headfirst. Lush Green, a trailblazer in sustainable artificial grass solutions, is not just changing the landscape of Dubai, it's redefining resilience in outdoor living. With over two decades of expertise and a deep understanding of the region's demands, Lush Green has emerged as a name synonymous with innovation, quality, and trust. From Grassroots to Green Giants Javed Najaf's professional journey is a testament to vision, dedication, and an enduring passion for excellence. After completing his graduation in India, Javed moved to the UAE in the early 2000s and began his career as a junior accountant at Sameee Al Mahmood & Sons - a company that specialized in carpets and, at the time, had just introduced a new product: artificial grass. Back then, artificial turf was still a novelty in the UAE, available only in low pile heights such as 6mm and 10mm. While Javed's responsibilities were rooted in accounting, he quickly developed a strong interest in the technical side of artificial grass. He immersed himself in understanding its measurements, installation processes, and how the materials responded to the UAE's harsh climate. This behind-the-scenes insight ignited a vision. Realising how challenging and costly it was to maintain natural grass in the region, Javed decided to take a bold step forward. With a small team and a clear sense of purpose, he launched Lush Green Trading LLC - now widely known as Lush Green – The Artificial Grass Company. Today, Lush Green stands as a trusted and reputable name, providing top-quality artificial grass and landscaping solutions across the UAE. The company has proudly completed prestigious projects for Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, and leading educational institutions throughout the region. One of the defining moments of Javed's career was working with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, personally overseeing the landscaping and turf maintenance of his Dubai villa - an endorsement of Lush Green's commitment to excellence and trustworthiness. What began as a modest accounting role has evolved into Javed leading one of the UAE's most respected artificial grass companies. Through Lush Green, he continues to redefine green living in the desert, combining innovation with sustainability - one project at a time. Their signature offering? European-grade, UV-protected artificial grass designed to withstand the region's intense sun and soaring temperatures. The Drainage Difference While most artificial grass solutions focus on aesthetics, Lush Green sets itself apart by engineering its products for real-world resilience. One of the brand's most celebrated innovations lies beneath the surface - its advanced drainage system. During the severe flooding that affected many parts of the UAE, numerous installations failed to cope. Lush Green's projects, however, stood strong. Thanks to smart design principles like permeable backings, carefully layered base materials, and subtle sloping for natural water runoff, their artificial grass installations remained intact and fully functional. 'We're not just selling a product,' says Javed. 'We're offering peace of mind - spaces that stay beautiful and usable, no matter the weather.' Real Stories, Real Impact One of the most compelling examples of Lush Green's problem-solving approach is its work at Capital School in Al Qusais, Dubai. While constructing an artificial grass football pitch, Javed noticed how even light rainfall previously caused surface damage and waterlogging. His team implemented a slight central slope, redirecting water naturally to the edges - an effective and elegant solution that's now being recommended for similar projects in rain-prone zones. This isn't just theory—it's been put to the test across communities like The Lakes, Green Community, and schools including Amity and Dove Green, where Lush Green's drainage solutions have kept outdoor areas safe and operational, even during intense downpours. Why Drainage Matters More Than Ever In regions like the UAE, where weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable, poor drainage can lead to serious consequences: Waterlogging that ruins turf aesthetics and safety Bacterial growth and mold due to stagnant water Reduced turf lifespan from constant exposure to pooled water Sustainability Meets Style While functionality is a priority, Lush Green doesn't compromise on appearance. Their artificial grass blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment - lush, realistic, and always green. It's a sustainable alternative to natural grass, reducing the need for irrigation and pesticides, while still delivering a premium finish. Whether it's a villa garden, school playground, or a community football field, Lush Green ensures every project reflects both beauty and endurance. A Greener Tomorrow As Dubai and the wider UAE continue to grow, so does the demand for smart, sustainable landscaping solutions. Lush Green is more than ready. Backed by years of hands-on experience, a solid product portfolio, and a genuine passion for innovation, the company is well-positioned to shape the future of urban greenery in the region.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts issue terrifying infection warning over garden favourite - it could transmit deadly stomach bug
While it may seem like a time-saving maintenance option for your garden, artificial grass could come with a major health risk, experts warn. Replacing a turfed lawn with a neat carpet of manmade fake grass has been one of the biggest home trends of the past decade, partly inspired by the lavish exterior styling of ITV2 reality show Love Island. However, many people who have swapped their patchy, muddy natural grass for a synthetic alternative aren't aware there is still some vital upkeep. Although it doesn't need to be mowed, watered or reseeded—after all, the main selling point of fake grass is that it's a hassle-free option—it does need to be regularly cleaned, and thoroughly. Experts have warned that as temperatures soar, the garden favourite can rapidly become a breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria. This is particularly the case for pet owners who allow their cat and dog to urinate and defecate on the plastic surface. Without thorough cleaning with the correct antibacterial products, these germs can quickly spread—creating an increased risk of food poisoning if as people start BBQing and eating outdoors in the good weather. In a report commissioned by Decking Superstore, experts reminded Britons that their artificial grass 'doesn't clean itself'. The pristine fake lawns of the Love Island villa inspired thousands of Britons to invest in fake grass for their gardens According to previously published research, people with artificial grass have been exposed to E. coli and salmonella, two nasty strains of bacteria which can cause serious food poisoning. can trigger bloody diarrhoea as well as a potentially deadly kidney condition called severe haemolytic uraemic syndrome, and according to some researchers an increased risk of certain cancers. Salmonella can cause severe sickness which can last for up to a week. The report continued: 'Artificial grass can trap pet urine and faecal bacteria, if not rinsed and sanitised. 'Pet urine doesn't soak into the ground like it would with natural grass - instead it lingers on the surface or underneath, especially if left untreated. 'That build-up can release harmful vapours and bacteria.' Professor William Schaffner, a US-based infectious disease expert at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told MailOnline there's a hidden 'yuck factor' with fake grass. He said: 'Poop and urine from pets clearly can make artificial grass be very unpleasant. That is the major issue.' However, he also acknowledged that natural grass is grounded in soil, 'which is also full of bacteria', so whether your lawn is natural or artificial there are health risks. Just last week, health officials warned the number of people infected with salmonella soared by almost a fifth in a single year in 2024 to over 10,000 cases. The figure, released by the UK Health Security Agency, is the highest recorded in a decade with only some 8,000 cases recorded in 2015. Furthermore, bacteria isn't the only danger linked to artificial grass—some reports have also warned it can contain PFAS. These chemicals which have been linked to low birth weight, birth defects and cancer.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The unlikely suburban HQ of a cocaine smuggling kingpin: How friendly dog-walking pensioner was hiding secret life as an international drug baron who imported £120m of narcotics into UK
With its neatly tended lawn, solar panels on the roof and potted petunias lining the garden path, this suburban bungalow could hardly look any less like the HQ of an international drug smuggling operation. But it was here that Peter Lamb, 66, oversaw a vast criminal conspiracy to import £120million worth of cocaine into Britain - all without raising a flicker of suspicion from his trusting neighbours. The father of three was regularly seen pottering in the back garden of his modest home in Gateshead, and would often stop to pass the time of day by walking his dogs, a placid German shepherd and a springer spaniel puppy. However, unknown to locals on his quiet street of housing association homes occupied mostly by retirees, Lamb had become a major player in organised crime responsible for smuggling one-and-a-half tonnes of cocaine over just a year. In another suburban twist, his chosen method was to hide these drugs in rolls of artificial grass brought in by two garden supply companies that served as fronts for his operation. His downfall came in May 2024, when customs officers in Holland searched two consignments of fake turf and found £13m of cocaine hidden inside the empty plastic tubes at the centre of each roll. Lamb was then covertly photographed on a forklift truck carrying rolls of fake grass from a lorry into one of two warehouses he used to store the narcotics. Soon afterwards, raids on the depots in Stockton-on-Tees and Newcastle found abandoned turf rolls from 18 previous consignments and another kilo of cocaine that officers believe had been left behind accidentally. The NCA believe the total street value of all the drugs he imported was £120million. Lamb's underworld activities were a mystery to his neighbours, who were shocked when his home was raided by police. They remained equally stunned when MailOnline spoke to them this week after he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. 'It goes to show that you can have no idea who you're living next door to because if anyone had told me that Peter was mixed up in drug smuggling I would have laughed,' one said. 'He lived on his own apart from his two dogs and he liked to spend a bit of time in the back garden and he'd often be out walking the dogs. 'He would always stop to say hello and no one ever had a cross word with him, he was a nice bloke who had lived in the area for a while. 'He was a Cockney and his daughters seem to have Irish accents so he was clearly someone who had moved around. I wondered if he was ex forces or something like that. 'When the police turned up there was absolute shock when we discovered what they were investigating.' Lamb registered two garden supply companies on Companies House under the same name, Lomax. Neither filed any accounts and have both been dissolved. Another one of his neighbours recalled how he had previously mentioned his business in casual conversation. 'I knew he had a business of some kind, something to do with gardening, but he seemed as though he was semi-retired, he liked to be at home with the dogs and in his own back garden,' they said. 'It's hard to imagine that he was the leader of this thing, it must have been something he got caught up in. He's going to be inside for a long time, he'll be 83 when he gets out.' A third person living on Lamb's road said he had always considered him as nothing more than a 'nice old bloke'. 'He was friendly and said he'd set up a turf business,' they said. 'He even offered me a roll for my garden at home. I'm quite glad now that I didn't take him up on it.' When Lamb first started renting a unit on Sandy Lane Autoparc in Gosforth, Newcastle, no one batted an eyelid. But when, after a year of trading, no one had seen a single customer arrive or leave, people in neighbouring businesses began to wonder exactly what the nature of his import business was. One tradesman on the estate said: 'Foreign trucks would pull up on the business park and he would unload all the rolls of turf on his forklift and put them into his unit. 'There were loads of rolls of turf going in, but none of them ever seemed to come out. 'Someone else pointed out as well that when they were being carried over in the fork lift the rolls were stiff in the middle but flopping down at the ends. 'It seems obvious now with hindsight that they had something pushed into the centre of them but no one suspected a thing. 'Most of the businesses on here are well established and everybody knows each other, but he didn't mix. 'He'd arrive early to unload the turf from lorries and then he would be off, he didn't stop to chat.' Officers who analysed Lamb's phone learned that he had made several trips to the Netherlands to organise the drug shipments. Realising the game was up, he admitted drug smuggling and was handed his hefty jail term. Judge Gavin Doig told him: 'You played a crucial role in the importation into this country of nearly a tonne and a half of cocaine.' The judge added it was a 'significant conspiracy' involving people who were not as easily linked to the drugs as Lamb. The court heard Lamb has significant health problems and admitted he had been an 'idiot' to get involved in something he was unable to get out of. NCA senior investigating officer Al Mullen said: 'Artificial grass is one of the more unusual concealments I've seen used to smuggle cocaine but no matter what tactics criminals use, the NCA will find both the drugs and the importers. 'We caught Lamb red-handed and uncovered his year-long conspiracy to flood UK streets with one-and-a-half tonnes of the drug. 'Cocaine destroys communities and lives, but this joint operation with officers in the Netherlands has disrupted its supply in the UK.'
