Ground Protection Mats

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Rubber reinforcement for erosion control and ground protection

Ground protection mats are essential for preventing soil erosion and ground damage in high-traffic outdoor areas. Our Blue Diamond Greenskeeper rubber grass mat system provides a robust, long-lasting solution that protects the ground while allowing natural grass to grow through the cellular structure. These mats are ideal for construction sites, outdoor events, golf courses, playgrounds and any location where heavy footfall would typically cause ground damage or safety concerns.

The natural rubber construction offers excellent slip resistance, anti-fatigue properties and wear resistance, making these mats suitable for both pedestrian traffic and wheelchair access. The cellular design allows water drainage while preventing ground compaction, maintaining healthy grass growth even in high-use areas.

What are Ground Protection Mats?

Ground protection mats are rubber matting systems designed to reinforce grass and soil surfaces that experience heavy pedestrian traffic. Unlike temporary roadway mats for heavy machinery, these grass reinforcement mats focus on protecting walking surfaces while maintaining the natural appearance and health of grass areas.
The Greenskeeper system features a moulded cellular structure that allows grass blades to penetrate and establish firm bonds with the ground below. Once the grass grows through and becomes established, it can be maintained with a conventional mower, effectively hiding the mat while providing ongoing protection against erosion and ground damage.

Key Features & Benefits

Erosion Control - The primary function of ground protection mats is preventing soil erosion caused by heavy footfall. The rubber structure distributes weight evenly across the surface, preventing the compaction and rutting that leads to bare patches, mud formation and long-term ground damage. This is particularly valuable on construction sites, at outdoor events, and in areas with seasonal heavy use.

Grass Growth Integration - The open cellular design allows grass to grow through the mat, establishing roots that bond with the underlying soil. This creates a reinforced grass surface that maintains its natural appearance while providing far greater durability than unprotected grass. Once established, the grass can be cut with standard mowing equipment, keeping the area looking natural and well-maintained.

Slip Resistance - The textured rubber surface provides excellent slip resistance even in wet conditions, certified to level 3 slip resistance standards. This makes these mats ideal for safety walkways on construction sites, event pathways, and any outdoor areas where pedestrian safety is a concern. The anti-slip properties remain effective whether the mats are new or have grass growing through them.

Anti-Fatigue Properties - The natural rubber construction offers anti-fatigue benefits for users who spend extended periods walking or standing on the matting. This is particularly beneficial for event staff, construction workers, groundskeepers and others who regularly traverse these protected areas.

Weather & UV Resistance - Manufactured for permanent outdoor installation, these rubber mats resist degradation from UV exposure, rainfall, frost and temperature variations. The material will not rot, crack or deteriorate under normal outdoor conditions, providing long-term ground protection without requiring replacement or maintenance beyond grass cutting.

Critical Fall Height Certification - The Greenskeeper mats are certified to EN177:2018 for Critical Fall Height, making them suitable for playground installations and other areas where impact absorption is important for safety.

Applications

Construction Sites - Create safe, slip-resistant walkways around site perimeters, between site offices and work areas, and for pedestrian access routes. Prevents mud formation and maintains professional site appearance even during wet weather.

Events & Festivals - Protect grass areas from damage caused by thousands of footfalls over event durations. Maintains usable grass surfaces throughout multi-day events and allows rapid ground recovery after event conclusion.

Golf Courses - Reinforce high-traffic areas including paths between holes, access routes around greens, and spectator areas. Prevents wear on valuable turf while maintaining the natural appearance expected at golf facilities.

Playing Fields & Sports Grounds - Protect perimeter areas, access gates, and high-wear zones that typically become muddy or worn. Particularly useful for grounds that host both matches and training, or facilities with year-round use.

Playgrounds - Provides impact absorption while preventing ground erosion around play equipment. The grass-through design maintains natural aesthetics while meeting safety standards for fall protection.

Parks & Public Spaces - Reinforce popular walking routes, picnic areas, and other zones that experience concentrated use. Prevents the formation of bare patches and mud during wet seasons.

Schools & Universities - Protect grass areas on campuses where foot traffic concentrates, such as shortcuts between buildings, recreational spaces, and informal gathering areas.

Cemeteries - Maintain grass cover on access routes and around memorial areas while providing stable, slip-resistant surfaces for visitors.

Installation & Maintenance

Greenskeeper mats can be installed directly onto existing grass or prepared ground. For best results, prepare the surface by leveling and removing any large stones or debris. Lay the mats in the desired configuration and use the connecting clips to join adjacent mats, creating continuous pathways or covered areas of any size and shape.

Ground pegs secure the mats in position, preventing movement during use and while grass establishes. The mats are flexible enough to follow gentle ground contours while providing a stable walking surface.

Grass Establishment
When installed over existing grass, the turf will grow through the cellular structure within several weeks, depending on grass type and growing conditions. For new installations on bare soil, seed the area before or immediately after mat placement. The cellular structure protects germinating seeds while allowing light and moisture penetration.

Ongoing Maintenance
Once grass is established through the mats, maintenance is straightforward. Cut the grass using standard mowing equipment, setting the blade height to avoid catching on the rubber surface. The mats can be cleaned by washing with cold water, using a vacuum cleaner for loose debris, or employing a pressure washer to remove embedded dirt.

Available Thicknesses
16mm Thickness - Suitable for moderate pedestrian traffic, event pathways, light recreational use and areas where a lower profile is preferred. Provides good slip resistance and erosion control for regular footfall.
23mm Thickness - Designed for heavy pedestrian traffic, construction site walkways, high-use recreational areas and locations requiring enhanced impact absorption. Offers superior durability and longevity in demanding applications.

Mat Size & Coverage
Each Greenskeeper mat measures 100cm x 150cm (1m x 1.5m), providing 1.5 square metres of coverage per mat. Use the connector system to join multiple mats, creating pathways and protected areas to match your specific requirements. The modular design allows flexible configurations including straight paths, corners, wide areas and irregular shapes.

Accessories
Greenskeeper Connectors - Plastic clips that securely join adjacent mats, creating stable continuous surfaces. Connectors simply click into position along mat edges. Use 4 connectors when joining shorter sides and 5 connectors when joining longer sides.
Ground Pegs - Heavy-duty pegs anchor the mats securely to the ground, preventing movement during installation and use. Available in packs of 100 pegs, suitable for securing multiple mats depending on ground conditions and exposure to lateral forces.

Environmental Benefits
Greenskeeper mats are manufactured from natural and recycled rubber, contributing to sustainable ground protection practices. The material is biodegradable and recyclable at end of life. By preventing ground erosion and maintaining grass growth, these mats support healthy soil ecosystems and reduce the need for ground repairs, reseeding, and chemical treatments that damaged areas would otherwise require.
The mats are REACH compliant (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals), meeting European standards for safe material use.

How to choose ground protection mats?

Traffic Type & Volume - Consider whether the area experiences light to moderate pedestrian use (16mm thickness) or heavy constant traffic (23mm thickness). Construction sites and major event venues typically benefit from the 23mm option.

Installation Duration - For temporary installations lasting weeks or months, either thickness works well. For permanent or semi-permanent installations expected to last years, the 23mm thickness offers enhanced durability.

Surface Requirements - If maintaining natural grass appearance is priority, both thicknesses allow grass growth. The 16mm profile is slightly less visible once grass establishes.

Safety Requirements - For playgrounds or areas requiring fall protection, verify that the chosen thickness meets Critical Fall Height requirements for your specific application.

Area Size - Calculate the total square meterage requiring protection. Remember that each mat covers 1.5 square metres, and factor in connectors and pegs for your installation.