Artificial grass, TOWIE tans and never saying never

In my book fakes aren’t necessarily a bad thing.  I’m not averse to the odd spray tan (provided the needle doesn’t tip towards the TOWIE end of the scale), my hair is quite used to a helping hand in the colour department and I think I can confidently say the orange handbag I bought in that Chinese market is not a genuine ‘Birkin’ (the fact it began shedding its skin in the manner of a snake on a growth spurt should have been a giveaway).

And then there’s artificial grass.

I used to have quite a snooty attitude about this. “Pah!” I thought. “Never!” I thought.  But I shall never say never again (not that it’s wise to live life entirely by Bond movie titles; whilst diamonds are forever, the world really ought to be enough for anyone and I know Buddhists will disagree but I’m fairly sure you only live once).

So yes, I have softened towards artificial grass.  And before you get cross with me, I don’t mean in all circumstances, but there are times when it’s a good option. 

Take the project I finished last week. A day nursery right in the centre of Peterborough. Convenient?  Yes.  A green oasis?  Not exactly.  In fact the garden consisted of a modest-sized space between two tall buildings, bordering a car park and a street and laid to concrete – enticing huh?

Oh, and the brief (that really should have been delivered by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in ruffled shirt and suitably theatrical arm gestures) was “natural with a hint of magic”

Well, guess what - turf doesn’t grow on concrete, you can’t put a safety surface under turf, turf doesn’t grow well in shade and turf cannot be cut into pretty rolling hill shapes and glued to the wall or used to cover the roofing felt on your playhouses and bins. Artificial grass on the other hand…

 So there you have it. Some fakes are good. Although to be fair, not in the handbag department. 

 

Comments

[Joanne Roach]

That looks ace, love the curvy grass roof. I do think you're being a bit unambitious with the fakery though. If you'd organised for all the kids at the nursery to have a really TOWIE spray tan they could have pretended they were oompa loompas...

[Doncaster Estates]

I think especially for those that are slighty older and still enjoy the sense of having a garden but cant physically upkeep it themselves i think it is very reasonable to have it.

[Dawn]

Joanne - Oh why, oh why didn't I think of that? *slaps self repeatedly for missing Wizard of Oz hilarity*. x

DE - Yes another good reason - and safety surface may also reduce the number of hip operations *begins pitching to the NHS*

[Emma]

Hi there! I think it looks fabulous. And where oh where, did you get that fantastic shed from? My little girl would be beside herself with that! Thanks

[Dawn]

Hi Emma - lovely playhouse isn't it? It's from a company called Framebow in Derbyshire - http://www.framebow.co.uk/bespoke-playhouses.html Lovely quality as well - I was very impressed.