When the werewolves howl and the phantoms prowl, Halloween’s was upon us but has passed for now. Until next year, we have to wait, so, for now, all we can do is look back on this year’s carved pumpkins and appreciate.
To celebrate the spooky season, we hosted a competition to get everyone creating and distracted for everything going on in the world. The competition consisted of sending in a picture of the best-carved pumpkin you have done and get as many people as possible to vote for them.
We were overwhelmed by all the amazing entries and every one of them deserved a prize but unfortunately, there could only be one winner.
Although one lucky person won the treat of a sweet hamper, we did not want the other people’s pumpkin creations to go unseen! Also, we thought it might be helpful to get the sparks flowing for next year’s creepy bunch of orange creations.
Here are 12 carved pumpkin entries picked at random for you to enjoy:
1. The Friendly Neighborhood Pumpkin
This creative and compassionate pumpkin was designed considering the global pandemic and did it best to make it safe for kids to trick or treat. We enjoyed the thought that had gone into this pumpkin and the creators have gone the extra mile to keep life carrying on as normal as it can.
2. The Spooky Clan
A spooky bunch of terrifying faces including some of our favourite characters, to make Halloween even more enjoyable. These are perfect examples of achieving creepy carved pumpkins and are a fantastic inspiration for your creations next year.
3. The Tiny Trio
Who said you have to be scary? This tiny trio of adorable pumpkins is the best way to get your kids into the Allhallows Eve spirit. Carving their names or their favourite cute faces can ease them into the spooky years that follow.
4. The Crazy Clown
It wouldn’t be a Halloween post with a crazy, creepy clown now, would it? This terrifying entry went the extra mile to scare with it’s painted on details. Bare in mind that you don’t just have to carve your pumpkin, adding things like colour, costumes and even other objects can be just as effective.
5. The Floral Fancy
Give your pumpkin the glow up it deserves next Halloween with this unique approach. Fancy and floral, to allow those with an elegant mindset set to join in with the festivities. We loved its individuality and believe it would make a beautiful centrepiece for any celebration.
6. Pumpkin Moana
“Moana, make way, make way!” Our favourite Disney chief has made it onto a pumpkin and we just love it. The talent and creativity that has gone into this design is outstanding and we couldn’t let it go unnoticed.
7. The Little Pumpkin Home
Just a little pumpkin, living in his pumpkin house waiting for all the trick or treaters. This charming design stole our hearts and is a clever way of using up the little pumpkins leftover that no one thinks are useful.
8. The Pumpkin King
“This is Halloween, this is Halloween, everyone hail to the Pumpkin King!”. This pumpkin design is a well-executed, classic. The recreation of Jack Skeleton is done by the many, but every year they get better!
9. All Tied Up
Troubled and terrifying, this pumpkin has tried to stitch themselves back up! This is an incredible idea to use string and blood to make it look like this pumpkin had made a mistake. We enjoyed it uniqueness and hope it inspires many more to do the same.
10. The Frightful Foursome
Inspiration can come from anywhere and for this foursome it is clear to see what was on the carver’s mind. Film and TV show what possible creatures and monsters could lurk in the dark so, what better place to be your Halloween muse.
11. What’s That Buzzing Noise?
Local and proud, this design shows off the very best of what the North-West stands for. The Manchester Bee, may not be scary but it is a symbol fit to go on your pumpkin. Excellently executed, you just can’t fault it.
12. The Winner – Hannibal Lector
Cannibalism is a scary concept in any species but seeing it in pumpkin form is terrifying. Just look at that little pumpkins face. You can see why this entry, in particular, was the winner. It’s not just a spooky face carved into a pumpkin, the creator has thought out of the box to bring a scary concept to life and we just love it.
It was a pleasure and a privilege to host this competition and we hope this selection can inspire you next year.
Cheshire Artificial Grass has worked on all kinds of projects in Cheshire with over 20 years. If you are looking to transform an area of your own, then feel free to get in touch and put our expertise to use.
Artificial Grass Installation at a Cosy Local Beer Garden.
The Jolly Sailor pub in Stockport welcomes winter with their brand new beer garden, The Stowaway.
This local pub has worked tirelessly to make sure customers are safe and welcomed during these difficult times. With new Covid-19 restrictions coming in everyday they took it upon themselves to create a spectacular outdoor seating area that will ensure an experience like no other. Cosy and covered, with heating, lighting, and some of our luxury artificial grass to create the perfect atmosphere to forget about the worries of the world and enjoy yourself.
We are proud to say that we had the pleasure of working on the creation of this ultimate pub experience.
The Idea
Almond Pubs wanted to fight back against the Covid-19 restrictions and make sure their customers were safe and comfortable during their visit to the Jolly Sailor.
Lots of planning and time went into the generation of The Stowaway to make sure it kept to the government guidelines but still provided a pub experience like no other. With limited space, they boxed off part of the carpark to lay way to this extended, season proof beer garden.
To create the perfect pub atmosphere outside, they installed a stretch tent, which formed the outline of the space. Almond Pubs chose Cheshire Artificial Grass, not only for our timings and expertise but for our extensive range of luxury grasses that would compliment the tent and form the desired ambiance.
We worked closely with Almond Pubs, delivering them our knowledge from our vast experience in commercial installation to help them with this significant project.
The Process of Installing in the Beer Garden
We worked with Almond Pubs to execute this installation to the best of our ability and offer our insights and expertise and at every possible moment.
When it came to start the installation, our job was fairly straight forward. The tent had been assembled over the preferred section and as they were converting part of the car park, we had the simple job of layering the artificial grass over tarmac.
Our expert installation teams then fitted the grass, so the finish was smooth and consistent. The customer chose our Balmoral PU, 25mm pile artificial grass, which was installed into an area size of about 150sqm.
To ensure there would be no further problems with the high amount of traffic going in and out of the area, we installed a trip prevention edging to make sure no drinks were spilt from the grass catching under anyone toes.
The Benefits
Artificial grass comes with many benefits, especially for a busy establishment like the Jolly Sailor. Here are just some of the benefits artificial grass will have for The Stowaway outdoor seating area:
It’s low maintenance. They won’t need to add anything to their close down routine.
It’s useable in all weathers. For a business that is open all year round, this will allow for consumers to use the outdoor seating extension whatever the weather.
Little to no mess. Natural grass is a natural product and needs soil to grow, whereas artificial grass doesn’t. There will be no muddy footprints going in and out of the spa with this install.
Allows a dull, useless area to become an innovative, bold statement that will draw the attention of customers in these trying times.
It’s always green. Adds to the ambiance of the space that will wont fade with the day to day use.
We have work on all kinds of projects in Cheshire over our 20 years’ experience! If you’re looking to transform an area of your own, then feel free to get in touch and put our expertise to use.
Among the festivals and social events, many sporting events have been postponed or cancelled. One that has been postponed is The London Marathon which was due to take place in April and now will be taking place in October. If you are like many that have been training day in, day out to prepare for this event then don’t give up just yet. We have come up with the perfect solution!
This is the second post with the blog “How to Bring the Big Events to Your Back Garden” series and it all about The London Marathon. So put on your trainers and follow these steps to bring it alive in your back garden!
Get Measuring
To achieve the mammoth distance that is completed in a marathon, you will need to do some maths. The distance you need to complete to be able to call it a marathon is 42195m. That’s a lot of meters! You will need to work out how many laps that is and for this you may need to get out the tape measurer and start measuring your garden. Once you have all the widths and lengths, add them all together to get the perimeter and then divide 42195 by your total. This will give you the total laps of your garden you need to complete to call your race a marathon.
42195/Perimeter = Total Laps
Don’t forget this is in meters, so make sure all your measurements are in meters also!
Pick Your Marathon Number
All good racers wear numbers, why should you be any different! You can choose any number you like, decorated however you want and wear it with pride. Get everyone involved in the race to do the same and then you back garden marathon will look more official.
Make a Finish Line
The end of the race is the pinnacle moment where all that hard work and effort is rewarded and it should be done in style. To complete your back garden marathon you need to create a finish line which you can run through to mark the achievement you have just completed. This is where you can get creative and recreate any famous finish line crossing you want. Whether you use papers, ribbon or even toilet roll (if you have enough!) you can have that perfect finish and celebrate in style!
Make a Medal
What is a race without a medal? All marathons give out a medal at the end which you can keep and look back at. We understand times might be hard and you may not have spare medal lying around however, this is the perfect opportunity to get arty and make one! Whether this is a task you complete yourself or you let your kids do it, make sure the result is INCREDIBLE. After all, you will be looking back at this for many years to come.
Let the Marathon Begin!
All that is left is to race. Get your trainers on, do your stretches and make sure you have enough water. Who knows, your neighbours may be cheering you on from their gardens!
You can get anyone in your house to join in as it doesn’t have to be a marathon, any sort of race will do. It’s perfect to promote exercise and get everyone out in the fresh air.
Don’t forget to stay tuned to for more upcoming blogs to see what other ideas we have come up with that could be perfect for you, your family and the fantastic great outdoors. Also, don’t forget to share your marathon online with us, we would love to see them. Tag Cheshire Artificial Grass and #CAGquaranteam on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram!
Our team at Cheshire Artificial Grass have worked on all kinds of projects over our 20 years’ experience! If you’re looking to transform an area of your own, then feel free to get in touch and put our expertise to use.
Pitch your Tent, Pick your Playlist and Recreate your Favourite Festival in Your Very Own Back Garden.
Festival season is the one thing that the majority of us look forward to during the cold months. It’s the season for outdoor living, good music and plenty of beers. Unfortunately this year, due to current circumstances a lot have been cancelled or postponed. Incredible festivals such as Glastonbury, Radio One’s Big Weekend and Coachella are some, as well as individual artist’s gigs and tours. This news, which is understandably necessary, has left us a little lost and devastated. Don’t give up yet!
This is the first post within the “How to Bring the Big Events to Your Back Garden” series and it’s all about those beloved festivals! So pick your favourite and follow these steps to bring it alive in your back garden!
Choose the Festival’s Name
All great festivals have a memorial name, why should yours be any different! It’s time to get your thinking hats on and be creative. It could be derived from where you live, the type of music you will be playing or the festival you are recreating.
Whatever it is, display it for all to see and don’t forget to hashtag it on all your posts!
Create the Promo Material
All good events come with promotional material that we love to show off and keep. One of the main bits of promotional material that festivals are famous for is its wristband. If you don’t have a wristband, did it even happen?
This is an important step to creating an authentic feel to your event as well as giving you something that you can keep and show off as a beloved memory.
Pick the Playlist
Music is the main feature, without it what would a festival be! The good thing about creating your own festival is that you get to choose the acts you want. Whether it’s Ariana Grande, Stormsy or even someone from the past like The Beetles, it’s all up to you. All you need to do is put together your playlist with the songs you want to hear, set up your speakers out the window and get the music pumping.
Not sure who you want to headline? There are plenty of playlists available online so you don’t have to worry. Just search for the festival you were going to attend and press play.
Build a Festival Atmosphere
The moment you step onto that festival site you are immersed in a magical, theatrical world that captures all your sense and takes you away from reality. Anything can help create an atmosphere, just see what you have got in your home that will add to the festival vibes. Here are some examples we have come up with:
Put up your Christmas lights in the garden.
Make some bunting.
Create some confetti.
Put out the jazzy rugs and cushions.
Light some candles.
Set up a tent.
Get any sort of deck chairs, bean bags or even stools.
Anything you own can help generate those festival vibes, just get creative!
Dress to Impress
Just because the event is in your back garden doesn’t mean you can’t get dressed up. A festival outfit is just as important as the event itself, what you wear can add to the atmosphere and allows you to express yourself. Whether you are covered head to toe in glitter or have flowers in your hair, make the most of this experience.
If you are stuck for ideas of what to wear some festivals set themes which you can use. Find out what the cancelled events were going to do and just use that.
If you are one of those people that has already installed artificial grass into their back garden then you can throw away the wellies, you won’t be needing them!
Food and Drinks
Food and drink vans bring festivals a wide, flavoursome menu which can tingle your tastebuds in front of your favourite acts. Who’s to say you can’t achieve this at home, you may not have the vans but you have a kitchen! So get thinking about your favourite festival foods and get cooking them, you can have whatever. Struggling to think what they normally have? We have put together a list of typical festival food to help:
Mac and Cheese
BBQ
Pizza
Paella
Pies
Toasties
Burritos
Burgers
Hotdogs
Noodles
For the drinks, whatever is in the cupboard will do. As long as they are served in appropriate glassware then who cares what’s in it!
Press Play and Enjoy!
Now you have all the ingredient for the best back garden festival, press play and enjoy. Who knows, your neighbours may even get involved in their gardens.
Don’t forget to stay tuned to for more upcoming blogs to see what other ideas we have come up with that could be perfect for you, your family and the fantastic great outdoors. Also, don’t forget to share your festival online with us, we would love to see them. Tag Cheshire Artificial Grass and #CAGquaranteam on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram!
Our team at Cheshire Artificial Grass have work on all kinds of projects over our 20 years’ experience! If you’re looking to transform an area of your own, then feel free to get in touch and put our expertise to use.
A Blog Series about Bringing the Festivities of Spring/Summer Right to Your Doorstep!
In light of recent circumstances, a lot of our favourite events are cancelled to help safeguard the UK from Covid-19. As important and respected as this is, we can’t help but feel a little devastated that we won’t be able to attend some of our favourite events. However – not all hope is lost! There are still some innovative and exciting ways to recreate your beloved events, all from the comfort of your back garden… And Cheshire Artificial Grass are here to show you how!
At Cheshire Artificial Grass gardens are our passion! We work to create perfect gardens on a day-to-day basis and with these expertise, we are going share with you some creative and alternative ways you can transform your back yard into a heaven of fun. Meaning you can still have the spring/summer you’ve always planned – even if that is in self-isolation.
One things for sure, there is so much potential hiding in your back garden and maybe it took a little bit of social-distancing to unlock all its capacity. Through this blog series we want to give you the tools to explore this uncharted territory!
Stay Tuned!
We’ve done all the thinking and hard work for you. So stay tuned to our upcoming blogs to see what ideas are perfect for you, your family and the great outdoors.
Our team at Cheshire Artificial Grass have work on all kinds of projects over our 20 years’ experience! If you’re looking to transform an area of your own, then feel free to get in touch and put our expertise to use.
At Cheshire Artificial Grass we work with landscapers across the country, supplying them with high quality artificial grass that looks just like the real deal. Not only do we provide a wide range of artificial grass, but we also take the time to share our knowledge and wisdom from some of the experts in our company. We are here to help support landscapers in their mission to install artificial grass. Within this blog we will share our 8 top tips on how to install artificial grass. If you have questions or would like specific advice, then please call our specialist team on 01625 860 601 or join our Artificial Grass Fitters Forum.
How to Install Artificial Grass
1. Plan
Good planning is important, failing to map out the garden and where the grass will lie at the start could cost you at the end of the installation. Here at Cheshire Artificial Grass our grasses come in two and four metre wide and cut to length. Know your sizes as it is crucial that the grass is joined side by side and not end to end. In addition, always make sure that you point the pile of the grass towards the house. That way, people looking out at the garden from the house will get the most ‘realistic’ view.
2. Prepare the Site
Once you have mapped out the artificial turf area, you can start preparing the site. Usually, homeowners want to replace nuisance natural turf with artificial grass. If this is the case, then take off the top layer of grass using a turf cutter. Once all the organic matter has been removed you need to treat the site with a quality herbicide. This will prevent pesky weeds and unwanted organisms from surfacing underneath your new artificial grass. Make sure you use a herbicide that you trust and make sure you pay particularly close attention to the edges.
3. Edging the area
You need to have edging all around the perimeter of your artificial grass zone. This can be done with composite or timber edging. When choosing timber, you need to make sure that it has been pressure treated and rated Class-4, for use in ground contact. Once chosen, cut longer lengths to form the perimeter and shorter stakes to use as pegs. Set the edging 10mm down from the desired height you want the artificial grass to finish at.
4. It’s all down to the base-work
Good base-work is essential if you are going to achieve a quality finish with most importantly a flat surface. If the ground surface is soft, use MOT to stabilise the surface and build up the base. On top of this you should layer a thin depth of crushed granite or limestone. Many people would recommend using grit sand, but at Cheshire Artificial Grass we believe that the quality of grit sand can vary too widely. Using crushed granite or limestone is the most suitable option.
5. It’s membrane time
Once you have your flat base layer, lay a permeable weed-proof membrane on top of it. This will prevent weeds and creepy crawlies from breaking through your new artificial lawn. We supply these membranes to all our landscapers, as well as extra fixtures and fittings. The membrane should overlap the edge of your artificial grass perimeter by at least 200mm. Once in place, pin it to the foundation to prevent the membrane from slipping around during installation and secure to your edging with staples.
6. Cutting to size
Lay the grass over the desired area and then work around the perimeter carefully cutting the grass back to the edge of the desired fit. Work in small sections and make sure that you undercut instead of over-cutting. Then fit the grass down to the surface using green decking screws.
7. Joining the artificial grass together
This is one of the trickiest parts of artificial grass installation. Screwing it up at this stage can ruin a project. Mix the glue and hardener carefully. Once mixed, apply it over the joining tape using a ribbed trowel. If the glue is laid too thick then it will be felt underfoot when people walk over the artificial grass. Gently work the turf into the glue without touching the individual grass fibres. Use a carpet kicker to make fine adjustments.
8. Finishing touches on your artificial grass installation
Finally, if you have made a mess, make sure you clean up after yourself. Use a brush to give the new artificial lawn it’s plumped up look and voilà, a successful artificial grass installation.
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