Requirement: Temporary reinforced grass parking for university staff
Client: Loughborough University
Location: Loughborough University
Product supplied: Heavy Duty Grass Reinforcement Mesh, 2m x 20m
Area covered: 4,240m² across two parking areas
Accessories supplied: 321 packs of metal U pins and 710 grass reinforcement mesh bay markers
Installation completed: 8 December 2025
Issue
Loughborough University required temporary staff parking while building works were being carried out elsewhere on site.
The project involved reinforcing two existing grassed areas so they could be used for car parking while avoiding the need to install a permanent hardstanding surface or any additional drainage. The reinforced areas were intended for staff use rather than public or student parking.
Grassmats carried out site visits before the installation to assess the areas, review the expected use and provide recommendations for the best performance of the grass reinforcement system.
The two areas totalled approximately 4,240m² and were expected to accommodate up to 210 cars, based on standard parking dimensions and vehicle movement aisles.
Solution
Grassmats installed Heavy Duty Grass Reinforcement Mesh across two separate parking areas at Loughborough University.
The first area covered approximately 1,920m² and included 145 packs of fixing pins and 300 bay markers. The second area covered approximately 2,320m² and included 176 packs of fixing pins and 410 bay markers.
The mesh was installed over short, recently cut grass to help it sit flush with the surface. This is important because grass reinforcement mesh performs best once the grass grows through and interlocks with the mesh, helping to create a stronger reinforced grass surface over time.
The installation was completed on 8 December 2025. The site was then expected to be used from early January 2026 for temporary staff parking.
Early Use and Weather Conditions
The parking areas were brought into use soon after installation, during a very wet winter period.
As with any grass reinforcement mesh installation, the best results are achieved when the grass has time to grow through the mesh before regular vehicle use begins. Where immediate use is required, the system may need additional early aftercare while the surface beds in.
In the weeks after installation, the site experienced persistent wet weather. This meant the ground had limited opportunity to dry out or recover before vehicles began using the reinforced areas.
Some early bedding-in issues were reported in January, particularly where vehicles were turning or where repeated wheel movements were concentrated. Grassmats arranged follow-up support, with our installer returning to site to add extra pins and our Technical Sales Manager carrying out a further post-installation visit shortly afterwards.
Benefits
The project provided Loughborough University with a temporary parking solution across two existing grassed areas.
- Temporary staff parking without creating a permanent tarmac or concrete car park
- Reinforcement of existing grassed areas across a large site
- Use of bay markers to help organise parking spaces
- Metal U pins used to secure the mesh during installation
- A permeable surface that retained the grassed character of the site
- Follow-up support from Grassmats during the early bedding-in period
The project also demonstrated the importance of installation timing and aftercare. Where grass reinforcement mesh is installed in winter and used soon afterwards, wet weather and concentrated vehicle movements can create additional pressure before the grass has had time to grow through the mesh.
Outcome
The completed installation gave Loughborough University additional temporary staff parking while other works were taking place on site.
The project highlighted the importance of allowing grass reinforcement mesh time to bed in where possible. Spring and early autumn are usually better installation periods because grass growth is stronger and the mesh can become established before heavier use.
Where immediate use is required, Grassmats can provide practical guidance around speed control, entrance and exit points, turning areas, pinning, bay marking and early maintenance.
No further support requests were received following the post-installation visits.
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Recommended Products
For similar projects, we recommend our Heavy Duty Grass Reinforcement Mesh, which is suitable for reinforced grass parking, access routes and high-use vehicle areas.
For marked parking layouts, our Grass Reinforcement Mesh Bay Markers can be used to identify individual parking spaces.
Our Metal U Pins are used to secure the mesh during installation.
View our full Grass Reinforcement Mesh range or contact Grassmats for project-specific advice.
Planning temporary staff parking?
If you need to create temporary staff parking, event parking or overflow parking on an existing grassed area, Grassmats can help assess the site and recommend a suitable reinforcement option.
Contact our team with your site details, expected vehicle numbers and intended use period.
