We were at a site in the New Forest last month. The booking info insisted on breathable groundsheets so I splashed out £46 on one. When we got to the site, we discovered why they were insisting. All of the topsoil had gone from the pitches let alone grass. We pitched on a bed of mud & broken flints. We didn't see anyone else with a breathable groundsheet on the site, even the shop sold PVC tarp groundsheets! People in tents with SIGs had theirs torn to bits by sleeping on those flint chippings. We didn't take the old PVC one & at the next site in Derbyshire it rained heavily. As to be expected the breathable was one muddy puddle. There really isn't an answer needed to this I supphose! We either put up with muddy awnings or else no grass.
We put a clear plastic sheet on the walk way through our awning under the eco mat and when we lifted it we couldn't see any difference. Where the cool box had stood was another matter.
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Quote: Originally posted by s23mrw on 06/9/2009
Our awning area last weekend was like a mudbath.Nightmare
We had a similar experience. Decided to splash out on a breathable groundsheet to be socially responsible(?)only to find we were splashing about in the water/mud that came up through it during rain!
Contacted Breathablegroundsheets.co.uk where I got mine, very knowledgable/helpful as they were, they confirmed that 'breathable' means it is covered in holes!
So, in my opinion, they seem to serve no purpose whatsoever in any other conditions than when ground & weather is completely dry. (i.e. when you need them least)
Mine looks nice though, now that I've spent an hour hosing/scrubbing it off.
So, unless this thread suggests a solution, I've resolved to, in anything other than perfect conditions and weather to put my old PVC one underneath.
Quote: Originally posted by bernie bann on 06/9/2009
we have thrown 3 away once they are wet and muddy cant use them again or am i wronge <IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/forum_images/smiley29.gif" alt=17>
Just give them a good hose and brush down they come up like new!
Is there any difference in the state of the grass from using a breathable groundsheet? As grass needs light, air and moisture to grow, surely plastic matting, even with holes in it, is going adversely affect the turf?
We had an open weave breathable ground sheet first. It was quite soft underfoot, but heavy, bulky to fold and very muddy underfoot in bad conditions
Changed it for a close weave one, which is lighter and easier to fold. Water/mud still comes through, but no where near as bad as our original ground sheet.
Having been away with it down for a couple of weeks, I can say there was no change in the grass when it came up...which was good for the next lot of campers and the campsite. But, there was a few tiny tufts of grass growing through by the last day.
Had tried the clear plastic sheet under the original ground sheet on occasions, as we were getting the odd worm, but the grass did look a bit yellow when we lifted it.
Breathable groundsheets do work,after 2 weeks the grass under ours in our awning was in better condition than when we arrived.The grass did not grow as much exept under the step it was about 4" high.
You can see the difference where the mud flap has made the grass white and no grass where we had a mat due to the wet weather.
I agree, letting the dog out in the middle of the night is not good on bare feet after a down pour,there was a dip in the middle that went very soggy just where we walked,and no good for a tent where it gets constant use.
I would prefer not to use one but after a few weeks of use some pitches are only fit to put your car on.