Mottisfont, National Trust | Non-Slip Decking Case Study

The National Trust replace their visitor footbridges with anti-slip decking to keep visitors safe in wet woodland.

Mottisfont is a romantic house and gallery set in beautiful riverside gardens with a wider estate offering relaxing walks to take in the sights of some of Hampshire’s most glorious countryside. Owned by the National Trust, Mottisfont welcomed just under 400,000 visitors through its doors in 2019.

"It’s so nice to see the project finally come together after 12 months of delays. We were sent samples very quickly and straight away, both us and the National Trust, instantly loved the product. We worked with Gripsure, using their knowledge and experience, to select the right product for the job. We have had great success with this project and are already quoting future projects which we hope to secure and continue our working relationship with Gripsure." - Daniel Weeks, William's Engineering Solutions Ltd.

In January 2020, Mottisfont contracted the help of William’s Engineering Solutions Ltd to find a solution for three popular footbridges located around the property’s wider estate. Given the high footfall these paths receive, they required a product that was durable, low maintenance, and above all safe. It had to replace the chicken wire that had previously been laid and become dangerously slippery.

Mottisfont chose Gripsure Heritage, a cost-effective softwood board with excellent anti-slip properties as a result of the high aggregate coverage. They also opted to have the timber treated to UC4, given the wet location, offering enhanced longevity and ultimate protection.

This project didn’t come without unforeseen challenges. With the initial order placed in January 2020, it was only a short while later when the pandemic struck, throwing the nation into its first lockdown just before the delivery was to be made in early March. As a result of the tumultuous and uncertain times, the National Trust was then forced to halt all projects until the end of the year. One year on and. after much effort and determination, the boards have finally been installed and are ready to welcome visitors to explore acres of beautiful woodland once again.