York Minster was wall-to-wall grass last week for the York Minister Rose dinner to raise funds for the restoration of the building. The living grass – called Wow!Grass! because that’s what people say when they see it – is grown in felt made from recycled textiles rather than soil. It can be rolled up afterwards without leaving a mess. Developed by York-based specialist Lindum for the events industry, it has been donated by the firm to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the York Minster Rose, and was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show last year.

Wow!Grass! has also been used to create an indoor rugby pitch at The Grosvenor Hotel in London and a temporary ‘village green’ in Trafalgar Square.