A turf surface 80 comprising:(a) a reinforcing root-permeable mat 10； (b) a removable root-permeable backing 60 located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10； (c) a layer of growth media 42 located on the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10； and(d) natural grass plants 30 having roots 32 extending downwardly through the layer of growth media 42 and the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10 and the removable root-permeable backing 60； wherein, in use, prior to being laid at a destination site, the removable root-permeable backing 60 is separated from the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10, so that any roots 34 which engage with and extend through the removable root-permeable backing 60 are substantially removed from the turf surface 80.
