Pre-filled Rock Mattresses
Rock Mattresses are robust, permanent revetments designed for use around reservoirs, shorelines, lake edges, streams, and riverbanks. They provide a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional rock armour, riprap, and gabion systems, preventing erosion while supporting the natural establishment of vegetation.
Formed by joining Rock Rolls into 2 m × 1 m units, Rock Mattresses deliver exceptional hydraulic performance, capable of withstanding high flow velocities and shear stresses up to 1200 N/m². Their small stone size encourages silt deposition and enables full vegetation cover, a feature not possible with large rock systems.
Rock Mattresses offer immediate scour protection, particularly below low water levels, where pure bioengineering techniques may not function effectively. When combined with Coir Rolls, Coir Pallets, or live willow, they create hybrid solutions that enhance habitat diversity, supporting invertebrates and even native crayfish populations.
Applications
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Shorelines & Reservoirs: Ideal for high wave-energy environments and fluctuating water levels, offering a stable base for natural colonisation. Soil or dredged material can be placed over the mattresses to accelerate plant growth.
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Spillways: Provide durable protection at hydraulic transitions or high-flow areas, and integrate seamlessly with Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs) such as VMax C350 or P550.
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Rivers & Streams: Used as a bioengineered toe protection to absorb energy from flow and wave action, allowing vegetated systems to establish above.
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Intertidal Zones: Suitable for saline environments, rapidly accreting sediment and providing long-term erosion control in high sediment load conditions.
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Headwalls & Outfalls: Deliver instant protection in scour zones where conventional gabion installation is difficult, reducing construction time by up to 95%.
By combining engineering strength with ecological function, Salix Rock Mattresses provide a low-carbon, long-term solution that works with natural processes to stabilise banks, enhance biodiversity, and protect critical infrastructure.
Watch our video with Dr Ruth Callaway of Swansea University talking about her research on our Rock Mattresses through our video resources page.
