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).