The core of Rush Matters' work is traditional rush floor matting, also known as medieval or apple matting. The rush is plaited by hand, using a '9 end flat weave' into lengths 3" wide, and hand sewn together with jute twine. Each mat is made to each clients requirements as a central mat, runner or fitted as a carpet, wall to wall. Size is no object. An '11 end flat weave' produces a fine 1 1/2" plait to bind the ends or sewn all round to fully edge the mat or carpet.

Felicity Irons, founder of Rush Matters, and her team of cutters carry on a centuries old tradition harvesting English freshwater bulrush scirpus lacustris, schoeneplectus on the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, the Nene in Northamptonshire and on the River Ivel in Bedfordshire.

The bulrush is cut from 17ft long punts using slim scythe-shaped blades, 3ft long fixed to a 6ft handle, enabling the rush stems sometimes up to 10ft in length to be cut from the river bed. Each days' cut is transported back to the farm and stood up against a 500m hedge to allow sun and wind to dry the rush over a few days. We cut up to 2 tonnes of rush a day. In the summer of 2011 we harvested 2,300 bolts of rush.

The rush flooring is suitable for any interior space. Its natural tones, texture and scent is ideal for the interiors of today. Equally, it has fantastic historical and traditional uses in older properties.

Once laid, the matting benefits from regular watering using an atomiser. This will rejuvenate the rush work and enhance the aroma and overall life of the flooring.