Seaclose Park prior to the festival
on the market had the same spec as the Charterhouse Verti-Drain 7626, the biggest Verti-Drain they manufacture.” A trip to Saltex followed, and a chat with Nick Darking secured a demo at the Arsenal training ground to see their 7626, with the ultimate sale being managed by New Forest Machinery. They start preparing the ground in the middle of April, with intense aeration, as they believe it’s important to plan in advance to tackle the problems that the festival will cause. Andrew’s contractor aerates with 25mm tines set to a depth of about 14/15 inches, which the 7626 makes short work of because of its size. After that, they follow on with an overseeding programme, using a Charterhouse 1.5m Overseeder. Andrew fully expects people to say ‘why the hell is he doing that when 65,000 people are about to jump up and down on it?’ “The reason I do this is to aid recovery after the festival has finished,” he reasons, “April and May are ideal months to seed because we have a bit of moisture in the ground. Even if all of the seeds
... and another.
don’t germinate, we still get a head start in the recovery process after the festival has moved on. I like to use a 100% perennial ryegrass mix that is made up of various different cultivars, it’s hard wearing and recovers quickly making it ideal.”
At the end of May, just before the site is handed over to the event organisers, Solo, they do their final mow with a Kesmac five gang mower. They leave a little bit of time before the production team arrive at the site for two reasons, firstly, it gives the grass time to grow and thicken up again and, secondly, it is a hard task to mow once equipment and staging arrives on the site. The site is handed over to Solo’s
control from 1st June for three weeks, after a pre festival meeting and walk round with Andrew and his Parks Officer. They assess the general state of Seaclose Park during this initial inspection, and list down what damage is already there, so that Solo are aware of how the site is to be left when the festival is finished. Seaclose Park isn’t the only place that
TWENTYQuestions
Andrew Earley - placid, happy and easy going, except when free tickets are not on offer!
Who are you? Andrew Earley, Contracts Inspector (Parks and Countryside Division at Isle of Wight Council).
Family status? Married to wife Susan. Have two boys - Matthew, 11 and Nicholas, 7.
Who’s your hero and why? I don’t believe in having heroes!
What is your dream holiday? Going to the Rockies in Canada. I love the train journey around the mountains. It’s beautiful and a very peaceful place.
What annoys you the most? Unruly children!
What would you change about yourself? I’m happy being me.
Who wouldn’t you like to be? Gordon Brown directly after his ‘Bigotgate’ foul up on the Jeremy Vine Radio Show before the elections.
Favourite record, and why? Anything by Queen.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? My wife.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Well, firstly I would pay off all my family’s mortgages (mine first, of course). I would then take my family on a dream holiday and treat my boys.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A drum - because I like beating things!
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Only buy it if you can afford it.
What’s your favourite smell? Freshly cut grass.
What do you do in your spare time? Spare time - what’s that? I love spending any free time with my boys.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? The public are always asking ridiculous things.
What’s your favourite piece of kit? My Charterhouse Verti-Drain 7626
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Placid, happy, easy- going
What talent would you like to have? I would love to be able to play the electric guitar.
What makes you angry? Not getting free Isle of Wight Festival tickets!
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I would like to see tougher punishment for anti-social behaviour and fixed penalties introduced for littering.
sees a transformation during the festival. “It’s unbelievable,” Andrew reminisces, “Newport (the capital of the island), sees a massive influx of people in and out of the bars. It’s brilliant, you have a sea of festival goers walking through the town centre in colourful costumes of all shapes and sizes, and generally enjoying the weather!”
But, the £10 million that the festival brings to the island each year doesn’t please everybody, he goes on to say. “If you ask the younger generation, then they will tell you how much they love it. On the other hand, if you ask the older people in the community, especially those who live in the area that backs on to the park, they will give you a totally different answer! I suppose to summarise, it really is a case of mixed feelings.” Paul McCartney finishes off the festival late on Sunday 13th June and, the morning after, the park reveals its true state. “The morning after the night
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