WELCOME TO
Four seasons in one day!
ONLY in the UK can we get, on occasions, all the seasons packed into one day. The weather always seems to be at the top of everyone’s agenda and this year has thrown up many extraordinary conditions for us to cope with. In April and May parts of the country were issued with flood warnings, while the South East was already suffering enforced drought orders.
In Wolverhampton, even in June, we witnessed hail, rain, glorious sunshine and
temperatures between freezing and 20 degrees Celsius in just one day.
The start to this season’s growth was poor, soil temperatures remaining below the +8 degrees required to stimulate the existing plants and newly planted seed. Right up until June we felt that, in the Midlands, we were perhaps 6 weeks behind previous years in terms of growth and recovery.
Then the weather changed and there was an explosion of new growth. The high water content in the soil combined with the increase in temperature provided the perfect growing conditions- albeit a little late.
In my experience the weather rarely provides a perfect growing season and each year I have the same anxieties and worries that
surfaces will not be
ready in time. In an ideal world we’d enjoy warm days with some overnight rain every two to three days to top up the soil moisture content.
With the winter sport renovations the clock is on a countdown to the players returning, after their relatively short break, to training for the new season. The time seems to pass quickly and as the deadline looms you are often left wondering whether the surfaces will be back to their eminent best in time. Despite these inevitable worries, and last minute panics, a good maintenance regime will get you through.
The bowls, cricket, golf and tennis guys also had a tough start to the year, unable, in many parts of the country, to even get on to do pre-season work. Season starts were put back. Even once the season had started much of April and May was a wash out.
With the sudden change in the weather, many cricket and tennis surfaces then dried out too quickly and have been prone to cracking as temperatures soared towards 30 degrees Celsius.
the PC team DAVE SALTMAN
Managing Director. Last seen, and heard, yodelling halfway up a Swiss mountain and singing “the hills are alive”. Yes, our Dave needed a holiday after his recent hectic work schedule. He is believed to be “Off Piste” which reverses his usual attitude -d
da da! JOHN RICHARDS
footballers legs and a mop of ‘ash blond’ hair -v
very attractive!
Operations Director and proof reader. If you spot a mistake in this magazine it’s because John has missed it. Of course, you won’t (and if you do, say nothing), because John has the keen eyes of a hawk -a
along with
LAURENCE (WRITING) GALE
days one of them will see the light of day! Roadshows anybody?
Editor. Reaching the ripe old age of 50 does not seem to have dampened Loz’s enthusiasm one jot. He comes up with more ideas than the British Patent Office have on their books -o
one of these PETER BRITTON
Sales and Production. Has now turned his ‘Meldrew’ behaviour towards the England football team as the cricket team’s 2nd XI are beyond his help! As a Spurs fan he had to pass up a recent opportunity to visit Stamford Bridge - apparently the Chelsea Trophy Room would have been too traumatic for him!
Whatever the situation, we have to deal with it as best as we can. I also aim to keep the Secretary,
committee and/or
Chairman fully informed of decisions made, or soon to be undertaken, in relation to the weather.
Whilst watching our seedlings recently at the training ground enjoy the irrigation, I really felt for all those without the opportunity to water at will during the hotter spells. Hopefully, the Government will bow to public concerns this year and force the water authorities to govern their Industry more strictly. All of these privatised bodies are making huge profits, yet seem unable to repair their systems and prevent the untold millions of gallons of water that are wasted each year. Certainly in the southern part of the country more efficient ways of saving water need to be implemented. During the winter months there is normally more than enough rainfall to fulfil all our needs if it were collected and stored properly.
However, as Groundsmen and Greenkeepers, we are a resourceful breed and, more often than not, find a way to get round the problems that Mother Nature throws at us - so good luck for the coming months.
DAVE SALTMAN Managing Director
ELLIE TAIT
PR and Marketing Executive. Upstanding citizen and contributor, of late, to the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph. Rumour has it she was approached by the News of the World to ‘do a piece’ but rejected it on the principle of the paper’s saucy content.
ALASTAIR BATTRICK
Web Monkey. Despite the smiley photo retains the attitude of a grumpy northerner, which is only matched by the fact that he is a grumpy northerner. His diet and keep fit regime, which began with his cycling to work, now includes eating a cardboard substitute for lunch.
DAN HUGHES
Pitchcare’s Receptionist and Telephonist. It’s usually Dan’s nasal tones that you hear first on the phone - that’s if he hasn’t dropped the handset. Still coming to terms with the technology required to transfer a call preferring to shout across the office “Ere it’s for you!”
SHARON TAYLOR
Company Accountant. Turned up for work with a limp, black eye and bruised body. Whilst Sharon is no stranger to danger her horses do seem to be strangers to good manners! Sharon celebrated her, err, 30th birthday last week so it’s handy that she loves chocolate and fizzy pop, of which copious amounts were served at the party.
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