Les Quennevais Sports Complex measurement - 5.5 verges is approximately 1 hectare)
Les Quennevais Sports Complex was developed on sand dunes. During the Second World War, when the Island was under German occupation, the area was used as a firing range. On site are still the remains of an old bunker and, over the years, the odd shell has been discovered.
The playing field started as a small
area next to a newly developed secondary school back in the 1960’s. In 1979 it was agreed by the States of Jersey to develop the small school playing field adding four senior football pitches, two junior football pitches, two cricket squares, two grass hockey pitches, cycle track and a bowling green. Work was developed over three phases. The first phase commenced in 1983 with the cycle track which went around the perimeter of the complex. The track is 1,500 metres in length and between 4 and 8 metres wide. This was ideal for short fast races of the Criterion type. Within the boundary of the track the white sand base was levelled under the watchful eye of the STRI, who were employed by the States of Jersey as consultants to the development, and myself who had been recently appointed
54 head groundsman.
Deliveries of leaf mould from road sweepings, along with soil from other States building projects, had been delivered to the site over the previous few years and stockpiled. This material was mixed together by payloaders to form a rootzone. Before cultivation and seeding went ahead, a main irrigation line was put in, with hydrants, to be used when the field was completed. The first phase of winter games pitches came into play in autumn 1984 just as the second phase commenced. This second phase involved another football and hockey pitch, the two cricket squares plus changing rooms for the complex. This phase of work cost £250,000 making a total of £410,000 so far spent on the development. Cheap compared to today’s prices!
The site was very exposed towards the west end of the field. So, with the help of the Men of the Trees (an organisation to encourage the protection, preservation and planting of trees throughout the island) 9,000 trees and shrubs were planted along the boundaries and in strategic areas between pitches. The scheme was intended to provide the
practical benefit of windbreaks in an otherwise exposed area. Half the trees planted were Maritime Pines with the remainder made up of Corsican Pines, Lodgepole Pines and Evergreen Oaks. The turf for the cricket squares had been seeded off-site two years previously. The squares would have 8 wickets on each with an artificial wicket to one end. They were cultivated and re-levelled and the turf laid, with Surrey loam top- dressing added until both squares came into play at the start of the 1985 season. One thing in groundsmanship that I always find rewarding, is the chance to play on a surface which you have worked on. This I was fortunate to achieve by playing in the first match on the new wickets. As I had spent many a day on my knees turfing and hand weeding it rewarded me well. I top scored with 30 runs and took 3 for 15!
The last phase involved constructing a bowling green and tennis courts with pavilions.
The site chosen for the green was ideal; in a sheltered area of the complex. The site still had a sandy base so it was decided not to put in drains. Once the surrounding ditches and paths had been
... is the largest sports facility in the Channel Islands with a total area of over 100 verges (a Jersey
Report by STEVE LANDICK, States of Jersey Manager, Playing Fields & Operations and past Head Groundsman of Les Quennevais Sports Complex
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