Right: 1st team rugby pitch ine looking in pristine condition
Below: Part of the beautifully manicured grounds of the school
Craig is assisted by Wayne Bradshaw, Deputy Head Grounds & Gardens, Edward Philips, groundsman and gardener, Paul Barnett, leading gardener and James Lewis, gardener.
CRAIG takes up the story of his time at Wells. “During the summer of 1996, the school lost their 1st XI cricket ground, which also housed grass hockey during the winter months, due to the building of a relief road for the City. This road also went straight through the shale tennis courts, so major construction of new playing fields took place.” “The 1st XI cricket was to be sited on the main school ground, known as Cedars. This ground was on three levels and, at the time, housed three rugby pitches during the winter and was used for junior school cricket in the summer term. It was always fun trying to produce a cricket surface from the centre of a rugby pitch!!!” “A number of meetings took place with the local council and consultants working on behalf of the school. During the first meeting regarding the construction of the new cricket square, the plan was to use the existing Mendip top soil. This is when I voiced my opinion and said that, if we were to play a high standard of school and county cricket, we must have the right soil and construction to produce a top-playing surface.” “At the time our Headmaster was an MCC member who had also played cricket to a very good standard. He supported me in the decision to use the correct soil, and finance was agreed to purchase the Ongar loam required.” “In the spring of 1995, construction began, with the field being cut and filled. We were unable to produce a level
SURFING? We’ve got pages and pages
TURF
The decision was a gentle slope
outfield due to trees at the top end of the ground. The decision was either to have a gentle slope towards the square or to cut the field further back leaving the two trees in question on ‘pedestals’. The decision was a gentle slope.” “Once the ground was cut and filled the cricket square was identified and dug out to a depth of twelve inches and a stone raft was laid. The Ongar loam required to produce the 10 x 10 foot strips x 22 yards to an 8-inch depth was delivered during August/September.” “The 4 inch base, requiring 98yd3
allowing for 20% compaction, was laid in one mass and consolidated. The top 4 inches of Ongar loam were then laid in two 2-inch layers, each layer consolidated and then keyed together. The levelling was done with lasers set up on the outfield to achieve the 1 in 100 slope on the square. Pre-seed fertiliser was applied and then seeded using Mascot No 3 cricket square mixture at 35gms/ square metre. On the outfield, pre- seed fertiliser was applied and seeded with Mascot No 4 cricket/hockey outfield mixture.” “Then we sat back,
loose
The cricket ground is overlooked by the imposing Wells Cathedral
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