“There was no holding water on the actual playing field and we had produced a pool at the bottom of the site where the proposed netball courts were to be installed!”


Grouville Playing Field, Jersey by Alan Penn MSc


Original Farmer’s Field


As part of my work for Fields In Trust (formerly the National Playing Fields Association) I organise and operate the trading arm which works with a variety of organisations, from Parish and Town Councils to sports clubs, to improve playing fields and sports facilities; it does also lead to the odd new playing field being built. Sometimes the work involves producing a report about maintenance, sometimes it is a detailed specification and tender for a particular project, and sometimes it is overseeing and managing contracts.


One such project was when we were Levelling works


asked to produce a specification and oversee a project on the delightful island of Jersey for the States Education Department. It sounded simple enough - just take this farmer’s potato field and turn it into a primary school playing field. Like everywhere else in the United Kingdom funds are tight, not only for construction but also the added problems in Jersey and the other Channel Islands of having to work with the equipment, sands and soils that are available on the islands. In addition, Jersey has a micro climate of its own.


Seeding Germination


So, after an initial meeting with States Education to discuss the costs involved and the constraints on the project, we were asked to produce a specification. Having worked in the industry for over twenty years, I always like to involve the groundstaff who are expected to maintain the facility when it is finished. The maintenance for this site was to come under Parks and Gardens, and it made my life a lot easier when they also tendered for the work and were awarded the contract to produce the playing field. My contact for all the works we have undertaken on Jersey, including this project, has been Parks and Gardens Assistant Manager, Steve Landick. Steve and I discussed all the issues and it was at this point that an island architect, Andrew Harvey, was brought in. The initial brief was to produce a playing field, with possibly a netball court at the bottom, and fencing all around. Due to parking constraints a one way


The completed project


From po THRE


road was also agreed for dropping off and picking up school children. There were no funds available to put any type of drainage into the playing field design and, of course, the soil was clay - but when we first assessed the site, we found it had a reasonably acceptable fall from top to bottom, which both Steve and I felt could be levelled, keeping the current contours to aid drainage run off. However, Andrew suggested a three plateau playing field, the top plateau for the playing field, the middle as a picnic area with the bottom plateau prepared as a netball court. After further discussions between all the parties involved this was specified and tendered.


The initial earthworks and surface levelling were undertaken by contractors Jayen who would return to install the road and fence once the playing field works were completed. The levelling was completed relatively quickly under the supervision of both myself and Steve.


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