April 07: Existing pitch after pipe drainage
of early spring 2007 was agreed. Summer 2007, was one to remember (could we forget the rain and flooding?) and, unsurprisingly, the project was hampered by wet weather and site conditions throughout. In fact, Oxfordshire had 300mm of rain from May through July and, to compound matters, until the existing pitch had been drained any remedial work on the Marston PC site was delayed. Alan Lewis
August 07: Sand being applied and ...
explained “Despite the weather, we did make progress. Some of the trees were removed for safety reasons and we had the ditches cleared to help lower the water table and act as a catchment drain between the areas of land. We installed a new piped drainage system with five metre laterals. Site investigations showed a high water table so we wanted to get the drains as deep as possible, but this was limited due to the outfall depth. However, we did manage to maximise the fall of the drains by redesigning a bespoke outfall drain.
An AFT 45 on a compact tractor has two applications
Fitted with its chain and boom for wider and deeper trenches, or
Fitted with its slitting wheel for narrow slit drainage
Charlie Haynes said “Initially, some members of the committee were apprehensive about undertaking this project. However, the feasibility studies and discussions gave us the understanding and confidence to proceed. The project was difficult with the weather but we are delighted with the outcome.”
Any possible concerns the council members had over the efficiency of the new system were dispelled almost immediately after installation, when, after heavy rainfall, over a weekend in Oxford when 5” (125mm) of water fell on the pitch. The drainage system worked, with the outfall running at full bore. To complete the drainage part of the
project, the surface was dressed with 150 tonnes of sports sand and aerated using a verti-drain aerator. Due to the heavy compaction of the soil, the tines were unable to penetrate to their full depth, although, with regular maintenance, this will improve each time it is done. The whole area was over sown with perennial rye grass at 35 grammes per metre square, fertilised with a three month slow release fertiliser high in phosphate and potash - the nutrients found deficient from earlier soil tests.
Meanwhile, on the adjacent Marsh Lane site, although work commenced by removing a 225mm top soil strip, weather conditions prevented any further work for three months.
AFT Trenchers Tel: 01787 311811 email:
info@trenchers.co.uk www.trenchers.co.uk
78
Nevertheless, after the sub soil was laser graded, the top soil was returned and a pipe drainage system was installed. The surface work was completed with 200 tonnes of sports sand, ameliorated into the system to aid the rapid movement of surface water. It was possible to put more sand on the new area because it was bare and could be ‘worked’ into the surface. After the final levels were trimmed to +/- 15mm the site was sown with 100% Permanent Rye
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104