Removing existing grass cover from outfield
documentation. As part of the new pavilion development, the requirement to reduce the extent and level of the outfield meant that the new slope from the Kirkstall Lane end would be reduced to 1 in 80. To the south of the square the existing gradient was largely retained but, to the east, some filling was required to build up a distinct existing low area. As well as the level adjustment works, the design for the new outfield also included a completely new pipe drainage system supplemented by sand amelioration in the upper topsoil profile, as well as the provision of slit drains. Allowance was also made for the incorporation of fibre reinforcement into the sand ameliorated topsoil layer. A fully automatic irrigation system was also designed for the new outfield, and a grass cover was to be established by laying an imported fibre reinforced turf grown on a sandy rootzone. The redevelopment of the outfield was also an opportunity to install a network of ducts around the outfield to facilitate the future installation of a floodlighting system for the cricket ground, this being required to accommodate the associated cabling servicing each floodlight pylon.
Tendering and timing
The tendering process took place in March 2008, at the end of which J Pugh- Lewis Ltd of Chesterfield was awarded the contract.
ASHES!
seating extension. Other features included a storm cell attenuation system located immediately in front of the Western Terrace, as well as a series of ducts along the southern outfield serving various CCTV and alarm system cables. The existing drainage system comprised an incomplete network of original agricultural clay tile drains lying approximately 300-400mm below the surface. These had been supplemented with localised sections of plastic pipe drains installed by the club at various stages over the past thirty years. This included a drainage system installed across to and immediately around the central square.
A topographical survey of the existing outfield confirmed that there was an overall fall across the site of 2.75 metres
from the Kirkstall Lane end down towards the rugby ground stand to the south. On the northern half of the outfield the overall slope down to the square was approximately 1 in 43 whilst, on the southern side, the slope eased out slightly to around 1 in 45 to 1 in 50. By comparison, this gradient was much steeper than that across the Lord’s ground, which is in the region of 1 in 55. A noticeable feature of the old outfield was its generally undulating nature with local variations in gradient and directions of fall, which did not make for the best of surfaces for a cricket outfield.
Planning
Once all the background site information had been collated, a start was made on preparing the design and contract
Under normal circumstances the timing of such extensive earth moving and drainage operations would only be considered during the normally drier late spring and summer months, particularly where such a heavy clay profile is involved. However, as cricket is a summer sport, the improvement works were restricted to the most unfavourable late autumn and winter months. In order to increase the time that the outfield was available, the club agreed to relocate its final home fixtures to their Scarborough ground. Consequently, works were able to commence on the outfield redevelopment on 16th September 2008.
The works
The first requirement was to strip off the existing thatchy turf, which was achieved using two Koro Fieldtopmakers. This work was undertaken on a sub-contract basis by Premier Pitches. A three metre exclusion zone was left around the perimeter of the square (that remained undisturbed) enabling Head Groundsman, Andy Fogarty, and his team to carry out the usual end of season renovation works. The topsoil was then removed. Before any regrading of the outfield could be undertaken, the existing high voltage cable had to be diverted in order to avoid the new pavilion working area. Once this had been achieved, work could then start on reducing the level at the Kirkstall Lane end of the outfield. This work was carried out using a combination of a 360° tracked excavator and dozer that generated a total of
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