him. The morning was spent by myself, Ken (complete with hernia) and several volunteers armed with snow shovels, following Andy on his tractor, removing the 120mm cores that his 8mm hollow tines had made at 40mm intervals. In my mind the green had started to look better already!
A few days later I was contacted by Dean Broughton, a turfcare contractor of some twenty-five years, who offered (again, free of charge) to travel down from north Leicestershire with his Groundsman 345 (a very good machine, Ken tells me), fitted with 6mm hollow tines set at 30mm square spacing and penetrating to a depth of 90mm. Dean, a straight-talking, larger than life character, made light work of the tining and then left his machine to help us sweep up the small cores. These simple treatments have already made a marked difference to the green. Where there is grass, it is greener and, where previously surface water would pool, it now drains away deep into the soil. With one or two applications of ferrous sulphate and regular and varied forms of aeration, the moss and thatch has also started to break down. Ken again: “Those of you who know me and my wafflings from the message board, may be aware that I’m an organic man at heart and strive to use products that either stimulate or encourage the soil food web (living micro-organisms, including beneficial fungi, bacteria, protozoa and nematodes). For the most part, I’ve been working closely with Alan Sharp of Symbio, who I believe are the
UK leaders in terms of products and back-up support.” “Having read the posts on the Pitchcare message board, Alan contacted me and suggested that, free of charge, he would supply the club with a full programme for the forthcoming season, including organic fertilisers, bacterial additive products to reduce thatch and other plant stimulants that would benefit and help proliferate the soil food web. He felt that the lack of cultural practices, and the lack of fertiliser and any chemical input, provided a blank canvas to work with and an ideal opportunity for his programme to prove itself.”
Both Ken and I have been truly amazed, and somewhat humbled, by the response from members on the Pitchcare message board, and the spirit and generosity shown by those who have travelled many miles at their own expense to help a club they’ve more than likely never heard of. I’ve played sport all of my life, and I’ve never come across this kind of generosity.” Ken Barber comments: “What I saw at
Woodford-cum-Membris was no different from any other club that manages its green through volunteers, has a committee which is elected to manage the club and its finances which, ultimately,
Club member, Paul Shrimpton, helps with the diagonal mowing
provide the budget to maintain the green throughout the year. With small bowls clubs, green maintenance is almost entirely dependent on membership subscriptions and continuous fund raising throughout the playing season.” So, what now for Woodford-cum- Membris? The programme is well underway and members, who can see that something is being done about the green, are volunteering to help out. It’s fantastic to see the club coming together again. We’re by no means out of the woods and need to start fundraising to buy some machinery, such as the Groundsman, which did such a good job. As well as the green, it’s prompted members to improve the state of the grounds and facilities too, and we’re grateful to a number of businesses which have supported us in our efforts. Watch this space!
www.woodfordbowls.co.uk
Turf renovation and maintenance machinery
...for a great deal call us or visit the website
CALL - 01638 720123 VISIT -
www.thegrassgroup.com
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