Educational Establishments
“It’s a delicate balance to decide where to invest in the grounds and the kit, and also what level of usage warrants a bigger outlay”
Included in the budget for the grounds is everything from tree work to fertiliser, and maintenance of all the kit to tarmac for road repairs. “It’s a delicate balance to decide where to invest in the grounds and the kit, and also what level of usage warrants a bigger outlay,” explains Dave. The team, which includes an extra summer worker, need to be ready for anything. For example, this year, they have been busy building new hockey backboards, laying re-enforcement mesh in the car park, and monitoring the numbers of Canada geese, which are eventually controlled by a contract falconer!
Staff and Training
Things were somewhat different seven and a half years ago when Dave (32) was appointed as Head Groundsman. The grounds team operated out of an old stable block in a tea room/workshop.
Dave says; “When I first arrived, there was no plan, documents or evidence of any long term pattern of work but, with a supportive Bursar trusting my professional judgement, I set out on a rough ten year plan to modernise, professionalise and transform the school grounds and operations.” Staffing is key to any business and particularly to a small team with a large variety of demands on them. Training is available for all staff, which usually starts with chainsaw and spraying certificates. Over the years, staff have gained Level 2 Horticulture, Level 3, Tree Inspection, various industry short courses and also training through Pitchcare; latterly the Supervisory Essentials courses, led by Frank Newberry, which Dave describes as “the best workplace training I have had for many years.” In the coming year, Nick is hoping to go on a machinery maintenance course
with Pitchcare, Simon to do Tree Inspection at Merrist Wood, and Dave hopes to complete the advanced part of the winter pitches and cricket suites. Alongside professional training all the
team recognise that much of what they do as groundsmen comes from on the job learning. Dave has worked in the private school sector (Pangbourne & Oratory) since 2000 as well as two years self employed as a gardener in Reading. Simon has worked with council contractors, and Nick has experience of schools and gardens so, between them, they hope to have all the bases covered.
Transformation and Success
It’s been a building process at Farnborough Hill, starting with two bags of fertiliser per pitch in 2006, the grounds team now operate year round maintenance of all their sports and amenity turf, involving annual spraying OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 PC 105
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