Summer Sports - Cricket
Todd operating the Graden
throughout the winter months with a Sisis spiker but, during the season, only wicket ends are repaired. Due to the size of the square the wickets cannot be spiked, overseeded and topdressed as they will need to be brought back into play as soon as possible. “We are severely affected by changing weather patterns due to our proximity to the Malvern Hills,” Todd goes on to explain. “With our groundsmen being in full time work (or at school!), this means that only evenings are available for pitch preparation which, in turn, means any rain in the evening can result in no work being done on the square.”
The obvious aim now is to continue to
improve the square. “We are trying to rebuild the levels of the square as we have some issues with lower points. This is slow progress though, as budgets mean loam cannot be bought in large enough quantities to have an immediate effect.” “The square is gradened in three
directions to keep thatch content low, cleaned out using a Sisis Auto-Rotorake, spiked, seeded and then six bags of Kaloam are applied per strip. Just two bags of 20kg grass seed is sown, which is the bare minimum to get acceptable coverage.”
“It’s a slow process,” confesses Todd, “that is not helped by narrow access to the ground which restricts deliveries.” “All the work is carried out in-house.
To use the autumn renovation equipment, we attended the required certification courses, whilst keeping
All hands to the pump for end of season renovations
abreast of developments via the Pitchcare website and WAG (Worcestershire Association of Groundsmen). Three of us have recently been on the autumn renovations course to help with end of season preparation, whilst our local ECB pitch adviser also comes in to recommend future work.” Where machinery is concerned, top of the club’s wish list is a modern roller, rather than the old ‘hand cranked’ Bomag. “A new dedicated cricket roller would certainly help, as would a set of gang mowers so that we can cut the outfield when we want to rather than relying on the school.” “Any machinery we need is bought secondhand from a local dealer. We simply do not have the budget to buy new, although we do make a point of buying well known brands. We have, jointly with the school, purchased a field spiker and are also proposing the purchase of a chain harrow and field roller in the near future.” “The Graden and Sisis Auto-Rotorake used for end of season renovations are hired from the WAG trailer.” Machinery is serviced by Trevor Evans, a mechanic from Hanley Swan. “The local flora and fauna is important to the club, so we try to manage the surrounding environment sensitively. There is a field next to our outfield that is left uncut to allow wildlife to establish, as well as the hedges surrounding the ground, which are maintained carefully to allow plants and animals to thrive.”
“At my club, the groundsmen are not undervalued, as many members get their hands dirty and appreciate the hard work that has to be put into the facility. But, the industry’s profile could be raised at a higher level if the international and county sides had a better understanding of the work that is put in. This would not only set an example but would filter down through the numerous levels of the sports so that others might follow by example.” Clearly, Todd has a wise head on young shoulders and we wish him well as he progresses his career.
What’s in the shed?
Hayter Ambassador 20 inch (wicket mower)
Atco Groundsman 34 inch (square mower)
Sisis scarifier to rake the pitches in preparation
Bomag roller Hand roller Drag Brush
Seed and fertiliser spreader Cylinder mower Sarrel Roller Sisis spiker
Clean up your act
There’s a Trilo Vacuum Sweeper/Blower to suit all requirements to clean your open areas of litter, leaves and grass cuttings.
You’ll also find great attachments available to turn your machine into a multifunction turf maintenance unit.
So come on, clean up your act, contact us today. Tel: 01638 720123
www.thegrassgroup.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 PC 85
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