Educational Establishments
Cricket on the main site
in Australia where his interest in horticulture began. He came to the UK in 1997 whilst on his travels and it was while ‘working to pay his way’ that he met his wife to be, Sara, and decided to settle down and live in Watford. He has always enjoyed gardening and looking after sports pitches, with cricket being his first love, and ran his own garden maintenance business until 2003. His first job in the industry proper was as a
groundsman with Watford Borough Council, working at Garston and helping to maintain cricket, bowls, rugby, football and athletics surfaces.
In the eight years he has been at the school, Mark has attained various qualifications, including PA1, 2 and 6, along with attending various industry courses. In time, and as his finances allow, he hopes to gain additional qualifications and study for a PhD in turf science. Mark is passionate about groundsmanship and, during his tenure at Watford Grammar, has been able to improve the quality of the playing surfaces year on year, which has further encouraged the school to invest in new and second hand equipment. Last year, he was able to purchase a
Charterhouse Verti-Drain 7614 to enable him to aerate the pitches on a regular basis. In the past, he was only able to hire in a verti- drain twice a year, costing in excess of £2000 so, by investing in his own, Mark reckons it will have paid for itself within a few years. “With so much activity on the playing fields, being able to decompact the surfaces helps encourage better root growth and maintain grass cover,” says Mark. “It has been a godsend this winter, helping to keep the pitches playable through one of the wettest winters on record.” The central playing field hosts four main
Five bay cricket nets
Mark with his apprentice, William Barter PC APRIL/MAY 2014 I 71
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