Summer Sports - Cricket Leicestershire CCC - Grace Road
Andy Ward is Head Groundsman at Grace Road, home of Leicestershire County Cricket club. He was featured in Pitchcare issue 55.
How long have you worked at Grace Road? Since 1985.
What staff do you have? Including myself, four full time and two apprentices.
Describe your cricket facility in terms of loam content, size of the square and the number of fixtures? Twenty-one pitch square, profile of many different soils but have used Ongar loam for the last thirteen years. We also have twelve net pitches which were laid with Boughton Loam in 1989 and we have continued with Boughton ever since. The net area is used most days throughout the season and the square has over seventy days cricket on it from April to late September.
What end of season renovations do you plan to undertake? We bring in Ecosolve before the end of the season to drill ‘n’ fill two pitches on the square, then we backfill the holes created using Ongar loam, the idea being to provide stability through the profile. We have so far completed nine pitches using this method. Then, depending on fixtures, we will start the normal process of scarifying both areas.
When are you doing the renovations? Ideally, we will start the scarifying process in August as I know, by then, what pitches I will need for the rest of the season. I scarified and seeded three quarters of the square before the end of the 2013 season, thereby increasing the germination period. Our pro season doesn’t normally end until late September, so I feel it is crucial to try and get the seed in and up as early as possible. This gave me a massive head start in terms of germination at the back end of last season and I intend to do the same this season. The final four pitches or so will be scarified out when our season finishes in late September.
What is your budget? Between £4000 and £5000 dependant on the amount of loam and seed needed, this also includes the cost of Ecosolve to drill ‘n’ fill our pitches.
Describe the sequence of work - eg cutting, scarifying, aeration etc., and also tell us what machinery and/or products you use for each operation? I like to work in blocks of four rather than trying to do the whole lot at once. I find I can be a lot more thorough this way. I start by cutting the block of four short, using my Allett Shaver, then we will have three machines operating in unison; one Sisis 600 and two Sisis Autorakes. These will pass over the area numerous times in
different directions until all the thatch and most of the grass has been removed. Then we have one last pass in the direction of play. Afterwards, I put a brush reel on one of the Autorakes and clean up any debris left behind. Then the area is ready for seeding; nothing complicated here, we just apply the seed using a cyclone spreader. As for aeration, I leave that until mid October. Using my Sisis Arrow with pencil tines, I will aerate at different depths probably three or four times prior to Christmas, always making sure I go through the problem layer in my profile which lies approximately two inch below the surface. I do like to use germination sheets if I can.
Finally, do you have any advice or tips on how to ensure a successful renovation? Do not be afraid to rip all the grass out from the previous season, and don’t skimp on grass seed.
Producers of the Ongar Loam™ and Super Surrey cricket wicket dressings. High quality Tennis, Bowling green and fine turf top dressing
• CRICKET LOAMS
• AMENITY AND SPORTS TURF DRESSINGS
• QUALITY LOAMS AND TOPSOILS
• FERTILISERS
• GRASS SEED • LINE MARKING • TENNIS LOAMS
• WINTER GAMES DRESSINGS
• BOWLING GREEN DRESSINGS
www.binderloams.co.uk email:
sales@binderloams.co.uk PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 I 55
quality, quality, quality… Moreton, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0HY
Tel: 01277 890246 Fax: 01277 890105
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