EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS Weekly maintenance regime
Our weekly maintenance regimes consist of daily mowing of the rugby pitches and cricket squares when conditions allow. We currently cut the rugby pitches at 30mm using the Baroness triple, I find the shorter the grass is cut the quicker it will dry out with high winds.
New hockey pitch and dugouts
to stay off pitches to prevent damage.” He has recorded the rainfall on-site this February as 161mm! The average is 72mm. With Bradford’s average annual rainfall being 840mm, the school has seen, in one month, 20.4% of a year’s worth of rain! The school has an excellent
environmental policy in place and local flora and fauna is important. Currently, BGS as a whole is making recycling and waste reduction a huge priority project, with the requirement that nothing goes to landfill! A special project relating to environmental issues under construction is the use of electric machinery. BGS would like to see how this would contribute to meeting climate change and emissions legislation. “Have there been any major projects in recent years?” I asked. The answer was a proud yes. May 2019 saw a massive £4.2million investment by BGS in sports facilities. The Barn, a huge and superb indoor sports facility, measuring 65 x 35 metres, was erected. It boasts four hi-tech tennis/netball courts. I asked Lewis to stand in the middle of the empty building to convey better the immense size of the space.
The investment also meant that the
artificial hockey pitches were constructed and floodlights erected. Tarmac tennis courts were also part of the investment, along with surrounding gardens. All of this is most impressive and does demonstrate the commitment to sports at BGS. “What of future projects?” was my next question. Lewis said that to grade all earth- based sports pitches was in the pipeline. Undulating surfaces can be an issue at times. Looking at certain angles at some of the playing areas, I could see what he needed to address, budget permitting! Another environmental issue that needs addressing is the machinery washpad. To ensure pollution prevention, Lewis wants to install a washpad water recycling system adjacent to the shed and hopes this project can be tackled soon. “This will not only ensure we are legally compliant, but will save thousands of litres of water by recycling.” I understand Lewis has already made enquiries.
Machinery is purchased outright, usually through Gibsons in Colne (GGM). There is no loyalty to one brand and ‘best for the job’ is the criteria. I asked which piece of recently acquired kit has helped improve playing surfaces. “Without a doubt, it’s the
The cricket squares are maintained at 25mm with the Honda Pro rotary but, the closer we get to cricket season, we will gradually lower the height to around 15mm with the Allett, as well as thinning out the grass sward. We are drip feeding the cricket squares with (CAO) Calcium oxide to improve the soil PH.
On my arrival, we were very acidic at 4.2 but, with little and often applications, we are currently up to a PH of 5.7. This is a slow process but it also has its negative points as worms thrive in soils with a PH of 6-7.
We treat our worm problem with a product called Purity. The conditions have to be perfect, unless you are lucky enough to have an irrigation system; if the product is washed in correctly, I found it is the best thing on the market.
The rugby pitches are marked out when required with the Bowcom Atom and Quantum ready to use paint.
Garden areas are cut with the Honda pro roller and fertilised when the grass is starting to lose its colour.
Monthly maintenance regime
Monthly maintenance regimes consist of brushing the artificial hockey pitches using our Sisis Litamina 1200 to clear debris and the Sisis Twin Play brush to agitate and create a true surface.
The garden planting areas are weeded and turned over, with any damaged/dead plants replaced.
Fertiliser applications coincide with our fertiliser programme.
PC April/May 2020
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